5K2K at 120Hz with Mac Mini M4

[Newgoblin49]

I just got a call from support. Engineering has closed the case without providing a resolution. They noted in the ticket to keep the software up to date, which could mean a fix is near or maybe not. I'm unsure at this point. I'll hold on to the Mac Mini until the new year, and if there's still no fix, I'll return it.

Alright Maksakal ,

Thank you for all your efforts.

 

[rojharris]

I just heard from Apple engineering. They are aware of the problem and it will be fixed in a forthcoming update. Of course they couldn't say when that will be. At least they know it's an issue!

 

[Newgoblin49]

I just heard from Apple engineering. They are aware of the problem and it will be fixed in a forthcoming update. Of course they couldn't say when that will be. At least they know it's an issue!

That’s the best news so far!!
Did they mention anything else ?

@waydabber

 

[rojharris]

That’s the best news so far!!
Did they mention anything else ?

@waydabber

No. They wanted me to give them diagnostics from the M1 but it's already gone. I'm sure they can find one at Apple somewhere!

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

No. They wanted me to give them diagnostics from the M1 but it's already gone. I'm sure they can find one at Apple somewhere!

Cook recently had all machines replaced with early M5 Extreme samples, so unfortunately that is not possible.

But great to know that they seem to be working on a fix!

 

[DigiH]

Hello all,

Just registered and wanted to say thanks, especially to MxDaviD for his early confirmation, as this was exactly what i was interested in finding out before ordering a Mac mini and a Dell U4025QW, my proffered monitor after some research.

All hooked up today with the included TB4 cable and running fine - with the great Monitor Control for volume and brightness Apple keyboard controls for the U4025QW.

 

[ClassicMartini]

G'day fellow monitor nerds.

M4 Mini Pro user here.

Another data point. I also have a 40" 5120 x 2160, 75Hz panel, surprisingly inexpensive $600 AUD new (Kogan).

Out of the box Apple OS - 15.x... 15.1.1 - will do 3360 x 1418, or a 35% "zoom in" for HiDPI

I WANT a 3840 x 1620 HiDPI, or a 25% zoom, with HiDPI. For which I purchased Better Display Pro.

Have tried with "8K" USB C to DisplayPort, and with only the Kogan monitor connected.
(Physically disconnected my other two monitors)

... But that - 3840 x 1620 HiDPI - appears to be a no-go with any configuration permutation of Better Display*.

BD will force an - Apple OS unavailable - 3840 x 1620 (25% zoom in) so there's that - but at low res - fuzzy text, and there's no way around that due to an Apple OS limitation?

No BetterDisplay silver bullet of toggling 7680 x 3240 offscreen (frame buffer) to render down 3840 x 1620 HiDPI/Smooth text?

Except that Apple have sanctioned, one, singular, notable 40" 5120 x 2160 Apple OS exception of the Dell U4025QW. Because.... Um... Thunderbolt?
(Even though, its probably the same panel?).

I presume Better Display IS able to force 3840 x 1620 HiDPI on different Apple Silicon and/or OS combo, on a non native 8k monitor?

BD seems to be HiDPI optimised for a single 4k monitor?

I'm not complaining, software development is hard work, and "@waydabber", the BD developer, seems to be inordinately active in these forums, so I'm glad my money went to a good cause - the 'community' at large - even if it hasn't met my requirements directly.

*Or... As Sting laments in the 3rd person for Lethal Weapon "It's Probably Me"

 

[Chancha]

That line, "Pipe horizontal limit values 3360 (6720), 3840 (7680)" is the key of discussion now. This seems to be a newly introduced perimeter that BD can see but for now only able to engage the "lower pipe", whatever that means. The Dell 5k2k 120Hz display can somehow use the higher pipe.

 

[anthonymoody]

*Or... As Sting laments in the 3rd person for Lethal Weapon "It's Probably Me"

Give SwitchResX a try. Worst thing that happens is that is too won't work.

 

[ClassicMartini]

Give SwitchResX a try. Worst thing that happens is that is too won't work.

Thanks for the tip, I started with SRX... But... That was earlier in "my journey" understanding the formula - or interplay between three variables:

SRX did reveal the 'hidden' resolution of 3840 x 1620 (which I had calculated earlier as the sweet spot for bumping up the UI 'zoom' factor by 25%). No HiDPI though.
-
Came across an earlier YT video from Ze Germans explanation, using Better Display, where he - very quickly - (too quickly!) put in a value that was neither the frame buffer x 2 or the target resolution, but something in between, as well as the other two values...
-
Was hoping Better Display would just automagically do The Work for me, rather than having to take a Calculus refresher course just to get 4 x A4 web pages comfortably side by side.

Cheers and Tschüss from Sydney.

...
Something like this, which I'm definitely doing wrong?

 

[anthonymoody]

Thanks for the tip, I started with SRX... But... That was earlier in "my journey" understanding the formula - or interplay between three variables:

SRX did reveal the 'hidden' resolution of 3840 x 1620 (which I had calculated earlier as the sweet spot for bumping up the UI 'zoom' factor by 25%). No HiDPI though.

