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2014 Mac Mini resolution support?

M

Mikel30

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 11, 2004
89
24
I'm in the market for a Mac Mini, and I'm looking at buying a display at the same time. But figuring out what the Mini supports is so confusing, especially after the 10.10.3 update.

Apple's website shows that you can go up to 4k over HDMI, but capped at 24/30 Hz. Apparently over Thunderbolt / mini Displayport, you're capped at 2560x1600? But I'm pretty sure since the 10.10.3 update, I've seen reports of people running higher than that. But still supposedly at 30 Hz.

Anyone have concrete info?
 
Mikel30 said:
I'm in the market for a Mac Mini, and I'm looking at buying a display at the same time. But figuring out what the Mini supports is so confusing, especially after the 10.10.3 update.

Apple's website shows that you can go up to 4k over HDMI, but capped at 24/30 Hz. Apparently over Thunderbolt / mini Displayport, you're capped at 2560x1600? But I'm pretty sure since the 10.10.3 update, I've seen reports of people running higher than that. But still supposedly at 30 Hz.

Anyone have concrete info?
Click to expand...

I have the MM 2014 on 10.10.3, middle tier version. Running 3440 x 1440 on my LG 34UC97 @ 60Hz over Thunderbolt.

Everything works fine.
 
Mikel30 said:
I'm in the market for a Mac Mini, and I'm looking at buying a display at the same time. But figuring out what the Mini supports is so confusing, especially after the 10.10.3 update.

Apple's website shows that you can go up to 4k over HDMI, but capped at 24/30 Hz. Apparently over Thunderbolt / mini Displayport, you're capped at 2560x1600? But I'm pretty sure since the 10.10.3 update, I've seen reports of people running higher than that. But still supposedly at 30 Hz.

Anyone have concrete info?
Click to expand...

Briefly Apple had the 2014 Mac Mini listed as 4K capable at 60hz from the thunderbolt ports. They have since updated their documentation and removed the Mac Mini. With SwitchResX you can do 4K (okay really UHD) @ 52hz. That's about the best you can do.
 
See this is what confuses me. I see that it's oficially not supported but we have a user a couple of posts above saying it works on his LG monitor. And then we have users saying nope, not possible, max 52Hz.
 
MiniMe77 said:
See this is what confuses me. I see that it's oficially not supported but we have a user a couple of posts above saying it works on his LG monitor. And then we have users saying nope, not possible, max 52Hz.
Click to expand...

3440 x 1440 is approximately 5mil pixels

3840x2160 is approximately 8mil pixels

Therefore 3440 x 1440 is NOT anywhere close to 4K.
 
Now I'm Confused!

johndeere768 said:
I have the MM 2014 on 10.10.3, middle tier version. Running 3440 x 1440 on my LG 34UC97 @ 60Hz over Thunderbolt.

Everything works fine.
Click to expand...

MiniMe77 said:
See this is what confuses me. I see that it's oficially not supported but we have a user a couple of posts above saying it works on his LG monitor. And then we have users saying nope, not possible, max 52Hz.
Click to expand...

What is "it"?

Mikel30 originally asked a question about 4K display support at elevated scan rates. Because of his "confusing" experience sifting through the available information the OP asked for "concrete info" regarding the resolution limited of a mini running a current version of OS X.

What is confusing about johndeere768's success report? It is simply one more random report of a user who managed to run an oddball resolution at an elevated scan rate. Since "3440 x 1440" is not 4K, this resolution is not "it".

Paulrbeers typed it faster, "3440 x 1440 is NOT anywhere close to 4K."
 
Last edited:
I firmly believe that there is a place buried deep in the drivers where a 2014 Mini is told, quite sternly, that it can't do 4K 60Hz.

If I connect an eGPU GTX680 to the Mini I Can get lovely boot screens and game in OSX & Windows on a 4K Asus 321.

The BIG difference is that OSX only lets me do 4K at 30Hz. Same card & Mini booted into Windows runs 4K 60Hz with ease. So someplace in OSX is a blacklist that simply doesn't allow 4K 60hz.

If I put that same 680 in a Mac Pro I ca do 4K 60Hz. So the limit is set in the Mini itself.

And I doubt very much that switch resx can do anything about this until this liniting code is found and turned off. I can't say much more but I think it might be found in next few weeks.

Will be interesting.
 
Celerondon said:
What is "it"?

Mikel30 originally asked a question about 4K display support at elevated scan rates. Because of his "confusing" experience sifting through the available information the OP asked for "concrete info" regarding the resolution limited of a mini running a current version of OS X.

What is confusing about johndeere768's success report? It is simply one more random report of a user who managed to run an oddball resolution at an elevated scan rate. Since "3440 x 1440" is not 4K, this resolution is not "it".

Paulrbeers typed it faster, "3440 x 1440 is NOT anywhere close to 4K."
Click to expand...

Yeah, you are right. I didn't notice the 'x1440' part so kept assuming it was 4K he was talking about.

Oh well, shame. Still waiting for a new thunderbolt display anyway as I'm not sold on the non-glossy displays. Maybe somehow 3440x2160 could be ok at 30Hz on a new Apple Thunderbolt display.

However, I could have sworn other threads in here have people saying they have managed 4K at 60Hz...
 
