Monitor Resolution Question

Just get a 2560x1440 display like the Dell U2713HM
Make sure when getting a higher resolution screen it has either a Display Port or Mini Display port connector. Messing with DP->Dual Link DVI adapters is not recommended, and costs a lot.

asimmd said:

Hi All

I have been using a Dell 24" Monitor with my Late 2012 Mac Mini for a while but i would like to upgrade it to a 27",any make will be ok.

My dealer say's that it would be a bad move as the resolution on a 27" would make the text very small,they are usually 1920 x 1080.

I mainly use the Mini for Logic Pro and internet,i don't play games,except for Angry Birds.

Does this mean i will never be able to have a larger monitor?

Comments appreciated.

Thanks

Alan

Click to expand...

I assume your "dealer" probably doesn't have a 1440P 27" monitor in stock then. Frankly going 27" on anything OTHER than 1440P is awful unless all you want to do is game on it.

Assuming you are using a 1200P 24" monitor, you have a DPI of roughly 95. Going to a 1440P 27" only raises the DPI to 108.

See for yourself: http://www.sven.de/dpi/

Yes everything will be smaller, but you will have more desktop space. If you don't go to a higher resolution, then all you are doing is increasing the size of everything on your screen, but your desktop "space" is the same.

1080p is fine on a 27" monitor if you are watching movies or playing games, but 1440p is better if you are viewing text. It looks sharper. The pixels are packed tighter together. You can always adjust the zoom on text until it looks the proper size.

It looks like your current monitor is 1920x1080 (full HD) If you were to upgrade screen size and keep the same full HD resolution then everything would actually appear larger.

Hi,

Last month I bought a 27" 2560 x 1440 Dell monitor. I've connected it to 2012 macmini through a minidp-dp cable. My last monitor (a 24" 1920 x 1200 LG) is still connected a through hdmi cable.

Both of them work properly, and the increased workspace is spectacular (if you have enough physical space, i would recommend this configuration).

Regards

asimmd said:

Hi All

I have been using a Dell 24" Monitor with my Late 2012 Mac Mini for a while but i would like to upgrade it to a 27",any make will be ok.

My dealer say's that it would be a bad move as the resolution on a 27" would make the text very small,they are usually 1920 x 1080.

I mainly use the Mini for Logic Pro and internet,i don't play games,except for Angry Birds.

Does this mean i will never be able to have a larger monitor?

Comments appreciated.

Thanks

Alan

Click to expand...

A 27" screen with a 1920 x 1080 resolution would be horrible IMHO. 2560 x 1440 is a much better choice.

Apple fanboy said:

A 27" screen with a 1920 x 1080 resolution would be horrible IMHO. 2560 x 1440 is a much better choice.

Click to expand...

I have both resolutions, 1 monitor is Asus PB278 with 2560x1440 and 2nd monitor is LG 27EA33V with 1920x1080

I find the 1920x1080 best for watching movies and tv shows in HD as there is no scaling and the Asus I use for everything else.

Dan

blanka said:

Just get a 2560x1440 display like the Dell U2713HM
Make sure when getting a higher resolution screen it has either a Display Port or Mini Display port connector. Messing with DP->Dual Link DVI adapters is not recommended, and costs a lot.

Click to expand...

sorry but can't get the problem and advantage of display port on monitor
can't just use a mini display port -> DVI adapter?

al404 said:

sorry but can't get the problem and advantage of display port on monitor
can't just use a mini display port -> DVI adapter?

Click to expand...

From others experiences, it seems getting a dual-link DVI signal out of the mini DisplayPort is an unreliable venture, a lot can happen depending on the specific monitor model, the mac's graphic card, and the convertor in use. In theory this works, but in practice it is a wild zoo. Therefore it is recommended to find a monitor that already has a legit Displayport to avoid potential headaches. And if you are getting a new model, pretty much across all brands they have the DP port anyway, the problem is on the last batch of 2560x1440 monitors that only has D-DVI.

The smaller font is easily handable. Icons are never a prob. Upon surfing you can increase everything with command +. So go for the 27''. I'm using a dell 2413h (more expensive than the hm, the hm will probably suit you perfectly). These dells have a displayPort and with the h-version they deliver a cable in the box to connect it to the mac mini. Great choice !

al404 said:

sorry but can't get the problem and advantage of display port on monitor
can't just use a mini display port -> DVI adapter?

Click to expand...

You can't use a CHEAP MDP to DVI. That will only give you a single-link DVI which maxes out at 1920 x 1200. You have to move up to the MDP -> Dual-Link DVI cable which is $60+. That's the only way to get to 2560x1440 using DVI AND the expensive Dual-link DVI adapters are unreliable at best. Go find one and you will see a lot of disappointed reviews (even Apple's)...

So no. If you really want greater than 1920x1200 (i.e. 1200P), you really should use MDP to MDP cable or an MDP to DP (if your monitor doesn't have MDP). Those are $10 cables at best. You can buy HP ZR2740w for less than $500 ($469? at B&H) which by the time you buy a Cheap Korean (without DP) and add a MDP to Dual DVI (that may not even work) you are in the ball park of the HP!