Mac Mini has very poor image quality using a Samsung monitor

Question

Level 1

29 points

Mac Mini has very poor image quality using a Samsung monitor

I have a Mac Mini, purchased in January 2014, connected to a Samsung monitor via HDMI. The image quality is terrible. I've tried adjusting the monitor, playing with the display settings on the Mini. No help. I bought it primarily to store and display photos, so it's a big disappointment . (Not to mention that I find the new Photos app inflexible and incomprehensible). Unfortunately, the monitor has no VGA port (which I've read is often the solution). I'm ready to buy a new monitor and write off the purchase of my Samsung. Any suggestions? (And if I do have to buy a new monitor, any ideas on how to avoid ending up in the same boat next time?)

Mac mini, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)

Posted on Jul 24, 2015 7:38 PM

Reply

Answer 1

lllaass

Level 10

210,411 points

Jul 25, 2015 3:30 AM in response to Mke

http://www.ireckon.net/2013/03/force-rgb-mode-in-mac-os-x-to-fix-the-picture-qua lity-of-an-external-monitor#comments

Maybe

Re: Blurry Text On Dell UltraSharp U3014

Reply

Answer 2

den.thed

Level 9

77,176 points

Jul 25, 2015 6:14 AM in response to Mke

What size is the Samsung monitor and what other inputs does it have...?

If the monitor is 24" or smaller and has DVI input, you can try an HDMI or Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter and DVI cable.

If the monitor is 27" or larger and has Display Port input, you can try using a simple Mini DisplayPort to Display Port cable.

Reply

Answer 3

Mke Author

Level 1

29 points

Jul 25, 2015 8:30 AM in response to den.thed

Thanks. Good questions. It's a 27 inch monitor. The only other input is RGB, as far as I can tell.

Reply

Answer 4

lllaass

Level 10

210,411 points

Jul 25, 2015 8:37 AM in response to Mke

What specific monitor?

How od is it?

Reply

Answer 5

Mke Author

Level 1

29 points

Jul 25, 2015 8:37 AM in response to lllaass

Thanks for your help. Unfortunately, I get an error message when trying to access the first link.

Mike

Reply

Answer 6

den.thed

Level 9

77,176 points

Jul 25, 2015 8:58 AM in response to Mke

We ask asking for the specific Samsung model, because their combination of inputs has changed over the years.

You might also look at > http://www.cnet.com/news/hdmi-vs-displayport-vs-dvi-vs-vga-which-connection-to-c hoose/

and/or > http://www.eizoglobal.com/library/basics/displayport_to_d-sub/ to see if those help in choosing the best connection.

Reply

Answer 7

lllaass

Level 10

210,411 points

Jul 25, 2015 9:01 AM in response to Mke

I just clicked on the first link and it opened fine:

http://www.ireckon.net/2013/03/force-rgb-mode-in-mac-os-x-to-fix-the-picture-qua lity-of-an-external-monitor#comments

Mke wrote:

Thanks for your help. Unfortunately, I get an error message when trying to access the first link.

Mike

Reply

Answer 8

Mke Author

Level 1

29 points

Jul 25, 2015 11:12 AM in response to lllaass

Thanks. The monitor is a Samsung S23C570, which I bought new in January 2014.

It has an HDMI port and an RGB port.

And I was able to use the link you posted above. Thanks Again.

Mike

Reply

Answer 9

Mke Author

Level 1

29 points

Jul 25, 2015 11:14 AM in response to den.thed

Thanks again. I'll take a look at the references you provided. The monitor is a Samsung S23C570 that I bought new in January 2014. The images have never been right, but I've just lived with it. I thought I'd try to do something to better enjoy it.

Reply

Answer 10

lllaass

Level 10

210,411 points

Jul 25, 2015 12:46 PM in response to Mke

Your monitor is 1920x1080 and has both:

- HDMI and

- VGA inputs.

Try a mini displayport>VGA adopter. The mini displayport end plugs into one of the Mini's Thunderbolt ports.

Reply

Answer 11

Mke Author

Level 1

29 points

Jul 25, 2015 5:04 PM in response to lllaass

Thanks for your help and your patience. The port on my monitor is labeled RBG. Is RBG a type of VGA input? I've been confused about that.

I'll hit Fry's tomorrow.

Reply

Answer 12

lllaass

Level 10

210,411 points

Jul 26, 2015 1:51 AM in response to Mke

I Googled you monitor and it said HDMI and VGA input.

Connectivity

Input Video Compatibility: Analog RGB, Digital

Connectors: D-Sub, HDMI, Audio Out; D-Sub is the connector for VGA and VGA is analogue RGB; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001804

Reply

Answer 13

Jul 6, 2016 12:37 PM in response to Mke

I've been working on this for months, off and on. After trying the "force rgb" item above, with no improvement, I decided to try something that turned out to be the solution in my case. late 2012 iMac, samsung s23hc570h 23 inch monitor, connected via hdmi. Running el capitan, 10.11.5

I can't say I noticed any problems with images, but fonts looked horrible -- blocked, not smoothed, bad enough that it was hard to read emails, webpages, etc.

The "force rgb" fix pointed to the solution for me. If you go through that process, it makes a folder to be put into displays overrides. The instructions indicate "if there is a same-named folder, replace it (back up first if you like)". In my case, the solution was to turn off SIP, _remove_ the folder from the display overrides, and restart.

For whatever reason, the folder that had been there originally, as well as the ruby script-produced replacement folder, both were unnecessary. If I hadn't run the script, I wouldn't have known what folder to remove. In my case, it was "DisplayVendorID-4c2d".

Run the "force rgb" script, and instead of replacing the same-named folder, remove (don't delete) the same-named folder, and restart. You can restore it if nothing changes.

Reply