M4 Mini won't recognize 6k resolution monitor on Thunderbolt

I have an Asus ProArt PA32QCV 6k monitor. When I connect it via HDMI, the full resolution is detected. System Information shows:


HDMI

Apple M4:

  Chipset Model: Apple M4

  Type: GPU

  Bus: Built-In

  Total Number of Cores: 10

  Vendor: Apple (0x106b)

  Metal Support: Metal 3

  Displays:

PA32QCV:

  Resolution: 6016 x 3384

  UI Looks like: 3008 x 1692 @ 60.00Hz

  Main Display: Yes

  Mirror: Off

  Online: Yes

  Rotation: Supported


When I connect via Thunderbolt 4, the detected resolution is nowhere near 6k:


Thunderbolt/USB4 Bus 3:


  Vendor Name: Apple Inc.

  Device Name: Mac mini

  UID: 0x05ACAB8C566906D3

  Route String: 0

  Domain UUID: A5511074-5BF5-4287-A334-08D70B3F6255

  Port:

  Status: Device connected

  Link Status: 0x2

  Speed: 40 Gb/s

  Receptacle: 4


PA32QCV:

  Vendor Name: ASUS-Display

  Device Name: PA32QCV

  Mode: USB4

  Device ID: 0x1C54

  Vendor ID: 0xB05

  Device Revision: 0x1

  UID: 0x808769E38D38D900

  Route String: 1

  Firmware Version: 44.1

  Port (Upstream):

  Status: Device connected

  Link Status: 0x2

  Speed: 40 Gb/s

  Port:

  Status: No device connected

  Link Status: 0x7

  Speed: Up to 40 Gb/s

  Port:

  Status: No device connected

  Link Status: 0x7

  Speed: Up to 40 Gb/s

  Port:

  Status: No device connected

  Link Status: 0x7

  Speed: Up to 40 Gb/s



Apple M4:

  Chipset Model: Apple M4

  Type: GPU

  Bus: Built-In

  Total Number of Cores: 10

  Vendor: Apple (0x106b)

  Metal Support: Metal 3

  Displays:

PA32QCV:

  Resolution: 3840 x 2160 (2160p/4K UHD 1 - Ultra High Definition)

  UI Looks like: 3840 x 2160 @ 60.00Hz

  Main Display: Yes

  Mirror: Off

  Online: Yes

  Rotation: Supported



Is there some limitation of Thunderbolt 4 I'm not aware of?

Mac mini (M4, 2024)

Posted on Dec 23, 2025 2:07 PM

Reply
6 replies

Dec 23, 2025 3:55 PM in response to PaulWaldo

Both HDMI and DisplayPort (used inside Thunderbolt) are packet interfaces. In each case, the interface runs at one of a few Fixed speeds, and if there is LESS data than fully fills every packet at that speed, then packets are (generally) omitted.


HDMI data rates over USB-C (about 14.4 G bits/sec ) top out at 4K at 60 Hz for 8 bits/color of 4K at 50 Hz for 10 bits/color.


The HDMI standard says the next step up in speed takes 42 G bits/sec, which is higher than a Thunderbolt port can produce directly or with an adapter, if one were possible (40 G bits/sec for ThunderBolt display data). Apple was faced with a dilemma, and solved it by providing a DIRECT HDMI 2.1 port (for most M2 Macs and later) that runs as fast as about 42 G bits/sec.


That 42 G bits/sec HDMI 2.1 speed ALMOST supports your display at 10 bits/color using ULTRA cables (it needs 107 Percent) but with very slight modifications such as Display Stream Compression, it can be made to fit.


DisplayPort has slightly different quantum steps. DisplayPort data rates over USB-C (about 14.4 G bits/sec) top out at 4K at 81 Hz for 8 bits/color of 4K at 65 Hz for 10 bits/color.


The DisplayPort standard finally implemented says the next step up in speed, HBR3 under DisplyPort 1.4, takes 32.4 G bits/sec. There is an additional step that could have provided an increase to 40 G bits/sec, but due to the politics of the time, it was held off and the next big step was released as DisplayPort 2.0, which includes a new step up to UHBR10, which raises the data rate to 38.88 G bits sec.


Your display appears to only supports the lower DisplayPort 1.4 speed using DisplayPort direct or over Thunderbolt.


That 32.4 G bits/sec DisplayPort 1.4 speed supports a 5K display at 8 bits/color at 69 Hz, or a 5K display at 10 bits/color at 56 Hz.


If the display maker had chosen to support the higher UHBR10 at 38.88 G bits/sec, standard, that appears to support your 6K display at 8 bits/color, at about 70 Hz, and appears to support your 6K display at 10 bits/color at 60 Hz, but with NO margin of error (so it is possible it does not quite work).


Executive Summary:

That specific DISPLAY does not run that fast over DisplayPort direct or DisplayPort-over-Thunderbolt.

Dec 23, 2025 4:41 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Wow, thank you for the detailed response! I’ll admit, it’s going to take bit to digest all that. Does that mean that the mini made hardware trade offs that make this monitor not work to its full potential? I also have a windows machine that sees the full 6k with the same cable.


I am confused though because Apple itself says it should work Mac mini (2024) - Tech Specs - Apple Support:


Simultaneously supports up to three displays:

  • Up to three displays: Two displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one display with up to 5K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt or 4K resolution at 60Hz over HDMI



Dec 23, 2025 5:08 PM in response to PaulWaldo

The Mini is working FINE.


What you are seeing is a limitation of the DISPLAY.


The Display-maker chose NOT to support a more modern version of DisplayPort, which limits the speeds the DISPLAY can attain using DisplayPort-over-ThunderBolt.


¿Works over HDMI ?

Then use HDMI !

you don't need/can't use Power Delivery, and can use a different hub for more USB ports.

M4 Mini won't recognize 6k resolution monitor on Thunderbolt

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