Upgrading a Monitor

[hughvane]

Mac Mini 2018, i7 processor, plenty of RAM. What monitor might be best be suited, and, most importantly, what maximum size for the Mini's graphics function?

Lots of basic use, but also some gaming. The present Samsung 24" is adequate, no major grizzles, but I think there might be something better for an older person with dodgy - and diminishing - eyesight. Keep in mind this is from NZ, and Apple monitor prices are somewhere near troposphere level. We have Benq, LG, Dell, Viewsonic etc available.

Recommendations/suggestions welcome, TIA.

 

[MacInWin]

Others will chime in, but one thing to think about is that if you get a monitor with very high resolution, the results may be that the fonts on the screen are very small. Ditto for icons, etc. You can make them bigger, of course, but then I would have to ask why have high resolution screen to display low resolution things? Anyway, you'll get a ton of suggestions, but frankly, I think the best thing to do is find what the Mini can do, then go to the nearest store and look at what all those monitors can do with that output (if you can).

 

[harryb2448]

In my Mac Pro days mate i was very much in favour of BenQ monitors, great units at reasonable prices such as:-

https://www.mwave.com.au/product/benq-el2870u-28-4k-uhd-hdr-freesync-1ms-gaming-monitor-ac24647

 

[ferrarr]

Don't forget, you can also add a second monitor. I use two displays with my Mini.

 

[krs]

Others will chime in, but one thing to think about is that if you get a monitor with very high resolution, the results may be that the fonts on the screen are very small. Ditto for icons, etc.

That's the first thing that came to my mind as well.

You can make them bigger, of course, but then I would have to ask why have high resolution screen to display low resolution things?

Also, and this depends on the monitor, I find that when one increases the font size, they often get a bit fuzzy.

My eyesight isn't the greatest either but with me it's an issue with contrast not the size of the fonts.
I second what Jake said - look at as many monitors in stores as you can to see which one works best for you. The 2018 Mini can probably drive any of those.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

The tech specs tells you what the video support is:

• Up to three displays:
  Two displays with 4096-by-2304 resolution at 60Hz connected via Thunderbolt 3 plus one display with 4096-by-2160 resolution at 60Hz connected via HDMI 2.0
• Up to two displays:
  One display with 5120-by-2880 resolution at 60Hz connected via Thunderbolt 3 plus one display with 4096-by-2160 resolution at 60Hz connected via HDMI 2.0

So that's the max number of displays and resolution. As the others have said, the higher the resolution, on a smaller monitor the smaller the font. I would recommend sticking with no more than 2k on a 27" monitor. You might jump up to 32" monitor if you want based on your budget.

Like @ferrarr I have two displays attached to my Mac Mini 2018. Both ViewSonic's, one. is a 27" and the other is 21.5" in portrait mode.

 

[hughvane]

Thanks for the responses so far. Text size and focus is not really an issue at this stage (eyes/fingers crossed) and it's remarkable the imporvements one can achieve by cleaning one's spectacle lenses . I use Verdana 16 in TextEdit to compose/compile documents, eg. emails, then reduce the size to 12 to paste into the final copy.

Resolution is more applicable to gaming images/video. The present Samsung 24" is connected to the Mini via HDMI to give 1920 x 1080 (1080p FHD - Full High Definition) @ 60 Hz maximum. That is, as said, adequate for many tasks, but if I understand correctly what I'm being told, it's pretty basic.

Advice says I can connect a second or alternative monitor with higher resolution via Thunderbolt. Lack of space will provide a serious challenge, but that's my problem.

There are:
1. native T'bolt/USB-C monitors out there, Lenovo, Asus, Dell, etc, or
2. a direct cable connector (not cheap), or
3. a cheap USB-C>HDMI adaptor.
Any thoughts or advice about those three options?

 

[hughvane]

In my Mac Pro days mate i was very much in favour of BenQ monitors, great units at reasonable prices

Thanks Harry, good to read from you, and to know you're still kicking over there. Will investigate Benq in relation to USB-C etc (see above).

Cheers ..... Hugh

 

[Randy B. Singer]

Any thoughts or advice about those three options?

You want a Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter, NOT a USB-C to HDMI adapter. The later isn't likely to work.

This adapter is inexpensive, and many users have used it and reported excellent success:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07THJGZ9Z/?tag=macforums0e4-20

 

[Slydude]

Off on a mild tangent here, but I'll mention it since the topic of second monitors has come up.

I have used a second monitor with my Macs for years. When I replaced my old Samsung monitor, I got an ultrawide LG monitor. I thought I would like the ultrawide monitor, but I find the different aspect ratios between it and the iMac distracting. It's a great monitor, and the wider aspect is great for watching videos, but I find it distracting for most things I do.

