Mac Mini image quality is fuzzy, blurry with my 24" monitor (1920x1200 px). Help!

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24 points

Mac Mini image quality is fuzzy, blurry with my 24" monitor (1920x1200 px). Help!

Hi everyone,

I'm reaching out to the support community because I recently got a new Mac Mini, and I'm experiencing terrible resolution issues when I connect it to my 24" hi-res monitor (1920x1200 resolution). The image quality is fuzzy, awful overall, and no single workaround is making a difference.

I own a Westinghouse 24" monitor (L2410NM), with a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels. This monitor works fine with my Windows-based PC computer. Granted, I had to override the monitor's EDID info by changing some lines in the registry, but it looks sharp, crisp and quite defined when hooked to my PC. I had it connected to my computer via DVI-to-HDMI cable (DVI on the PC's nVidia card, HDMI to the monitor).

I just got my brand new Mac Mini (latest gen), and hooked it up to the Westinghouse 24" monitor via HDMI-to-HDMI cable. The Mac recognized the monitor and the correct resolution (1920x1200), but the image looks blurry, fuzzy, "out-of-focus", and the colors washed out. This is the look of a monitor when it's not sharing the right EDID information with the computer. It just looks awful, and text is even difficult to read.

I looked online, and came across a thread that suggested I use the following approach: I brought in a 'mini displayport -to- DVI' adapter, and connected the DVI end to a DVI-HDMI cable. Then I hooked the HDMI end of that cable to the monitor. And... It didn't work!

It just didn't work at all. I just get a blank screen.

I tried different ways, restarted the Mac, restarted the monitor... no results. Just a blank screen.

I tried a different approach, as suggested by someone in a different forum: I brought in a 'mini displayport -to-HDMI' adapter, and connected it to an HDMI-to-HDMI cable to my monitor. It didn't work either! I get the same fuzzy, blurry, bad-EDID and washed out colors as I got before with the straight HDMI connection.

I've tried different settings. Nothing works.

I downloaded a program called SwitchResX, tried to see if I could change or customize my settings, but couldn't figure out a way to change the EDIDs for my monitor. None of its settings made a difference.

I just don't know what to do. Nothing works! In short:

Connecting my new Mac Mini to my 24" monitor via HDMI results on blurry, washed out and fuzzy images.

Connecting my new Mac Mini to the monitor via 'mini displayport -to- HDMI' also produces a blurry, fuzzy, washed out image.

Connecting my Mac Mini to the monitor via mini 'displayport -to- DVI' (then DVI-->HDMI cable) doesn't even work. It just produces a blank screen. No image at all. Granted, this is the trick that people say works for these EDID issues with the new Mac Mini. Well, not for me.

Can anybody help? Any solution? Anything I may be missing?

At this point I'm so frustrated I'm close to returning the Mac Mini to Apple and getting my money back! The same monitor produces a crisp, gorgeous image when connected to my PC. Is there anything at all that could solve this?

Thanks in advance. Any help would be much appreciated.

Posted on Jun 20, 2011 10:52 PM

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Answer 1

Juliator Author

Level 1

24 points

Jun 21, 2011 7:59 AM in response to Juliator

Just a quick note:

This morning I took the Mac Mini to my office at work, and will connect it to different monitors (Apple cinema screens, Dell monitors, HP and other HD monitors, etc) to test if this issue if persistent with other screens. I just want to discard a computer or video card problem.

Nevertheless, I've seen this problem before, and it looks like those pesky EDID issues that some computers experience with some brands of monitors via HDMI. I will report later what I find out.

In the meantime, if any Mac gurus out there can suggest a solution or a workaround to my issue, I would really appreciate it.

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Answer 2

d_roops

Level 1

10 points

Jun 21, 2011 8:14 AM in response to Juliator

I think chaining the Displayport -> DVI + DVI -> HDMI won't work anyway. It's all digital, but you're converting it back and forth too many times.

I would try Displayport -> DVI and then use a DVI cable to go to the monitor (if it has a DVI port).

