Need help - dual monitor 60hz issue for Mac Mini M1

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Level 1

10 points

Need help - dual monitor 60hz issue for Mac Mini M1

Hi,

I have 2 x Dell S2722QC monitors. Both are connected via 4k capable HDMI cords. However, only one of the monitors is displaying at 60hz, whereas the second monitor is displaying at 30hz only (whenever I have the two connected, in System Prefs only 30hz max is available in the options).

One of the cables is plugged into the HDMI slot on the Mac Mini, the other is in a HDMI port on a USB-C dongle.

The cable is not the issue as I tried them both on each monitor (using only 1 monitor), and both displayed 60hz each time.

Questions:

How can I get both of my displays to run at 60hz?

Do I need to connect one through the USB-C port (on the Mini and the monitor)?
Can I use a USB-C to HDMI cable to get 60hz for both (I don't really want to use the USB-C ports on the monitor, plus the monitor is too far from my Mac Mini)?
If I was to connect one of the monitors through USB-C, can I run that USB-C from an extension dongle, or must it be connected directly into the Mac Mini's USB-C port?

Cheers for your help.

Mac mini

Posted on Dec 4, 2023 8:47 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 6, 2023 1:42 AM in response to snakenuts

snakenuts wrote:

• Can I use a USB-C to HDMI cable to get 60hz for both (I don't really want to use the USB-C ports on the monitor, plus the monitor is too far from my Mac Mini)?

If you are asking if you can connect both monitors via the USB-C / TB3 ports, the answer is "No."

The M1 Mac mini can drive two monitors, but you can connect only one of those through USB-C / TB3. This is probably why the ports are specified as being TB3 ports rather than TB4 ones.

Daisy-chaining two USB-C monitors won't work on a M1 Mini, and wouldn't work even on a M2 Mini.

• If I was to connect one of the monitors through USB-C, can I run that USB-C from an extension dongle, or must it be connected directly into the Mac Mini's USB-C port?

If you want to connect a USB-C or Thunderbolt dock to the M1 mini, and then connect one of the monitors to the dock, there are many docks that would allow you to do so.

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Answer 2

den.thed

Level 10

95,334 points

Dec 5, 2023 6:32 PM in response to snakenuts

I would test that setup with one display on a short Premium Certified 8K HDMI cable and the other display on a short 8K USB-C to DisplayPort cable.

HDMI cable for example > https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGRBCLY4/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?

USB-C to DisplayPort cable for example > https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TXJN8ZT/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?

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Answer 3

snakenuts Author

Level 1

10 points

Dec 14, 2023 9:40 PM in response to snakenuts

problem solved. I ended up connecting the main monitor through usb-c and the second one through one of the HDMI cables I had (about 1m in length). Sorted - both now run in 60hz.

Thank you for your responses

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