Have an lg 34uc97 will it work with new mac mini

I have just bought this monitor and was going to buy the New Mac Mini, have heard resolution on Thunderbolt is maximum 2560x1600 where the LG 34UC97 is 3440x1440
Should i take the Monitor back and buy a New 27" iMac instead.
 
Munsworth said:
I have just bought this monitor and was going to buy the New Mac Mini, have heard resolution on Thunderbolt is maximum 2560x1600 where the LG 34UC97 is 3440x1440
Should i take the Monitor back and buy a New 27" iMac instead.
Click to expand...
Again 3440x1440 is no where near 4k and therefor the mini can push it at 60hz no problem.
 
What will the aspect be like on the screen, will everything be stretched.
Also can you adjust the Mac Mini to give you full resolution to suit the screen 3440x1440 or does this not make much difference
 
johndeere768 said:
I have the MM 2014 on 10.10.3, middle tier version. Running 3440 x 1440 on my LG 34UC97 @ 60Hz over Thunderbolt.

Everything works fine.
Click to expand...

Are you using Yosamite and how were you able to adjust resolution settings to suit 3440 x 1440 as far as i can see the maximum resolution using Thunderbolt is 2560x1600
 
I just purchased the mid model Mac Mini and a LG 34um95 display and I am getting a black border around the screen ... the connection is Thunderbolt 2 and the mini shows a res of 3440x1440 @ 60Hz but the screen is not filled up .. am I missing something or have something configured incorrectly?

I tried connecting a MBP 2012 to the display and it worked fine.
 
Munsworth said:
Are you using Yosamite and how were you able to adjust resolution settings to suit 3440 x 1440 as far as i can see the maximum resolution using Thunderbolt is 2560x1600
Click to expand...


Yup on Yosemite, just plug and play. Didn't even have to go into the settings to change the resolution.
 
I have just bought a brand new Mac Mini 2.6GHz i5 with the Iris graphics iGPU. I get full UHD on my Dell 2715Q with Thunderbolt out and mDP in at 30Hz. There is no other frequency offered as an option in Yosemite 10.10.3 with this monitor and resolution.
 
Last edited:
Since I'm owning mini2014 (1.4 ghz model upgraded with pcie ssd) for some time and has 4K SST display (samsung 28"), gonna report a bit:

Max resolution over hdmi for me - 3840x2160 @ 30 hz, max hidpi mode is 1920x1080
Max resolution over TB/MDP - 2560x1440 @ 60 hz

bootscreen can only be display on hdmi for this display.

Now when I conenct gtx670 to my MacMini Using akitio box and my special firmware, I get everything I want:

full 4k@60hz support on displayPort with 4k bootscreen from gtx670 and 2560x1440 hidpi mode in osx.
I just power-on mini, see 4k bootscreen, few moments(thanks to pcie ssd) and osx shows me 2560x1440 hidpi display at 60 hertz.

Really cool.

Windows is a bit harder, needs some TB cable replug.
 
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KeepCalmPeople said:
I have just bought a brand new Mac Mini 2.6GHz i5 with the Iris graphics iGPU. I get full UHD on my Dell 2715Q with Thunderbolt out and mDP in at 30Hz. There is no other frequency offered as an option in Yosemite 10.10.3 with this monitor and resolution.
Click to expand...

You have to use switchresx and create a custom setting to get UHD @ 52hz.

http://www.madrau.com/

It is not officially supported by Apple out of the box....
 
netkas said:
Since I'm owning mini2014 (1.4 ghz model upgraded with pcie ssd) for some time and has 4K SST display (samsung 28"), gonna report a bit:

Max resolution over hdmi for me - 3840x2160 @ 30 hz, max hidpi mode is 1920x1080
Max resolution over TB/MDP - 2560x1440 @ 60 hz

bootscreen can only be display on hdmi for this display.

Now when I conenct gtx670 to my MacMini Using akitio box and my special firmware, I get everything I want:

full 4k@60hz support on displayPort with 4k bootscreen from gtx670 and 2560x1440 hidpi mode in osx.
I just power-on mini, see 4k bootscreen, few moments(thanks to pcie ssd) and osx shows me 2560x1440 hidpi display at 60 hertz.

Really cool.

Windows is a bit harder, needs some TB cable replug.
Click to expand...
thanks , you did help me a lot, I have the same 1.4ghz, which seems to be the only one with an intel 5000 instead of intel iris, this raised doubts nobody could be willing to answer or test, thanks again
 
netkas said:
Since I'm owning mini2014 (1.4 ghz model upgraded with pcie ssd) for some time and has 4K SST display (samsung 28"), gonna report a bit:

Max resolution over hdmi for me - 3840x2160 @ 30 hz, max hidpi mode is 1920x1080
Max resolution over TB/MDP - 2560x1440 @ 60 hz

bootscreen can only be display on hdmi for this display.

Now when I conenct gtx670 to my MacMini Using akitio box and my special firmware, I get everything I want:

full 4k@60hz support on displayPort with 4k bootscreen from gtx670 and 2560x1440 hidpi mode in osx.
I just power-on mini, see 4k bootscreen, few moments(thanks to pcie ssd) and osx shows me 2560x1440 hidpi display at 60 hertz.

Really cool.

Windows is a bit harder, needs some TB cable replug.
Click to expand...
Is it possible to drive 2k display (2560x1440) at 1080p HiDPI 60hz on mac mini2014?
 
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