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Apple Computing Products:
macOS - Desktop Hardware
External display horrible to look at on 1080p monitor connected via HDMI to Mac Mini M2
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<blockquote data-quote="manzanillo" data-source="post: 1935953" data-attributes="member: 94111"><p>IMHO this is pretty simple. I've done a similar job shopping for a monitor for my daughter in her first year in Uni, she's spending a lot of time watching lectures on her macbook pro. I wanted to provide more workspace and better posture working from her desk, and easy on the eyes. A laptop riser, Monitor, and external KBD and Mouse was the solution.</p><p></p><p>Looking at your challenge, I'm sourcing my info from the Mactracker app (a godsend for macheads IMHO).</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Your 12 year old iMac (I've assumed is a mid-2011 27 inch)</strong><br /> Built-in Display resolution: 2560 by 1440 pixels (LED-backlit glossy widescreen TFT LCD) - let's call that approx 2k<br /> External resolution Up: to 2560 by 1600 pixels</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Your M2 Mac Mini: </strong><br /> External Resolution: Up to 4096 by 2160 pixels at 60Hz (HDMI with M2) Up to 7680 by 4320 pixels at 60Hz (HDMI with M2 Pro) Up to 6016 by 3384 pixels at 60 Hz (Thunderbolt)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Your new 27" FHD Monitor</strong><br /> Built-in Display resolution: 1920x1080p. </li> </ul><p>We're ignoring brightness (nits), glossy, or response time. You're used to looking at something like 2k resolution with your 27" iMac; your MacMini is capable of 4k resolution and you're hamstringing it with lower resultion than you'd get on most laptops (particularly Apple laptops!). The "FHD" monitor is your issue, IMHO.</p><p></p><p>In our case, we did a proof of concept. We tried my Daughter's M1 13" Macbook Pro connected to my Wife's work-from-home setup, an HP USB-C hub connected via HDMI to a standard Samsung 24" FHD monitor, the LS24F350. Although it gave her more screen real-estate, and improved her neck position, it would strain my daughter's eyes long-term as the text isn't particularly crisp with the MacBook Pro downscaling to work the FHD 24" panel. Her MacBook Pro has the following specs:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>MacBook Pro 2020 M1 13"</strong><br /> <em>Built-in Display resolution:</em> Native is 2560-by-1600 (Retina). Scaled resolutions: 1680 by 1050, 1440 by 900, and 1024 by 640 pixels<br /> <em>External resolution:</em> One external 6K display with 6016 by 3384 resolution at 60 Hz, or Dual display extended, video mirroring, AirPlay Mirroring, and Sidecar; Up to 6016 by 3384 resolution at 60 Hz.<br /> <em>Samsung LS24F350 resolution: </em>Resolution 1920 x 1080, 250 cd/m² brightness</li> </ul><p>To repeat - the standard 24" HD 1920x1080p monitor was passable but yechhh when compared with her native MBP screen.</p><p></p><p>We were value-shopping, so a business monitor with two HDMI inputs was what we sought, 4k was the answer to providing a decent user experience, and taking advantage of the available video output from the MBP. Running an extended dsesktop from the MBP, we wanted a display that would stack up visually.</p><p></p><p>Perhaps a USB-C connection would be better - I didn't dig deep enough into Thunderbolt to determine if this should be a priority, </p><p></p><p>We bought a USB-C hub to take the thunderbolt USB-C output to HDMI monitor, and got a deal on a Dell 4K 27" monitor (S2721QS) that'll work nicely for 'business' type apps, the occasional bit of photo-editing, and streaming TV from an AppleTV 4k.</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>MacBook Pro 2020 M1 13"</strong><br /> <em>Built-in Display resolution:</em> Native is 2560-by-1600 (Retina). Scaled resolutions: 1680 by 1050, 1440 by 900, and 1024 by 640 pixels<br /> <em>External resolution:</em> One external 6K display with 6016 by 3384 resolution at 60 Hz, or Dual display extended, video mirroring, AirPlay Mirroring, and Sidecar; Up to 6016 by 3384 resolution at 60 Hz.<br /> <em>Dell S2721QS:</em> 4K 3840 x 2160 at 60 Hz. 350 cd/m² brightness</li> </ul><p>You may have greater demands (video or photo editing) - shop carefully. </p><p></p><p>There are Dell monitors with USB-C hub, and the Ultrasharp range, and some are calibratable. There's also the question of what compromise the USB-C hub we're using for connectivity brings to the video, rather than a native monitor - these are considerations that may be of primary importance to you. Of course there are other monitor options than Dell, plenty out there and you can lose yourself for a couple of days readimg tests etc. I found RTINGS pretty useful.