Can I use any brand monitor with a mac mini?

Yes of course you can use any monitor with your mac mini. Currently with my mac mini I am using an LG 24". What you need though is a DVI to mini port display adaptor that costs around 30 USD. With that you can you use any DVI monitor.

Yes, as will most models from those manufacturers. You'll want to make sure that the monitor supports the resolutions the Mac mini does (an early Mac mini won't support really large monitors) and that you have the appropriate adapter for the input the monitor accepts.

Message was edited by: Dave Sawyer

Just confirming, I have used both HP and Dell monitors with Mac Minis.

FYI, I'm currently using Dell E228WFP (22", 1680 x 1050) and it works fine.

Or just use a Mini DisplayPort -> DVI cable for about $10.

Monoprice stocks them now.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?cid=102&cpid=10246

Older minis have some issues with big screen sizes however the newer ones should support most popular screen sizes and resolutions

Just to answer you, I'm using two LG 22" monitors @ 1600x1000 in extended desktop mode on my new mini.

Tracy

G'Day Tracy,

How did you setup your mini to use two monitors?

Cheers,
Rich

The current Mac mini has a mini-DVI output and a mini-DisplayPort output, so you just need the appropriate adaptors for your monitors to connect them to the mini.

Hi cameron,
I'm too using 2 Monitors: 19"LG (for winXP with Parallels & VMvare running win 7)
and my main Monitor is 28" Samsung.

That's right. My mini shipped with the mini-DVI to DVI adapter and I bought an Apple mini-view to DVI adapter. My mini has the Nvidia GPU which has both the mini-view and mini-DVI outs.

Tracy

I'm using a 42" LG LCD with my mini connected via HDMI.

Bob

Hi Star1,

Can you expand on your setup? Maybe privately offline?

I think you are running the exact setup that I am contemplating and I would like to learn more about the pros and cons before committing to the costs.

I want the Mac Mini to power 2 non-Apple monitors. One monitor running OSX and the 2nd monitor would be for my occasional must-have XP / IE. It would be nice to run both systems at the same time.

I think you might be accomplishing this.

Maybe we can chat more hollak AT gmail DOT com?

In general, I wouldn't think there is anything specific re: the mac mini with regards to what types of monitors and how many it can run. Like all computers it all has to do with what GPU is inside. Obviously mac minis have changed over the years as all macs have and the specs get more powerful as each new version is released. If I had any real need to find out what the mini can do with regards to its video capabilities (above and beyond what Apple describes) I would think the best place to go would be the Nvidia site and see about getting info there re: capabilities of any specific GPU.

With dual monitor setups you have the choice of mirrored display, where both monitors show the same thing, or extended desktop, where you in effect have one large monitor. With extended desktop you can move your program windows to the monitor of your choice. And you choose where the second monitor "appears"-to the right, to the left, to the top or to the bottom.

Tracy

I'm currently using a Dell E228WFP (22", 1680 x 1050) with my Mac Mini and it is TERRIBLE. Every minute or two the monitor goes into a power-saving mode... it just goes to black. Then I have to toggle the power to get it to come back on. I tried tweaking "Energy Saver" in Preferences and any other settings I could find which could conceivably relate, but no luck. This really ***. Any ideas?