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Late 2012 Mac Mini 4K Video

Hello,


Looking for assistance - I purchased an LG 4K monitor (27UD68) for my Late 2012 Mac Mini. It's a 2.6GHz quad-core i7 with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB Fusion Drive on Sierra 10.12.1.


Apple's Tech Spec page for this Mac Mini Mac mini (Late 2012) - Technical Specifications states the following outputs for this Mac Mini - Specifically, I'm trying to use 3840x2160:


HDMI video output

  • Support for 1080p resolution at up to 60Hz
  • Support for 3840-by-2160 resolution at 30Hz
  • Support for 4096-by-2160 resolution at 24Hz


When I connect to the display using an HDMI however, there is no option for anything greater than 1080P. Looking for any assistance please.


Thank you!

Mac mini, macOS Sierra (10.12.1), 2.6GHz Quad-Core i7 16GB RAM

Posted on Nov 12, 2016 8:30 AM

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Posted on Feb 26, 2017 11:29 AM

The Late 2012 Mac Mini can output 4K via DisplayPort, but it is not officially supported.


If you use Mac OS Sierra*, you need to follow these steps:


1. Disable System Integrity Protection (enter "csrutil disable" in the Terminal App when in Recovery mode).

2. Download and install SwitchResX.

3. Add the required custom resolution (3840x2160@30Hz), save, reboot.

4. Apply the 4K resolution (3840x2160 or hidpi/retina 1920x1080 in System Preferences).

5. If you encounter some initial graphical glitches in the toolbar, you have to log out and log in again (no reboot required).


Hope this helps.


* OS X Versions prior to El Capitan needed a special "Pixel Clock" patch to enable 4K.

9 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Feb 26, 2017 11:29 AM in response to Johnny Ryall

The Late 2012 Mac Mini can output 4K via DisplayPort, but it is not officially supported.


If you use Mac OS Sierra*, you need to follow these steps:


1. Disable System Integrity Protection (enter "csrutil disable" in the Terminal App when in Recovery mode).

2. Download and install SwitchResX.

3. Add the required custom resolution (3840x2160@30Hz), save, reboot.

4. Apply the 4K resolution (3840x2160 or hidpi/retina 1920x1080 in System Preferences).

5. If you encounter some initial graphical glitches in the toolbar, you have to log out and log in again (no reboot required).


Hope this helps.


* OS X Versions prior to El Capitan needed a special "Pixel Clock" patch to enable 4K.

Jun 11, 2017 2:04 AM in response to h11mm1ch43l

Without going into Terminal and using SwitchResX you can use an Active HDMI to Mini Display port adapter to achieve 4K resolution on a Late 2012 Mac Mini. I have that model Mini and can achieve 3840 X 2160 resolution on a 50" 4K flat screen.

The adapter is: Amazon.com: gofanco ACTIVE Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter (Black) – Up to Ultra HD 4K @ 60Hz, Thunderbolt 2 Compatible…

The only caveats are the menu bar is painfully small and the refresh rate is only 30Hz.

As discussed in a previous posting this might be possible because the TV does have an upscale engine in it but the resolution will appear in both Default for display and Scaled.

User uploaded file

Jun 21, 2017 4:34 PM in response to Steve1234

Hi,

I've managed to get 4k with your instructions. Thank you for this!

With adaptor Mini DisplayPort to HDMI I had problems (not working as it should or I didn't try enought), so I switched to adaptor Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort and it's working. Great!


I'm so used to have two monitors that I would really like to figure it out how to use also second monitor 🙂

I have an old 17" monitor (VGA), that I've been using till now on Mac Mini late 2012 (with 24" primary monitor before buying this new 4K monitor) and it would be still OK for second monitor.


Does anybody know maybe if there is any way to get working 2 monitors somehow and one of them is 4K?

Maybe with even lower refresh rate? Or would make any difference if I use USB to VGA adaptor and not with HDMI to VGA?


Thank you in advance,

Ales

Jul 11, 2017 12:26 AM in response to ales123

Has anyone facing the problem with the use of 4k display on the Mac mini late 2012, that aprox. once per week display don’t show the picture (black screen) - no input? Usually this happen when I wake computer from sleep. It seems that graphic card don’t send any signal.

After force shutdown the mac (with button), everything works fine.

Nov 12, 2016 8:38 AM in response to Johnny Ryall

This part of the specs:

  • Support for 3840-by-2160 resolution at 30Hz
  • Support for 4096-by-2160 resolution at 24Hz

is an error, That applies to the 2014 Mac Mini, not the 2012.

Your Mac supports :Support for up to two displays at 2560 by 1600 pixels, both at millions of colors from the Thunderbolt port with suitable adopter.

The HDMI port support max of 1920x1200

Late 2012 Mac Mini 4K Video

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