2020 Mini with LG 48 CX OLED

[cschmelz]

A good friend of mine bought a LG 48 CX OLED to use as a monitor in his home and really loved it. I made the leap as well with my new 2020 i7 Mac Mini (1tb/64gig aftermarket) and really love it so far.

Setting it up was a lesson in pain and suffering however. Initially the text looked horrible and heavily antialiased. PC mode helps for the input you are using, then I turned off all the 'special' video features and that helped even more (super res, max brightness, etc)

I am also using SetResX and it SEEMS with the built in GPU to prefer 2560x1440 @ 120hz. Don't ask me why, but at that RES it looks amazing AND runs HDR perfectly.

I'm super happy with it and would buy it again. Bit of a learning curve is all. I do intend to buy a eGPU (probably Titan from OWC) once AMD HDMI 2.1 video cards start shipping to see if I can run full 4k at 120hz because why not!

 

[Boyd01]

That's an impressive screen! But doesn't it give you really big text at 2560 x 1440 on a 48 inch monitor? I'm using a 32" QHD screen at 2560 x 1440 native resolution and text seems like just the right size (about 92 pixels per inch).

 

[cschmelz]

That's an impressive screen! But doesn't it give you really big text at 2560 x 1440 on a 48 inch monitor? I'm using a 32" QHD screen at 2560 x 1440 native resolution and text seems like just the right size (about 92 pixels per inch).

Yes, pretty big text.... I've changed to 3840x2160 NTSC @ 60 hz in SetResX and it is bit smaller.. Text is still a little blurry, hard to find a perfect solution for solid text.
[automerge]1600841571[/automerge]
So upgraged to Big Sur just today...Text size is better, text is clearer and overall it runs this BIG monitor better...Super impressed.

 

[TheNikso]

Hi @cschmelz, I'm considering an LG CX myself for main work monitor on a Mac (and gaming monitor by night).

Would you still recommend it? Did you have any issue with burn-in or other display problems? Is text quality good for long working sessions?

Thanks!

 

[kasakka]

Do you get a HDR option? I could not get HDR working at all using a USB-C to HDMI 2.0 adapter on my MBP 2019 and it would output at 10-bit 4:2:0 which is a terrible choice for desktop use. I had to add an EDID override that removes 10-bit support to output at 4:4:4 8-bit.

I hope next gen Mac Mini would have a HDMI 2.1 output.

 

[Hessel89]

A good friend of mine bought a LG 48 CX OLED to use as a monitor in his home and really loved it. I made the leap as well with my new 2020 i7 Mac Mini (1tb/64gig aftermarket) and really love it so far.

Setting it up was a lesson in pain and suffering however. Initially the text looked horrible and heavily antialiased. PC mode helps for the input you are using, then I turned off all the 'special' video features and that helped even more (super res, max brightness, etc)

I am also using SetResX and it SEEMS with the built in GPU to prefer 2560x1440 @ 120hz. Don't ask me why, but at that RES it looks amazing AND runs HDR perfectly.

I'm super happy with it and would buy it again. Bit of a learning curve is all. I do intend to buy a eGPU (probably Titan from OWC) once AMD HDMI 2.1 video cards start shipping to see if I can run full 4k at 120hz because why not!

View attachment 955229

Actually been eying this TV for a while, but are you sure it can't run at 120hz on the Mac Mini?
The Mac Mini 2020 can perfectly drive a 5K screen at at 60hz so it should be able to run 4K at 120hz perfectly..
Are you using a HDMI 2.1 cable?

 

[sirio]

are u gonna buy the new mac mini?? that looks so much better now..

i was also wondering waiting for the new 27 iMac with the new M1 or buying the new Mac mini with the M1 and using this screen..!!

hard choice..

 

[827538]

A good friend of mine bought a LG 48 CX OLED to use as a monitor in his home and really loved it. I made the leap as well with my new 2020 i7 Mac Mini (1tb/64gig aftermarket) and really love it so far.

Setting it up was a lesson in pain and suffering however. Initially the text looked horrible and heavily antialiased. PC mode helps for the input you are using, then I turned off all the 'special' video features and that helped even more (super res, max brightness, etc)

I am also using SetResX and it SEEMS with the built in GPU to prefer 2560x1440 @ 120hz. Don't ask me why, but at that RES it looks amazing AND runs HDR perfectly.

I'm super happy with it and would buy it again. Bit of a learning curve is all. I do intend to buy a eGPU (probably Titan from OWC) once AMD HDMI 2.1 video cards start shipping to see if I can run full 4k at 120hz because why not!

View attachment 955229

I've been considering buying the CX 48 as a monitor, I've been waiting for what feels like a lifetime for a 4K 120Hz HDR VRR monitor with HDMI 2.1 to hit the market but there's still nothing. I was worried the 48" would be too big. I like there 32"-38" range but this looks so good.

are u gonna buy the new mac mini?? that looks so much better now..

i was also wondering waiting for the new 27 iMac with the new M1 or buying the new Mac mini with the M1 and using this screen..!!

hard choice..

Shame it doesn't support HDMI 2.1. Also I wish they'd included 10GbE like on the Intel version. Lightning fast SSD's capable of ~5GB/s limited by a network connection of 0.125GB/s.

