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Good Monitor for a Mac Mini

mjt57

mjt57

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 16, 2013
201
19
South Eastern Australia
I'm doing research as to what monitor would best suit my new Mac Mini (my first Mac computer of any kind).

Currently I have an ancient Benq 22" monitor with a max res of around 1600x something (dunno what, exactly). It's connected via the supplied HDMI to DVI adapter.

I'm reading about 27" monitors with 2500x1500 or similar figures but they're expensive. The standard 1920x1080 27s are more affordable but without being able to actually connect one up to the MM and to try it out, I'm reluctant to spend the money.

I'd like to hear from folks who have the larger monitors and how they go, compared to the iMac 27 or iMac 21, for example.

Thanks

Martin
 
F

fa8362

macrumors 68000
Jul 7, 2008
1,571
498
There are monitor reviews all over the internet. There is no synergy between a monitor and a computer, so a good monitor is good for any headless computer, whether it's a mini or something else.
 
sjinsjca

sjinsjca

macrumors 68020
Oct 30, 2008
2,238
555
I've heard good things about the high-end monitors offered for a good price by Monoprice.com. Worth checking out.
 
jbarley

jbarley

macrumors 601
Jul 1, 2006
4,023
1,893
Vancouver Island
I've just purchased an AOC monitor, and I'm very pleased with it.
It has twin HDMI inputs plus a Display port input.
I'm not a color professional but for the $175 this unit cost me it suits my needs perfectly.

edit:
I should mention I'm connected to my 2012 mini via HDMI.
 
Last edited:
F

fyremaker

macrumors newbie
Dec 11, 2012
3
0
phrehdd

phrehdd

macrumors 601
Oct 25, 2008
4,328
1,323
You really did not provide any info on what you are using the monitor for with your MM.

If you want to game - go for fast rise/fall times.
If you plan to do graphics or art or items like Photoshop - go for a graphics oriented monitor or similar that can be easily calibrated.
If you just need a very good generic - try a Dell Ultrasharp or something similar.
If you just want a monitor - just go cheap and hope for the best.

I do photo related tasks as well as watch movie media and thus the NEC PA series is ideal for my needs. It is a graphics oriented monitor.
 
N

NorCalLights

macrumors 6502a
Apr 24, 2006
600
89
I have had a Dell 24" Ultrasharp display since 2006, and it's still going strong. There's nothing I'd change about it.

Which is to say, you can find some great deals on used gear on eBay/Craigslist if you want to get adventurous. You can also check out Dell's refurbished store (Dell Outlet I think it's called).

If you go with a 24" display, make sure it has at least 1920x1200 resolution. If you go with a 27" display, look for 2560x1440. Anything less starts to look blurry to me sitting at a desk.
 
B

Bill6840

macrumors newbie
Nov 9, 2012
14
2
I'm using a Dell U2412M (24", 1920x1200 IPS) connected via the thunderbolt port to a DisplayPort on the monitor. Great monitor with zero issues. I mentioned this in another post, but I had no idea how good my Canon DSLR was until I saw the photos on this monitor!
 
fig

fig

macrumors 6502a
Jun 13, 2012
916
84
Austin, TX
Unless you have bad eyesight, 1080p on a 27" display just makes for really big text with no real gain of usable space. Look at a 23" or so 1080p display and you'll be in good shape, could even get two of them pretty cheaply. AOC, HP, and others make models you can find for under $200.
 
thefourthpope

thefourthpope

Contributor
Sep 8, 2007
1,397
742
DelMarVa
I've been using the same Apple flatscreen since I bought my first mini in 2009, and it's been fine for me. I don't do any pro-level stuff (hence the mini), but I find the brightness acceptable and the colors crisp enough.
 
mjt57

mjt57

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 16, 2013
201
19
South Eastern Australia
I ended up getting a 27" LG monitor with IPS. No display port inputs, just the usual. It's connected to the Mac Mini via HDMI.

Looks pretty good, so far.

Reading these comments, it reminds me of when I got my first computer, a Commodore 64. It had a 13" or 14" monitor, connected via composite video lead.

When I got my first "IBM compatible" it had a 14" CGA monitor. And of course, the technology progressed from there.

I was castigated for getting a 17" VGA monitor. Cost a small fortune back then and the usual "why do you need such a large monitor for?"

Now days, it seems that 23" is the defacto standard.

As for my 27", it wasn't all that long ago when 26" TVs were the norm for family lounge rooms.

If it wasn't for my poor eyesight I'd be happy with a smaller 21" or thereabouts. This larger one enables me to scale the web pages larger or smaller without the need for me to wear my reading glasses. It cost me $350 which is cheap compared to some that I've seen. But this is Australia, and electronics and other consumer goods aren't as cheap as the larger markets such as the US.

One of those 27" Dells with display port and higher (than 1080i/p_ res are over $700 here. So, for me, this was a reasonable deal.
 
E

ElectronGuru

macrumors 68000
Sep 5, 2013
1,656
489
Oregon, USA
Back when I was recommending computer setups, this dude was putting together a high end system for home, with some work uses. The budget allowed for high end spec tower and one screen. I recommended a minimal spec tower and two screens - explaining that extra screen space helps with speed and productivity more than processor, etc (beyond a certain point).

