Using a Mac Mini on Dell U4919DW Ultrawide Monitor.

After reading this thread:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8641919

It seams that it is a issue with mac os(Mojave) and computers with intel integrated graphic ship only.

Because with windows booted natively from this machines the full resolution (5120x1440) is achieved.

Now my question is : is it the same issue with other monitors with the same resolution (Philips 499P9H, Samsung CHG90)

Perhaps it is too earlier because this one are not really on the market at this time

Thanks for your answers

Hi there!

I just phone called Apple to ask whether this was a known issue that will be fixed when the next MacOS comes next month. Unfortunately he could neither confirm it was a known issue, nor that it will be fixed. We just had to wait and try.

But we can hope for a fix in the next MacOS. If you sign up for the Apple Beta Software Program (free and open for everyone) https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/ you are able to install the latest beta of the coming MacOS Catalina.

Can you or someone else in this thread check if the full resolution is working with the current beta? I have the beta installed, but I have not bought the screen yet because of those problems. If the beta does not work with the monitor it is possible to revert back to the stable MacOS you had.

I got the Dell U4919DW to go with my 2016 MacBook Pro 15" with touchbar. I struggled to get the full 5120x1440 resolution for a couple of days. This is what eventually worked for me to get full 5k res (each cable worked on its own)

• Factory reset on the monitor
• Thunderbolt 3 cable from Apple store (I have power and pic/all in one cable)
• moshi usb-c to display port cable (no power just full 5k display)
• HDMI but I had some funky color spaces

What did not work was the usb c cable that came with power brick.

Hope this helps some one.

No worries thanks for replying. To summarize this thread, if you have a Dell U4919DW and you want native resolution (5280x1440), we have confirmed that:

• The Mac Mini cannot support it
• The MacBook Pro 13" cannot support it
• The MacBook Pro 15" CAN support it
• The alternative for those with Mac Minis would be the $699 Blackmagic GPU, or the $499 eGFX Breakaway Puck (what I use)

It's audacious to request someone spend the better part of a day installing a beta version of the OS and then reverting back if necessary, just to test a monitor on your behalf, but to do so without even a please or thank you is incomprehensible.

Regardless, I had it already installed so I unplugged everything to test it for you.

Although the resolutions are listed, they look terrible. It seems like 1/2 resolution. I tried it with both HDMI and USB-C and got the same results. The only way to use this monitor is to PBP it as described by others.

To be frank, I regret purchasing this monitor. Not having retina resolution after coming from 2 4k retina monitors really showcased to me how much retina makes a difference. I just didn't want the "seam" in the middle since I work in dual screen mode. A huge price to pay, literally, for a reduction in what I got (imho).

Below is the resolution selection screen - it's the same for both usb-c and hdmi.

As a note, even if it did work, I'm not sure I would have relied on my experiences. Some of this is likely hardware dependent. It works wonderfully when I use my eGPU at full resolution even in 10.14, so the outcome of this test, even if successful, should not have been treated as definitive.

I see, thanks for the recommendations.

I am moving away from the thread topic now, please forgive me for it, but since we already discuss options to the 32:9 setup: My colleagues mostly have 1440p monitors. At home I have a 4k, but everything is so small in 4k resolution, so I use to scale it down like this:

Does this actually mean that I have 4k resolution active, but just scaled the system, like using i.e. 125% scaling in Windows? My monitor says it sends 4k to my MacBook, so I would assume so. If yes, a 4k monitor scaled to 1440p will still look a lot better than a "native" 1440p monitor, right?

I have 13" Macbook Pro Early 2015 model. In PBP mode, the section connected to MiniDisplayPort1 or HDMI (left side of picture shown below) is always showing shrunk in size i.e. not full size.

Section connected to MiniDisplayPort2 (right side of picture shown below) is showing proper size. I have tried connecting MiniDisplayPort 1 to HDMI and DP on monitor but no luck.

I tried connecting MiniDisplayPort1 and HDMI port to another Samsung 27" 1440 monitor and it works fine. Looks like issue is with Dell monitor only.

Anyone faced this problem?

Thought I might re-open the debate with a different display - my LG 49WL95C - works great in Picture by Picture (PbP) mode but will not produce a readable display using the native 5120x1440 resolution despite trying multiple cables, etc on a nMP running Catalina - have not gone back to try El Capitan but will.

For those of you into digging deeper into the mystery, I managed to "trick" it into doing 5440x1440 using SwitchResX whilst in PbP mode and to my amazement it actually worked (see picture) - but only in the sub-window.

starting to think this might be a SST/MST problem.

By chance, did you ever get a response from Apple re: support? I'm looking at purchasing one specifically for a Mac Mini 2018, like you, and would love to be able to use it properly at full resolution.

Hi Mark, I have the same setup, just purchased a Mac mini 2018 and Dell u4919dw. Can you please help me understand how you connected it to the Mac mini and achieved the high res 5120 x 1440? I currently have the Mac connected to the monitor via Thunderbolt. Did you use two connections? Which settings did you adjust on the Mac mini and the monitor?

Much appreciated.

Cheers

Hi Mark - thanks very much, it looks AMAZING now !!! :).

Do you know if there is a way you can stretch an app (e.g. photos) across both screens so you can view panoramic shot is full screen, or is this now restricted in to two separate (invisible) screens sections?

Much appreciated !

Cheers

Alex

Hi gtsbr,

I also bought the 499p9h, which is great, but I can't get the resolution to 5120x1440 without using SwitchRex which means the screen is blurry. Any suggestions?

Also how do you get the built in speakers and camera to work?

Thank you,

Chopper1969

Ok.... went through all of your notes. I have my Mac Mini connected to the Dell U4919DW using a USB-C and HDMI cable. I have PBP enabled, but I still can only get a max resolution of 2560 x 1140. Any advise?

Thanks,

Mark