Using a Mac Mini on Dell U4919DW Ultrawide Monitor.

No, it isn't scaled - it's actually a change in resolution. If you download an app like easyres, you can see the resolution that you're using directly. That's just Apple's laymen "simplification." The MBP's are actually capable of generating higher than standard "2x" resolutions. I drove 2 4k monitors from my late 2013 MBP for a long time.

Mark from 2Much wrote:

Hi everyone, here's a quick update:

Apple's newest OS, macOS Catalina, solves the problem. I can now use my ultra wide monitor as a true single monitor, in its highest native resolution, using only the 1 usb-c cable instead of usb-c + HDMI.

Thank you Apple for fixing the problem!

I just upgraded based on this post and the problem is *NOT* fixed. At least not with MBP 13". I only see 3840x1080

After installing Catalina I tried connecting my MBP 13” to my LG 49” monitor using a single USB-C cable and the highest resolution I see is 3840x1080. I would very much like to get the full resolution with the single USB-C cable but I cannot.

Your success seems to be an anomaly because no one else is able to repeat it. I went back to PbP in the mean time because its the only way I can get the full resolution.

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.

I got a slightly more workable method for the time being. I changed the PIP settings of the monitor to 21:9 and 11:9. The only thing is that the full 120Hz of this monitor can't be set.

Bigoud_71 - I know paying another $100 just to get things to match is a pain, but you could probably get a Spyder to calibrate the color/brightness profiles of each monitor to get them to match. Outside of that, make sure they have the same color profiles assigned to them. Macs have to tendency to go nuts with their HDMI color profiles for some reason.

Same here with Samsung C49RG90 which is also a 1000GBP+ monitor I can't even use to its full potential on my Mac mini 2018. Yes... it works with 2 DP-USBC cables but the dock remains on one virtual portion of the screen which is ugly 'af'.... I hope this get fixed asap.

I honestly don't recall - I don't believe so, but I'm really not sure if it's a technical or software limitation. I don't have Windows installed through bootcamp, so I can't even test that. Even with tools that allow me to manually set the resolution, i can't get it to display properly.

I'm a programmer as well, and having used 4k monitors for years, staring at text pretty much every day, I really, really, really miss the retina resolutions. I also have trouble getting both sides of the screen color calibrated exactly as a match. Ultimately, I think you're going to be happier with two separate identical monitors with floating arms. I will likely be giving this monitor away and going back to my old setup.

For Intel IG graphics only devices there seems to be no change thus far regarding the resolution availability. It s ucks big time having to deal with extended monitor use. My Mac Mini with its glorious T2 chip sometimes decides to not give output to one or both of the cables. Apple fix this please.... HOW hard can it be smh

Mark from 2Much wrote:

(A part of this was posted in another forum but it is more relevant here).

I just purchased a Mac Mini 2018 and Dell U4919DW Ultrawide Monitor. I should be able to get 5120x1440 Resolution out of this setup, but at best I can get 3840x1080.

I am connected via the Dell-included USB-C cable. I tried with the included HDMI cable but it too did not work.

Connecting the monitor to my PC via Display Port Cables DID work - I was able to get full 5120x1440 resolution at full 60hz. Just not on my new Mac Mini.

I called Dell, and their technical support was a complete joke. The lady on the phone basically said "If it works on a PC, it works", without much else to offer.

I called Apple and the tech, David, tried alot harder, easily spending about 20 minutes with me trying to find the problem. (Apple tech support is why they always win my business). He was not able to solve the problem but has created a case # and escalated this to Apple Engineers. By Apple and Dell's own documentation, I should be able to get 1440 lines of resolution in my setup.

Has anyone here experienced anything similar? Any suggestions are appreciated.

The [Dell] "lady" was correct. It works on a PC. It works on a Mac running Windows via boot camp. *Try it*. Apple support can try as much as they want. David, try as he might, wasted 20 minutes of your time. He can escalate all he wants. What good is support if the problem does not get fixed?

The problem is MacOS. Apple needs to provide a driver / display overlay, which will likely never happen. But to be certain this is not a Dell or LG issue.

Apple is at fault here.

I emailed Craig Federighi (senior VP of software engineering at Apple, and the guy who oversees MacOS development), and an executive relations liaison did got in touch with me about this issue, requesting all sorts of diagnostics info. Not sure if this will lead anywhere, but it's something. Perhaps if more people contact them, they will see it's an actual relevant issue to fix ASAP.

I'll let everyone know if anything comes out of my contact with them.

Hi, did the Blackmagic eGPU work for you on your Dell 49? Was the solution the eGPU PLUS Catalina, or just the eGPU? FYI, for those interested, the 2018 MBPro 15" works fine with the Dell 49, full-resolution. The 13" scales it down like the mini (both Intel graphics I believe). Further, I can confirm the USBC cable that ships with the Dell monitor should be thrown in the trash immediately--it flat didn't work.

A little more technical information would be nice here Mark. What screen, what cable, what version OS of Catalina as 10.15.1 just got released as well. I'm updating to that version and will report back whether that works for my Mac mini 2018 with Samsung C49RG90 and standard TB3/Type-C cable.

Honestly, I'm likely getting rid of the monitor and going back to my dual 4Ks because of the lack of resolution. When I purchased the monitor, it didn't even dawn on me I wouldn't get retina resolution. Once I plugged it in, I was shocked at how much difference it makes, especially when working with text (coding) all day.

Any luck? I updated to Catalina, I see 5120x1440 but it doesn't look good.