Best monitor connection for new Mini.

[Robejazz]

Hi All,

I just treated myself to the new 2018 Mac Mini… I went for the the i5, 8 GB and 256. I have a question about the monitor. I have the LG 4K monitor, is it best to use the HDMI cable, or the thunderbolt cable that I use with my MacBook Pro? Are used thunderbolt 3 from my MacBook Pro to the monitor. Or is HDMI superior ?

Thanks!

 

[archer75]

Either will work. HDMI because you have an HDMI port and won't have to tie up a thunderbolt/USB-C port.

 

[Robejazz]

Either will work. HDMI because you have an HDMI port and won't have to tie up a thunderbolt/USB-C port.

Got it, Thanks for the quick reply! You're saying they are equal in terms of quality?? Any advantage to HDMI?? I never tried HDMI

 

[harriska2]

You get sound with hdmi ....

 

[archer75]

Got it, Thanks for the quick reply! You're saying they are equal in terms of quality?? Any advantage to HDMI?? I never tried HDMI

Sound. Older versions of HDMI such as 1.4 couldn't do 4k at 60hz but newer versions can. Just plug it in a give it a go!

 

[Stephen.R]

You get sound with hdmi ....

You get sound with DisplayPort too.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:
You didn't tell us WHAT YEAR your MacBook Pro is.
That's important information.

Just to clarify -- IF it's a 2015 or earlier MBP.

The cable you use with the 2015 and earlier MacBook Pro is not "a thunderbolt" cable.
Rather, it's a minidisplayport (mac end) to displayport (or whatever the other end is).

And I don't think that kind of cable will work with a 2018 Mini.

Instead, you'll need a:
USB-c (Mac end) to displayport (display end) cable/adapter.

Something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...452886bad0d803204e9f3eedc60f90&language=en_US

If you want to use the Mini's HDMI port, you'll need:
- A USB-c (Mac end) to HDMI 2.0 cable/adapter (the 2.0 is important)
and
- A "high speed" HDMI 2.0 capable connecting cable.

The USB-c to minidisplayport connection will work the best, in my opinion.

ALSO BE AWARE:
(and this, too, is important)
SOME (not all, but some) USB-c to displayport cable/adapters that worked with 2016 MacBook Pros DO NOT WORK with 2017 and later MBP's.
I'm going to take a -guess- that the same issue applies to the 2018 Mini.
Again -- what year is your MBP?

 

[archer75]

If you want to use the Mini's HDMI port, you'll need:
- A USB-c (Mac end) to HDMI 2.0 cable/adapter (the 2.0 is important)
and
- A "high speed" HDMI 2.0 capable connecting cable.

Perhaps i'm not quite understand but you don't need a USB-C adapter. Just an HDMI cable as the mini has an HDMI port. Straight to the monitor. That's what I use. Monoprice permium certified HDMI cable end to end.

 

[gusping]

I have an LG 4K display and USB-C to DisplayPort doesn't always work. Tried many cables so it's not that, and my 2014 MBP works fine with TB2 to DisplayPort. May have to return my Mac mini

 

[Robejazz]

OP:
You didn't tell us WHAT YEAR your MacBook Pro is.
That's important information.


It’s the latest touchbar 2018 version. I’m using the same connector with the 2018 mini and it all seems fine... but may e I’ll try the hdmi cable and see. It’s the LG 4K display.

Thanks for the help.

 

[kamuix]

I've used both display port and usb-c on my LG 4K HDR monitor and they both work well for me. The only thing I didn't try was HDMI. This is going from usb-c on my mac mini.
However, before I got my monitor I was trying to use HDMI -> HDMI with my mac mini and predator x34 100 hz monitor. That gave me issues, but then I realized it was due the older HDMI port. When I used display port, it was fine.
So, HDMI is a good option, but it also depends what type of port you have. My predator was rocking HDMI 1.4.