What ports does your monitor have? (HDMI, DVI, VGA?)

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Answer 3

Juliator Author

Level 1

24 points

Jun 21, 2011 8:17 AM in response to d_roops

Hi d_roops

Unfortunately this mornitor does not have a DVI input. It has HDMI, VGA, and analog RCA in.

I tried several combinations of cables and ports, none gave me a crisp and clear image. It's always fuzzy and blurry.

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Answer 4

Juliator Author

Level 1

24 points

Jun 21, 2011 8:55 AM in response to d_roops

Ok, here's the result of my first test with different monitors at my workplace:

I just linked my Mac Mini to a Dell 2007WFP monitor, which has a maximum resolution of 1680x1050 pixels.

I linked the Mac to the monitor using a simple HDMI to DVI cable. I plugged the HDMI end to the Mac, and the DVI end to the input in the back of the monitor.

Turned on the Mac, and... it looks great! The screen image looks fine, crisp, defined and clear!

The Mac recognizes the monitor EDID information correctly, and applies the recommended 1680x1050 resolution.

At least we can discard a computer or video card issue. This has more to do with monitors of 1920x1200 resolution (most of the threads I've seen in these forums complaining about this issue seem to have monitors with this 1920x1200 resolution), and the ability of the Mac Mini to properly deliver that resolution via HDMI. On the other hand, it can be the monitor serving the wrong EDID to the computer, which in turn serves something incorrect in the resolution. In either case, I'm puzzled, and don't have a solution or a way to fix it yet.

I'm going to test the Mac Mini on an Apple display next, see what happens.

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Answer 5

d_roops

Level 1

10 points

Jun 21, 2011 9:24 AM in response to Juliator

It may be because 1920x1200 is a 16:10 ratio, and there may be an issue with HDMI not being able to display at that high of resolution, as it's higher than 1080p. The highest resolution for 1080p is 1920x1080, so if you're trying to display a higher resolution than the maximum of 1080p, it may look stretched or blurry.

This is seriously just a guess though.

It's too bad the monitor doesn't have DVI :/

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Answer 6

d_roops

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10 points

Jun 21, 2011 9:29 AM in response to d_roops

If you can, I would try a display port -> VGA. EDIT: That will fix it.

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Answer 7

Juliator Author

Level 1

24 points

Jun 21, 2011 9:43 AM in response to d_roops

Hi d_roops,

Do you think VGA can take such high resolution? I will try anything, but I thought VGA was quite old tech

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Answer 8

d_roops

Level 1

10 points

Jun 21, 2011 9:48 AM in response to Juliator

Haha it is but it'll work. It still displays very high resolutions, higher than HDMI actually (as far as I know).

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Answer 9

Juliator Author

Level 1

24 points

Jun 21, 2011 10:00 AM in response to d_roops

Ok, i will get a VGA adapter and give it a try, see what happens. Crossing fingers!

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Answer 10

Juliator Author

Level 1

24 points

Jun 21, 2011 12:54 PM in response to d_roops

I tested the Mac Mini on 2 more displays at the office, and the results were pretty interesting. Here's what I found out:

APPLE CINEMA HD DISPLAY 23" (921c) - resolution 1920x1200

Connected Mac Mini to monitor via HDMI -> DVI connection.

Results: crisp, defined, sharp image

The Mac recognized the monitor's info and applied the correct resolution automatically.

PHILIPS 230W DISPLAY (23" - resolution 1920x1200)

Since this monitor had different types of input, I tried a few different combinations of connections to see the results.

First test:

Connected Mac Mini to monitor via HDMI -> DVI connection.

Results: crisp, defined, sharp image

The Mac recognized the monitor's info and applied the correct resolution automatically.

Second test:

Connected Mac Mini to monitor via mini Displayport adapter -> VGA connection.

Results: fuzzy, blurry, washed out image.

The Mac recognized the monitor's info but it only allowed a maximum resolution of 1920x1080. It looked awful, just like my Westinghouse LCD monitor at home. It produced flickering on top of it.

