Max resolution of Mac mini

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I think that I may have already asked this question, but I'm not sure.

I have a mini that I got in June 2013. Currently it's hooked up to a 23" HD flat panel. I'm thinking about upgrading to a 27" flat panel. Yosemite is installed.

Unlike Windows, as far as I know, one cannot adjust the resolution of a monitor on a Mac. Does the computer somehow determine the resolution of the monitor & set it? What is the maximum resolution of my mini?
 
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pigoo3

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Unlike Windows, as far as I know, one cannot adjust the resolution of a monitor on a Mac.

Have you ever been to "System Preferences"...and opened the "Display" control panel?

Does the computer somehow determine the resolution of the monitor & set it? What is the maximum resolution of my mini?

Usually the computer detects (or the monitor itself communicates) the "native" resolution of the monitor.

Max. resolution on your Mini is:

- 1920x1200 via he HDMI port
- 2560x1600 via the Thunderbolt/Mini DisplayPort

Also realize that going from a 23" display to a 27" display does not necesarily mean you will have a larger resolution (you need to very carefully examine the specs of the two displays).

For example...you may currently have a 23" display with a native resolution of 1920 x 1080. 27" displays you may be condsidering purchasing may also have a native resolution of 1920 x 1080.

Which means that even though the 27" display is 4" larger diagonally...both displays will "display" the exact same amount of info. The "stuff" on the 27" display will just be larger.

So if your goal is to get a "greater resolution monitor" (be able to display more info). Make sure the monitor you choose has a resolution greater than the 23" you currently have.

- Nick
 
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MacInWin

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Also be aware that a "greater resolution monitor" might well result in everything being smaller to display that greater information.
 
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Also realize that going from a 23" display to a 27" display does not necessarily mean you will have a larger resolution (you need to very carefully examine the specs of the two displays).

For example...you may currently have a 23" display with a native resolution of 1920 x 1080. 27" displays you may be considering purchasing may also have a native resolution of 1920 x 1080.

Which means that even though the 27" display is 4" larger diagonally...both displays will "display" the exact same amount of info. The "stuff" on the 27" display will just be larger.

So if your goal is to get a "greater resolution monitor" (be able to display more info). Make sure the monitor you choose has a resolution greater than the 23" you currently have.


The 23" monitor that I have has a resolution of 1920x1080. The 27" monitor that I want also has a resolution of 1920x1080. On my 23" monitor, I am able to put two 8.5"x11" documents side-by-side without overlapping, but the bottom of the page is cut off. The 27" monitor has more "real estate". I would think(hope) that the bottom of a document on a 27" monitor would not be cut off.
 

pigoo3

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The 27" monitor has more "real estate".

"Physically" yes...the 27" monitor has more screen real estate (27" is larger than 23").

But as I mentioned in my earlier post. "Physical Dimensions" don't matter...what matters is the display resolution. If both monitors (23" and 27") both have a display resolution of 1920 x 1080...then they both will display the EXACT same amount of information. The difference being...that the info on the 27" will be larger (easier to read).

- Nick
 
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MacInWin

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Nick types faster than I do, but here is another shot at exactly what he said.

It's the pixel count that is driving the display. Lets say that the page you want to show is 1200 pixels tall. On your 23" monitor at 1920x1080, the bottom 120 pixel rows is cut off. On the 27" 1920x1080, the same 120 pixel rows will be cut off. Now if you can somehow show the page in "real size" the 27" monitor should be slightly taller, so less will be cut off, but that's at a different zoom. You could also use the same zoom level on the 23" monitor and the entire page will show there, too. Just smaller.

It's hard to describe without pictures, but I hope that helped.
 

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If you want more "screen real estate" (then as an example)...you want to get something like this:

Dell UltraSharp 27" 2560x1440 LCD Display for $525 + free shipping - U2715H

A 27" monitor with a resolution of 2560 x 1440. See how 2560 x 1440 is larger than 1920 x 1080. This is how you get more display real estate (be able to display more info).

And...as MacInWin mentioned above. When you get a monitor with more screen real estate like this (2560 x 1440). Even though it is larger (27") you have to be careful...the text may be smaller. Which some folks who don't have the best eyes may not like.

So it's REALLY BEST...to go to a store and see what a 27" monitor with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 looks like before buying. Or if you purchase it via the internet (and can't see it in person first)...you may not like it...and want to return it. So make sure returns are not a problem where you buy it from.

- Nick
 
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MacInWin

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Yeah, jumping from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 will make the fonts about half the size on the same monitor (you are shrinking a letter by about 25% each way, which makes them about 9/16ths the size, or roughly half). So if you have any problem seeing things on the 1920x1080 screen, it's only going to be worse at 2560x1440. And the physical increase of 4 inches from 23 to 27 is only 17% larger, so the net is still going to be that letters look to be about 33% smaller on the 27', 2560x1440 than on the 23" 1920x1080.

EDIT: But you can put more letters on the bigger screen, if you can see them!
 

pigoo3

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Yeah, jumping from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 will make the fonts about half the size on the same monitor (you are shrinking a letter by about 25% each way, which makes them about 9/16ths the size, or roughly half). So if you have any problem seeing things on the 1920x1080 screen, it's only going to be worse at 2560x1440. And the physical increase of 4 inches from 23 to 27 is only 17% larger, so the net is still going to be that letters look to be about 33% smaller on the 27', 2560x1440 than on the 23" 1920x1080.

Your brain must be working pretty sharply at 11:18pm to do all that calculating!;)

- Nick
 

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