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Can I use any brand monitor with a mac mini?

WIll any brand of monitor work with a mac mini?

mac mini, iPhone OS 3.0.1

Posted on Dec 11, 2009 1:12 PM

Best reply

dimanto

Level 1

6 points

Posted on Dec 13, 2009 8:22 AM

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.

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23 replies

Feb 8, 2010 3:24 AM in response to spyralman

I use two 22" LG monitors set to 1600x1000. Your problem sound like it is monitor related since toggling the power restores the picture.

Tracy

Feb 16, 2010 3:37 PM in response to spyralman

Hi Spyralman,

Interesting, you have the same monitor as I use (see above, currently using Dell E228WFP, 22", 1680 x 1050).
I have not experienced the monitor ever blinking off to black.
Although two differences off the bat: I am using a new Oct 2009 Mac Mini (2.26GHz) which came with Snow Leopard (currently at 10.6.2) while you are running Leopard 10.5.8 which also implies a somewhat older Mac Mini.

Ideas to check would be:
1) Screen saver may be set to blank the video after a very short period, which might cause it to go black.
2) Energy save settings may be powering down the video very quickly, (though you state you already checked those settings).
3) Have you done a PRAM reset? (Cmd-Opt-P-R at bootup) to make sure that some old spurious video memory setting gets cleared out and then see if that helps.
The PRAM reset often fixes the Mac when it starts to act weird.
4) Do you have another (any other) monitor that you could plug in for the expected time period to see if it happens to it?
If for example, a generic 1024x768 monitor ALSO went to black after the x minutes, then problem issue is with the Mac Mini (its settings, or a Software or Hardware issue).
If the alternate monitor never goes to black, that does tend to point a finger at the Dell monitor itself.

Message was edited by: BruceTech

Nov 28, 2012 3:24 PM in response to BruceTech

I guess I'm reviving a pretty old thread, but I too am having this problem. I recently purchased a Mac Mini from 2009 or 2010, running OS 10.6. I've tried connecting an old Sony VGA monitor and a more recent though not new Dell flat screen that offers both VGA and DVI-D inputs using the DVI-D input. With both monitors I used all the appropriate adapters, yet neither monitor will work. When I bought the Mini, the seller had it all hooked up to the monitor that he was keeping, and everything worked fine, so I know the issue is not the computer hardware. So I'm back to the same question: Are there monitors that under no conditions will work with the Mac Mini, as well as if there are monitors specific to running with a Mac Mini? I'm frustrated sitting here using my old G5 while the Mini is sitting here waiting to be used. Any suggestions? I did try the PRAM reset, to no avail.... Thanks!

Jan 6, 2013 8:23 AM in response to Charlie Phogg

i just ordered a new mini (2.3 i7 1TB Fusion Drive). as for the display, i will keep using my LG L186WTQ.

for that purpose, i ordered this MiniDisplayport to DVI-D cable: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004CAHTCQ/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00

i hope it works.

Jan 6, 2013 1:29 PM in response to sdavison78

I am satisfied with my LG Flatron IPS 224 display. It works fine with Mac Mini.

Jan 6, 2013 6:06 PM in response to Amaury Vargas

edit: L196WTQ.

yeole

Level 1

5 points

Jan 20, 2013 11:30 AM in response to cameroncrazie95

I have a mid 2010 Mini hooked up to my 42" sony tv, works great. I have an Asus ve247h that wont worth a dang I get a "VGA no signal" error.

bsbarlow

Level 1

4 points

Mar 21, 2017 9:36 AM in response to BruceTech

I have a Dell touch screen monitor that I would like to use with the mac mini what type of connector do I need?

Can I use any brand monitor with a mac mini?