Before completly giving up on the idea of a VGA connection, I tried an experiment. I used a program called SwitchResX to create a custom resolution to match that monitor, forcing a 1920x1200 resolution even though the system doesn't seem to allow it via VGA.

I saved and applied the custom resolution, and restarted the computer.

Upon restart, I was pleasantly surprised that the Mac Mini took the custom 1920x1200 resolution via VGA, and it looked good! Just a tiny bit blurry, but just not as much as before. I guess forcing a custom 1920x1200 resolution with SwitchResX worked in this case.

Based on d_roops recommendation, I will try this experiment later at home, using the mini Displayport adapter -> VGA connection on my Westinghouse monitor, and see if it requires a custom resolution like the Philips. Fingers crossed. If this doesn't work, I don't know what else I could do.

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Answer 11

Juliator Author

Level 1

24 points

Jun 21, 2011 7:13 PM in response to d_roops

Hi d_roops,

You are DA MAN!!!

It worked.

It needed a combination of mini displayport adapter to VGA, and then a custom resolution created on SwitchResX. It totally worked.

Now, I need to adjust the settings on that SwitchResX custom resolution, as some things are still a little bit off, but overall, it looks like it should. I will document my progress and add it to the end of this thread, to close this "adventure" and serve of help to anyone else out there who may experience this in the future.

Thanks a bunch.

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Answer 12

d_roops

Level 1

10 points

Jun 22, 2011 7:36 PM in response to Juliator

You're welcome 🙂 glad I could help

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Answer 13

rolf k.

Level 1

15 points

Jul 24, 2011 9:39 AM in response to Juliator

Juliator. I have the same monitor (Westinghouse 24" L2410NM) and an Apple Cinema Display. I am also using a MacMini I bought last month. I am also having this problem. My screen looks fuzzy and blurry. Here is my current setup:

Apple Display connected via a Displayport Adapter -> DVI to the DVI cable connected to the monitor.

Westinghouse 24" via the HDMI to HDMI in the monitor.

I tried to follow the posts you have already made and couldn't get the hand of the SwitchResX program. What are the current settings for the Westinghouse monitor under SRX?

I tried connecting the MacMini via a Displayport -> VGA to the VGA on the Westinghouse, but the screen remained black and no connectivity error showed up. I did switch the input to D-Sub.

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Answer 14

Nov 28, 2011 8:38 PM in response to rolf k.

Summary: Connect both the HDMI and a miniDVI to VGA adaptor to the same monitor, choose Mirroring, and see if that fixes things.

Maybe this will help...I was going nuts like everyone else dealing with this issue over HDMI on my MacMini i5 2.3GHz connecting to a Vizio M320vt that I just bought...before this, I was using a VGA/USB switch to connect the Mini and a DualG5 to the same Samsung monitor...however, when I tried connecting to the Vizio RGB/VGA using the same set up, I couldn't see the 1920 X 1080 as an option on either Mac, and when using a 1280 X 768 setting on the Mini that worked just fine, switching to the DualG5 just wasn't cutting it and I'd end up with only the Mini connecting properly and the DualG5 being reported as "invalid format".

After trying all the suggestions here and elsewhere for our HDMI problems, just by chance, I reconnected the miniDVI to VGA so that both the VGA AND HDMI were connected to the Vizio at the same time and I turned on Mirroring...having both connected at the same time seems to have fixed my problems...now I can see the crappy HDMI 1920 X 1080 output of the MacMini, but now I can see (and choose) a perfect 1920 X 1080 RGB/VGA output of the MacMini AND the DualG5 can see and choose the 1920 X 1080 output too! Weird...but wonderful!

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Answer 15

Apr 14, 2012 9:33 AM in response to Juliator

Solution:

Use HDMI to DVI adapter and connect DVI cable to your monitor.

So setup needs to be following:

Mac-Mini with HDMI output

Adapter HDMI to DVI

DVI cable

Display/Monitor/TV with DVI input

Solution and more info is also outlined in blog:

http://technologyriver.blogspot.com/2012/04/osx-lion-experience.html

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