 

[Jof]

Yes, pretty big text.... I've changed to 3840x2160 NTSC @ 60 hz in SetResX and it is bit smaller.. Text is still a little blurry, hard to find a perfect solution for solid text.
[automerge]1600841571[/automerge]
So upgraged to Big Sur just today...Text size is better, text is clearer and overall it runs this BIG monitor better...Super impressed.

Thanks for that comment. So the sounds of things, unless I upgrade to Big Sur this monitor's not going to be great for me for office work at 3840x2160 due to text being blurry? Or have you found a way to improve things since this last message?

 

[nathangp]

Do you get the choices to adjust text size using BigSur with this? I have the same scenario work during the day and game at night so interested in your thoughts

 

[Filmx]

Do you get the choices to adjust text size using BigSur with this? I have the same scenario work during the day and game at night so interested in your thoughts

I'm running my Macbook Pro M1 at 4k 30hz with a Uni dongle via hdmi out and it looks great with scaling one level up from the default at "looks like 3008 x 1692" with my eyes ~39" from the screen (LG 48" OLED)

 

[Filmx]

Any updates to 120hz? I just received my Macbook Pro M1 and would like to connect it to my LG CX 48" at 120hz or as high as possible. What's the most futureproof solution even if it's currently limited to 4k 60hz?

 

[cheesburgersandtech]

I'm running my Macbook Pro M1 at 4k 30hz with a Uni dongle via hdmi out and it looks great with scaling one level up from the default at "looks like 3008 x 1692" with my eyes ~39" from the screen (LG 48" OLED)

I agree! I have the Mac Mini M1/CX 48 setup and scaling one level up from the default is the best option. Did you have any issues with blurry text and hyperlinks appearing too bright? I don't know much about this stuff, but I was able to fix this issue by turning the automatic HDR setting off on my Mac Mini M1.

 

[cheesburgersandtech]

Thanks for that comment. So the sounds of things, unless I upgrade to Big Sur this monitor's not going to be great for me for office work at 3840x2160 due to text being blurry? Or have you found a way to improve things since this last message?

Hopefully this helps, but I have a 2020 Mac Mini M1 and LG CX 48 setup and at first the text was unbearable. Hyperlinks and bright colors looked way to bright and hurt my eyes. It took me hours to research solutions and test different settings. What really improved the text and colors was turning off the HDR option in my Mac's settings. There really is no difference in picture quality when I turn HDR on/off for productivity work. I do a lot of content writing and this fixed my blurry text issue.

 

[cheesburgersandtech]

Do you get a HDR option? I could not get HDR working at all using a USB-C to HDMI 2.0 adapter on my MBP 2019 and it would output at 10-bit 4:2:0 which is a terrible choice for desktop use. I had to add an EDID override that removes 10-bit support to output at 4:4:4 8-bit.

I hope next gen Mac Mini would have a HDMI 2.1 output.

I use Mac Mini M1 with the CX 48 and I was given the HDR option using HDMI to HDMI. However, turning HDR on makes the text blurry and unbearable. For basic productivity work, I didn't notice any difference with HDR on or off.

 

[Filmx]

I agree! I have the Mac Mini M1/CX 48 setup and scaling one level up from the default is the best option. Did you have any issues with blurry text and hyperlinks appearing too bright? I don't know much about this stuff, but I was able to fix this issue by turning the automatic HDR setting off on my Mac Mini M1.

I haven't had any blurry text issues (HDR setting on my Mac is off). Everything looks great to me but I'm still only getting YCBCR444 8b TM (checking by repeatedly pressing green button at bottom left of LG remote to bring up FreeSync Information panel).

Very happy with the display but wondering if I can change a setting to get 10-bit. I also remember someone else saying that the LG can incorrectly display 8-bit even when it's outputting 10-bit but I want to make sure I'm taking full advantage of the display with the best settings. Still wondering if there is a way to get 120hz but haven't found a solution.

 

[Filmx]

I've been experiencing a different issue that seems to be related to the USB-C to HDMI cable I'm using: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088M9NCD2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

It has been cutting in and out occassionally, sometimes all together until I unplug it. It also gets roasting hot at the HDMI head side. I've now gone back to my Uni dongle HDMI-out that only support 4k 30hz but is much more reliable. I'll likely be trying a different 4k 60hz USB-C to HDMI cable or adapter to get 60hz again, just not sure which one to get. I've had good luck with Uni and Zeskit products but I'm also not sure if this issue running at 60hz is partially related to the M1 drivers.

 

[Astrobrit]

I've just bought a new LG48CX and MacMini M1 2020 - everything arrived today, so excited! - HOWEVER, having spent ages trying to get the 2 to connect, I'm totally at a loss - I've plugged an old HDMI cable into the MacMini and have tried all 4 HDMI ports on the Tv and none of them will connect - what am I doing wrong?

Please can someone help?

 

[johto]

Most likely you need to adjust your LG TV settings to use the "PC" input profile.
See for example:

https://www.reddit.com/r/OLED/comments/j38q67

 

[Astrobrit]

Most likely you need to adjust your LG TV settings to use the "PC" input profile.
See for example:

https://www.reddit.com/r/OLED/comments/j38q67

Thank you very much!.... all sorted now

 

[Rodney Dangerfield]

are u gonna buy the new mac mini?? that looks so much better now..

i was also wondering waiting for the new 27 iMac with the new M1 or buying the new Mac mini with the M1 and using this screen..!!

hard choice..

Currently, using an m1 Mac mini with an 43" LG 43UN700 monitor and looks beautiful!