</p><p></p><p>Hope that helps.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="manzanillo, post: 1935953, member: 94111"] IMHO this is pretty simple. I've done a similar job shopping for a monitor for my daughter in her first year in Uni, she's spending a lot of time watching lectures on her macbook pro. I wanted to provide more workspace and better posture working from her desk, and easy on the eyes. A laptop riser, Monitor, and external KBD and Mouse was the solution. Looking at your challenge, I'm sourcing my info from the Mactracker app (a godsend for macheads IMHO). [LIST] [*][B]Your 12 year old iMac (I've assumed is a mid-2011 27 inch)[/B] Built-in Display resolution: 2560 by 1440 pixels (LED-backlit glossy widescreen TFT LCD) - let's call that approx 2k External resolution Up: to 2560 by 1600 pixels [*][B]Your M2 Mac Mini: [/B] External Resolution: Up to 4096 by 2160 pixels at 60Hz (HDMI with M2) Up to 7680 by 4320 pixels at 60Hz (HDMI with M2 Pro) Up to 6016 by 3384 pixels at 60 Hz (Thunderbolt) [*][B]Your new 27" FHD Monitor[/B] Built-in Display resolution: 1920x1080p. [/LIST] We're ignoring brightness (nits), glossy, or response time. You're used to looking at something like 2k resolution with your 27" iMac; your MacMini is capable of 4k resolution and you're hamstringing it with lower resultion than you'd get on most laptops (particularly Apple laptops!). The "FHD" monitor is your issue, IMHO. In our case, we did a proof of concept. We tried my Daughter's M1 13" Macbook Pro connected to my Wife's work-from-home setup, an HP USB-C hub connected via HDMI to a standard Samsung 24" FHD monitor, the LS24F350. Although it gave her more screen real-estate, and improved her neck position, it would strain my daughter's eyes long-term as the text isn't particularly crisp with the MacBook Pro downscaling to work the FHD 24" panel. Her MacBook Pro has the following specs: [LIST] [*][B]MacBook Pro 2020 M1 13"[/B] [I]Built-in Display resolution:[/I] Native is 2560-by-1600 (Retina). Scaled resolutions: 1680 by 1050, 1440 by 900, and 1024 by 640 pixels [I]External resolution:[/I] One external 6K display with 6016 by 3384 resolution at 60 Hz, or Dual display extended, video mirroring, AirPlay Mirroring, and Sidecar; Up to 6016 by 3384 resolution at 60 Hz. [I]Samsung LS24F350 resolution: [/I]Resolution 1920 x 1080, 250 cd/m² brightness [/LIST] To repeat - the standard 24" HD 1920x1080p monitor was passable but yechhh when compared with her native MBP screen. We were value-shopping, so a business monitor with two HDMI inputs was what we sought, 4k was the answer to providing a decent user experience, and taking advantage of the available video output from the MBP. Running an extended dsesktop from the MBP, we wanted a display that would stack up visually. Perhaps a USB-C connection would be better - I didn't dig deep enough into Thunderbolt to determine if this should be a priority, We bought a USB-C hub to take the thunderbolt USB-C output to HDMI monitor, and got a deal on a Dell 4K 27" monitor (S2721QS) that'll work nicely for 'business' type apps, the occasional bit of photo-editing, and streaming TV from an AppleTV 4k. [LIST] [*][B]MacBook Pro 2020 M1 13"[/B] [I]Built-in Display resolution:[/I] Native is 2560-by-1600 (Retina). Scaled resolutions: 1680 by 1050, 1440 by 900, and 1024 by 640 pixels [I]External resolution:[/I] One external 6K display with 6016 by 3384 resolution at 60 Hz, or Dual display extended, video mirroring, AirPlay Mirroring, and Sidecar; Up to 6016 by 3384 resolution at 60 Hz. [I]Dell S2721QS:[/I] 4K 3840 x 2160 at 60 Hz. 350 cd/m² brightness [/LIST] You may have greater demands (video or photo editing) - shop carefully. There are Dell monitors with USB-C hub, and the Ultrasharp range, and some are calibratable. There's also the question of what compromise the USB-C hub we're using for connectivity brings to the video, rather than a native monitor - these are considerations that may be of primary importance to you. Of course there are other monitor options than Dell, plenty out there and you can lose yourself for a couple of days readimg tests etc. I found RTINGS pretty useful. Hope that helps. [/QUOTE]
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External display horrible to look at on 1080p monitor connected via HDMI to Mac Mini M2
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