Mac mini and Samsung Display problem

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Mac mini and Samsung Display problem

Hi

My parents recently bought a mac mini at christmas. It is the base model. They use it with a Samsung LCD display, and use the mini-DVI to DVI adapter as the display connection. However, the picture is not the best: all text on the screen is slightly blotchy and the picture quality in general is poor. I have tried adjusting all the display settings as well as the mac system display settings but nothing seems to do anything. The strange thing is, when I plug in my macbook (2007) the picture quality is perfect, the only thing changed is the computer as I literally unplug the DVI from the mac mini and plug in the macbook. I cannot for the life of me figure out what is wrong with the mac mini that is causing this problem, and I'd really like to sort this out for my parents as it was I who recommended they get a mac mini in the first place.

If anyone has any ideas as to what might be wrong please help!

Thanks
Julian

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on Apr 4, 2010 4:43 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 4, 2010 5:21 PM in response to Julianau

How much memory does your MacBook have installed?

How much memory does the Min have installed?

I have 4 GB of memory in one of my Mini's and 2 GB in the other Mini.
Both are hooked up to Sony Bravia TV's. A 46" and a 40"...
Both have fantastic pictures.

With any TV, the text doesn't look as good as it does with a regular computer display.

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Answer 2

Julianau Author

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Apr 4, 2010 5:47 PM in response to Julianau

Both have 2GB of memory.

It is not a TV it is an LCD display.

Surely it can't be anything to do with the display since, when I swap the cable over to my macbook, the picture is perfect?

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Answer 3

Apr 4, 2010 10:21 PM in response to Julianau

I undertand.

Both my TV's are LCD...

My main point was the memory but you mention they both have 2 GB so that isn't different.
There also isn't much difference between a MacBook and a Mac Mini. Basically the same processor at around 2 GHz and the same NVIDIA GeForce 9400 graphics.

You are also using the same cable and adapter so there shouldn't be any difference there.

So I'm not sure what the problem would be with the Mini.

I don't have any other ideas.

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Answer 4

Julianau Author

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Apr 5, 2010 4:20 AM in response to Joseph Kriz

Actually, as the macbook is from 2007, it uses that Intel GMA graphics thing rather than the NVIDIA 9400M in the newer mac mini. I would have thought this would be superior anyway.

Are there any other display or graphics settings apart from the Appearance and Display parts of the System preferences?

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Answer 5

Apr 15, 2010 11:57 AM in response to Julianau

You might try doing a color calibration. System Prefs > Displays > Color > Calibrate - Expert Mode.

I know this doesn't sound intuitive, but the anti-aliasing which diminishes the blotchiness, is something you don't see at lower brightnesses. Some displays ship at super-high brightness, which exacerbates the issue.

?

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Answer 6

Apr 23, 2010 4:30 PM in response to Thomas Moy1

I have the same issue with a Mac Mini and Samsung. Tried all of the color calibration, but that does only improve marginally.
I have Windows 7 installed on the same box, and when the Samsung image quality is perfect!

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Answer 7

sam1974

Level 1

45 points

Apr 25, 2010 4:40 AM in response to Julianau

have you tried putting the tv into Game mode? My friend has just done exactly what you have done (mac mini to samsung tv) using a HDMI cable for the picture and he put it into Game Mode and also 16:9 aspect ratio and now he can see the Finder bar at the top and the text is clear.

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Answer 8

Jun 22, 2010 7:58 AM in response to Julianau

I have a similar issue. Just replaced the monitor with a Samsung 2330h, 23 inch wide screen. The colors are the issue, they are almost neon and I cannot adjust them with the monitor controls or the Apple display software. What am I doing wrong

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