Hmm I'm not a BD guy (lol) so I can't really say. I know that with SRX it gives me 3840 x 1620 in HiDPI at 72 Hz with my LG 5k/2k widescreen. That's the highest HiDPI res I can get though.

 

[ClassicMartini]

Hmm I'm not a BD guy (lol) so I can't really say. I know that with SRX it gives me 3840 x 1620 in HiDPI at 72 Hz with my LG 5k/2k widescreen. That's the highest HiDPI res I can get though.

Oh wow.
That's the first evidence I've seen of non Dell getting 3840 x 1620 HiDPI.
Ok, I'll give SrX another go (tomorrow, it's v late here).
Thanks again.

 

[anthonymoody]

I'll give SrX another go

BTW just want to say that I'm using an M1 Max MBP. Not a 4.

 

[Beau Slim]

No BetterDisplay silver bullet of toggling 7680 x 3240 offscreen (frame buffer) to render down 3840 x 1620 HiDPI/Smooth text?

Under Displays and Virtual Screens, pick Create a New Virtual Screen and BD will start a wizard and let you create a virtual mirror associated with the monitor that you pick.

Even on my M1 Air, I can get a 3840x1620 HiDPI screen on my LG 34" 5K2K The problem is that this method puts quite a load on the machine, resulting in poor graphics performance and high temps. And HDCP is disabled.

 

[terpsbball2002]

I have an ASUS ROG Strix 27” 4K HDR400 USB-C Gaming Monitor (XG27UCS)–UHD (3840 x 2160), 160Hz, I cannot get any refresh rate above 60HZ on a M4 Pro Mac Mini even though the monitor says it is operating at 160hz in the setting apps. Come on, Apple.

 

[Chancha]

BTW just want to say that I'm using an M1 Max MBP. Not a 4.

Are you not yet on Sequoia also?

 

[ClassicMartini]

Under Displays and Virtual Screens, pick Create a New Virtual Screen and BD will start a wizard and let you create a virtual mirror associated with the monitor that you pick.

Even on my M1 Air, I can get a 3840x1620 HiDPI screen on my LG 34" 5K2K The problem is that this method puts quite a load on the machine, resulting in poor graphics performance and high temps. And HDCP is disabled.

Thanks for the tip. It has the HiDPI star next to it, but I see no sharpening of the text.

Presume I've done something wrong...?

p.s. Absolutely no performance hit.

 

[Beau Slim]

Thanks for the tip. It has the HiDPI star next to it, but I see no sharpening of the text.

Presume I've done something wrong...?

p.s. Absolutely no performance hit.

I think you might have the mirror going the wrong way? I'll have a look when I get home.

 

[Beau Slim]

I think you might have the mirror going the wrong way? I'll have a look when I get home.

2 images show steps taken, rest show results. Like I said, not the best solution but I am curious what performance is like on M4 using this method

 

[apple_lh]

Hi !
this is my first post here....
I have a MacBook with m4pro (come from MacBook with m1pro), Display: Dell 4021QW
no resolution 3840 /1620 since m4, I tested the ugreen usb-c/Displayport Cable - no improvement.

I tried BetterDisplay, but this does not work for me, because of mouse hangs

 

[ClassicMartini]

2 images show steps taken, rest show results. Like I said, not the best solution but I am curious what performance is like on M4 using this method

You're correct, I had the mirroring inverted.

Crispy text, yay! No noticeable performance hit.

But... When I add the other (2) monitors back things got... weird.

 

[ClassicMartini]

Hi !
this is my first post here....
I have a MacBook with m4pro (come from MacBook with m1pro), Display: Dell 4021QW
no resolution 3840 /1620 since m4, I tested the ugreen usb-c/Displayport Cable - no improvement.

Well that was good timing, get Better Display, and follow 'our'* (me and Beau Slim's) screen shots.

*I've had... help from some very patient members here.

Alas, the mirror HiDPI setting seems to only work on a single (one) 5120 x 2160 monitor.
Which is fine for you.

====================
When I plug my other monitors back in (with display mirroring also enabled on the bottom monitor) , all hell breaks loose, the bottom display becomes the top - they flip, bottom to top! - and other strange behaviour.

 

[apple_lh]

Well that was good timing, get Better Display, and follow 'our'* (me and Beau Slim's) screen shots.

I tried BetterDisplay but I have Issues with the mouse: it hangs - every few seconds.

 

[ClassicMartini]

I tried BetterDisplay but I have Issues with the mouse: it hangs - every few seconds.

Try creating a test account on your Mac?

 

[FilthyCasual]

Hard to find the info on this thread - Any idea if the M4 base or M4 Pro will support 5k2k @ 120 as a default 2560x1080@2x? Seems like you would need TB5 on the M4 Pro for this but I'm not 100% sure.

I see a lot of people saying they're using 3840x1620 "HiDPI". Does this just mean they're using a scaled resolution of 1920x810@2x?