Very disappointed in the mac mini. You really can't use it easily with 2 monitors. There is a major glitch whe you try to use 2. Even if you get them both working, when it wakes up from sleep, its a mess again. Worst computer i have ever bought.
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2020 Mac Mini w/ M1- Don-t Buy if you use 2 monitors
- Thread starter canvasback13
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What issues are you having? I'm just asking because I have a Mac mini (M1) and I use two monitors. One of them is a 4k Monitor that's attached via HDMI, and the other is a 1080p monitor attached to USB-4 via a USB-C / HDMI adapter. So far, so good - I've restarted the machine a few times since too and it's saved my settings. Let me know what issues you're having and I'll keep you updated if I run into them too.
I have 2 Benq monitors that I have tried connecting via 2 usb-c, and tried where one hdmi and other is USB-c. When I mix usb C and HDMI I can get both working till it sleeps.
The monitors and cables all work fine when I just plug 2 usb-c cables in the side my 2018 MacBook Pro running Catalina 10.15.7. the mini is running Big Sur 11.0.1.
I expected to just be able to plug the 2 usb-c into the mini and it would work as seamless as the MacBook Pro.
The monitors and cables all work fine when I just plug 2 usb-c cables in the side my 2018 MacBook Pro running Catalina 10.15.7. the mini is running Big Sur 11.0.1.
I expected to just be able to plug the 2 usb-c into the mini and it would work as seamless as the MacBook Pro.
So from my understanding you're upset that you can't just plug both into USB-C? It says right on the Apple website "Simultaneously supports up to two displays: One display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz connected via Thunderbolt and one display with up to 4K resolution at 60Hz connected via HDMI 2.0"
Is it not displaying properly?
I don't care if one monitor is connected via hdmi, and the other is via usb-c. the issue is that it flickers and very glitchy when running 2 monitors. its really not useable. I saw on the apple support forums it is common issue.
I have two AOC 24" HD monitors on my M1 Mac mini. One is connected to the HDMI port, the other via a USB-C to HDMI dongle I bought from "the rain forest". At first I had major issues with the monitor on the USB-C port, but that has improved since:
1: Update to Big Sur 11.1
2: Change setting on the Mac to prevent the computer powering down when the screens go blank.
The USB-C dongle gets slightly warm so is getting power from the Mac and I guess does not start up properly when the Mac powers on.
I have ordered a CalDigit mini TB3 dock to see if it behaves any better.
Personally I don't think macOS works well with two screens, the interface isn't really optimised for a dual screen set-up, but once you get used to dual screens you don't want to go back.
1: Update to Big Sur 11.1
2: Change setting on the Mac to prevent the computer powering down when the screens go blank.
The USB-C dongle gets slightly warm so is getting power from the Mac and I guess does not start up properly when the Mac powers on.
I have ordered a CalDigit mini TB3 dock to see if it behaves any better.
Personally I don't think macOS works well with two screens, the interface isn't really optimised for a dual screen set-up, but once you get used to dual screens you don't want to go back.
Thanks for the tips. You shouldn't need to use a dongle hdmi adapter as a work around. I am updating big sur now. I have been doing fine using mac OS with 2 monitors, i run 3 all day everyday for work, the MacBook pro monitor and 2 external vis usb-c. I guessing that either big sur or the M1 that don't like a multi monitor set up. In 2020, running 2 monitors should be seamless.
Really surprising because I’ve read many people here using Mac Mini M1 with two 4K monitors, one USB-C, one HDMI, and it works perfectly fine using Big Sur 11.1, a lot better than the underpowered Intel Mac mini. The only problem I’ve read is when using ultra-wide monitors with funky resolutions. I’ve not noticed any problem on this forum with 16:9 resolutions with 4K monitors.
Of course, everything works even better when not using any adapters. Direct usb-c (mini) to usb-c (monitor) and HDMI to HDMI 2.0 (with a good high quality cable, like an Audioquest for example).
Of course, everything works even better when not using any adapters. Direct usb-c (mini) to usb-c (monitor) and HDMI to HDMI 2.0 (with a good high quality cable, like an Audioquest for example).
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I use two Dell 27" monitors. One via USB-C cable, the other via HDMI cable (no adapters). I did have occasional blackouts of the USB-C monitor, maybe 3-4 week using for 4 hours a day. In the middle of last week I started using a OWC Thunderbolt 4 dock, and have the Dell USB-C monitor cabled to the MacMini through the dock. No blackouts since then.
I'm not saying this is the reason to use a USB-C dock, in fact I kind of thought maybe using a dock might introduce issues on its own.
As much as I like the MacMini/Big Sur it has been kind of like Mr. Toads Wild Ride
UPDATE:
I'm now on Big Sur 11.2.3 and things have improved, or I've been simply lucky. I only, very occasionally, have to restart the computer to get one of the two monitors work. If there is trouble it is the USB-C monitor.
I'm not saying this is the reason to use a USB-C dock, in fact I kind of thought maybe using a dock might introduce issues on its own.
As much as I like the MacMini/Big Sur it has been kind of like Mr. Toads Wild Ride
UPDATE:
I'm now on Big Sur 11.2.3 and things have improved, or I've been simply lucky. I only, very occasionally, have to restart the computer to get one of the two monitors work. If there is trouble it is the USB-C monitor.
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I use two Dell 27" monitors. One via USB-C cable, the other via HDMI cable (no adapters). I did have occasional blackouts of the USB-C monitor, maybe 3-4 week using for 4 hours a day. In the middle of last week I started using a OWC Thunderbolt 4 dock, and have the Dell USB-C monitor cabled to the MacMini through the dock. No blackouts since then.
I'm not saying this is the reason to use a USB-C dock, in fact I kind of thought maybe using a dock might introduce issues on its own.
As much as I like the MacMini/Big Sur it has been kind of like Mr. Toads Wild Ride
I've always had my MacBook Pro 15 on a stand and 2x 24 inch Dell displays on VESA mounts. I usually use them in portrait mode since it allows to scroll a lot less while coding. One for IDE, the other for documentation/browser.
I was previously thinking of buying two Dell U2720Q 27 inch 4K (probably like yours). But many colleagues now tell me to have only one bigger display, something like a 32 inch 4K (Dell U3219Q), in landscape, and split the screen in two for IDE + browser. The text is a bit too small on a 4K 27 inch, so I would scale it to look like a 1440p, while still benefiting from the small pixel pitch and improved text clarity. It seems that 4K is good without scaling.
What are your thoughts ?
Thanks !
I have one Acer monitor (I needed the smallest screen to fit), and I have had problems with both the monitor going to fuzz (I turn it off and on and it works fine - but it is a pain), and also the MM shutting down and needed to be restarted. I was going to get a second Acer monitor (again, I need small), but now I guess I need to figure out how to connect it to the MM. Will it accept an HDMI cable? (OBTW - I have NO idea what any of these terms mean or how they interact. I am simply trying to use the correct terminology.).