 

[chscag]

I thought I would like the ultrawide monitor, but I find the different aspect ratios between it and the iMac distracting. It's a great monitor, and the wider aspect is great for watching videos, but I find it distracting for most things I do.

I agree that when using an ultra-wide monitor such as the LG or Dell with an iMac the different aspect ratios would be distracting.

However, an ultra-wide used with a Mac Mini, or even a MacBook Pro or Air is much better. And like you said above, they're great for watching videos especially movies.

BTW, it appears (according to reliable rumors) that the new silicon iMac will have a larger screen, perhaps 32". I would love that provided the cost doesn't break the bank. LOL

 

[Slydude]

However, an ultra-wide used with a Mac Mini, or even a MacBook Pro or Air is much better. And like you said above, they're great for watching videos especially movies.

I have to agree. I've used my LG ultrawide monitor with a MacBook Air, and it works nicely.

 

[hughvane]

You want a Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter, NOT a USB-C to HDMI adapter.

Thank you for the straightener, I have now educated myself how T'b is different. Unfortunately, many retailers in NZ either don't know, or are not telling potential customers, that the adapter they're considering is the slower USB-C, it being described blandly as Mini Display port.

This adapter is inexpensive, and many users have used it and reported excellent success:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07THJGZ9Z/?tag=macforums0e4-20

It emphasises USB-C to HDMI and then only in brackets does it mention Thunderbolt. Do you know how compatibility is achieved? There's an updated Anker model too.

T'b monitors in NZ are quite expensive, the Apple brand exorbitantly so, therefore I have in reality to go the adapter way.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

Thank you for the straightener, I have now educated myself how T'b is different. Unfortunately, many retailers in NZ either don't know, or are not telling potential customers, that the adapter they're considering is the slower USB-C, it being described blandly as Mini Display port.

No....miniDisplayPort is an entirely different type of video connector from either USB-C or Thunderbolt.

It emphasises USB-C to HDMI and then only in brackets does it mention Thunderbolt. Do you know how compatibility is achieved?

For the ports in your particular Mac, USB-C is the hardware interface, and Thunderbolt is the protocol for that port. There are USB-C ports in other Macs where USB-C is the protocol for the port. Yours is not one of the latter.

 

[hughvane]

I found an adaptor on Ali for NZ$15 incl shipping, the outlets are 10 Gbps, 2K-4K and 5 Gbps (which I assume to be USB-C).

 

[Randy B. Singer]

I found an adaptor on Ali for NZ$15 incl shipping, the outlets are 10 Gbps, 2K-4K and 5 Gbps (which I assume to be USB-C).

Thunderbolt 3 (using a USB-C connector) is capable of transmitting data at a rate of 40 Gbps
Thunderbolt 2 (using a mini DisplayPort connector) is capable of transmitting at a rate of 20 Gbps
USB-C (non-Thunderbolt) can run at either 5Gbps or 10Gbps
USB 3.1 is capable of transmitting at a rate of 10 Gbps
USB 3.0 is capable of transmitting at a rate of 5 Gbps

It very much sounds like the adapter that you have found DOES NOT support Thunderbolt, and you need an adapter that does support Thunderbolt.

 

[jpdemers]

Mac Mini 2018, i7 processor, plenty of RAM. What monitor might be best be suited, and, most importantly, what maximum size for the Mini's graphics function?

I have the same Mini, currently using a Dell 32" monitor (S3219D) that was fairly inexpensive. Works well enough for my purposes - office apps and some video viewing - with my retired 27" iMac now serving as a second monitor. As others have noted, you should be able to use pretty much any HD or 4K monitor.
(No need to splurge on a Thunderbolt monitor, unless you want/need to chain other devices through it.)

One bit of advice: the display port to HDMI adapter needs to be a good one with active electronics, and not a generic no-name $10 dongle. You don't have to spring for Apple's $70 gadget; Amazon has 'em for $20-$30. Same goes for Thunderbolt-to-HDMI adapters.

 

[barbnor2]

My Imac crashed, so I went with the Mac Mini-M1. I bought an LG 24" but was dissatisfied with with because it didn't tilt. I returned it and got a Dell 27". It does swivel and for me that is necessary as I have bifocals. I am doing with out the camera and mike, but I didn't use Siri on my Imac and very seldom used the camera, so I didn't want to pay the extra money for them. So far so good.
Dell - SE2719HR 27" IPS LED FHD FreeSync Monitor (HDMI, VGA) - Piano Black Model: SE2719HR