Came back a month later with a big smile on his face!
 
Giuly

Giuly

macrumors 68040
Oct 16, 2009
3,348
4
That depends whether you ask for timezone, state o
The Dell UltraSharp U2713HM is one of those 1440p displays with is similar to the 27" iMac and Thunderbolt display in image quality (minus the glossy yet anti-glare finish of the iMac), however it sounds more like you're looking for something like the Dell S2340M or HP Pavilion 23xi.

51XgHCFzBFL._SL1000_.jpg
41orUWGGWAL.jpg


Both are affordable, both have an IPS panel and both are 23" 1080p displays.
 
Fishrrman

Fishrrman

macrumors Penryn
Feb 20, 2009
28,500
12,636
[[ I ended up getting a 27" LG monitor with IPS ]]

I was wondering which one in particular you bought, and if there was a specific reason why you chose that one (instead of LG's other 27" models)?
 
OllyW

OllyW

Moderator
Staff member
Oct 11, 2005
17,196
6,800
The Black Country, England
Bill6840 said:
I'm using a Dell U2412M (24", 1920x1200 IPS) connected via the thunderbolt port to a DisplayPort on the monitor. Great monitor with zero issues. I mentioned this in another post, but I had no idea how good my Canon DSLR was until I saw the photos on this monitor!
Click to expand...

Shirke said:
Im using http://www.amazon.com/Dell-UltraSharp-24-Inch-LED-lit-Monitor/dp/B005JN9310/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379003549&sr=8-1&keywords=Dell+UltraSharp
Via this Cable http://www.amazon.com/Accell-B119B-007J-UltraAV-DisplayPort-Cable/dp/B004065DAC/ref=pd_sim_pc_6
Click to expand...

You can add my recommendation for this monitor.

Great quality and excellent value for money, it's a noticeable improvement from the screen on my 2007 24" iMac. :)
 
M

MrGIS

macrumors regular
Jul 30, 2010
193
60
Ontario Canada
mjt57 said:
I'm doing research as to what monitor would best suit my new Mac Mini (my first Mac computer of any kind).

Currently I have an ancient Benq 22" monitor with a max res of around 1600x something (dunno what, exactly). It's connected via the supplied HDMI to DVI adapter.

I'm reading about 27" monitors with 2500x1500 or similar figures but they're expensive. The standard 1920x1080 27s are more affordable but without being able to actually connect one up to the MM and to try it out, I'm reluctant to spend the money.

I'd like to hear from folks who have the larger monitors and how they go, compared to the iMac 27 or iMac 21, for example.

Thanks

Martin
Click to expand...

I have a Dell ultrasharp u2713hm and it is excellent, as in the u2412m.

----------
MrGIS said:
I have a Dell ultrasharp u2713hm and it is excellent, as in the u2412m.
Click to expand...

Wait for frequent sales before buying. 2713 often $200 -$250 off regular price, 2412 often reduced by $150
 
dylin

dylin

macrumors 6502a
Jun 10, 2010
663
52
California
just to keep things simple, here is mine so you get a good idea.

Its a Dell S2240M. 1920 by 1080 resolution. It's a slim profile monitor. Light weight with a relatively decent IPS display. Not too costly, got it on sale for $159 about a year ago. You can also go for its bigger brothers of the series, a 24 inch and a 27 inch.

Happy hunting :)
 

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ioannis2005gr

ioannis2005gr

macrumors 6502
Aug 10, 2013
495
0
Europe
DELL buys LG screens for its IPS models?
Do you have good experience with high-inches LG screens?

What about 24''-27'' ASUS and IIYAMA IPS monitors?
 
S

stevejensen57

macrumors newbie
Nov 12, 2014
1
0
fyremaker said:
... Dell UltraSharp U2312HM 23" IPS LED LCD Monitor ...
Click to expand...

Giuly said:
... Dell UltraSharp U2713HM ...
Click to expand...

I would recommend one of the Dell Ultrasharps. Here are some options(listed least to most expensive):

The U2312HM (mentioned by fyremaker) 23" IPS LED Monitor
The U2412M (mentioned in this article) 24" IPS LED Monitor
The U2713HM (mentioned by Giuly) 27" TFT LED Monitor

Good luck in your search!
 
Sun Baked

Sun Baked

macrumors G5
May 19, 2002
14,939
157
jbarley said:
I've just purchased an AOC monitor, and I'm very pleased with it.
It has twin HDMI inputs plus a Display port input.
I'm not a color professional but for the $175 this unit cost me it suits my needs perfectly.

edit:
I should mention I'm connected to my 2012 mini via HDMI.
Click to expand...

I ended up with the older 27" AOC I2757FH monitor, because it was a shelf unit in stock at Best Buy and had a matte display.

A lot brighter than my old fading iMac, but found that the AOC monitors have several settings and simply turned it to a "book/text" setting which dropped bright white level to a decent setting for me.

Stopped by the Post Office on the way to Best Buy when they had the monitor on sale to drop it to under $200.
 
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