Dual Monitors on Late 2013 Mac Mini

[kjs862]

Hey everybody,

I recently dusted off an old Mac Mini of mine. It's from 'Late 2013' and I'm wondering if it's possible to run a dual monitor setup.

I recently purchased a Dell E2416HM from Monoprice:

https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=113&cp_id=11320&cs_id=1130703&p_id=15367&seq=1&format=2

And the monitor runs really nice.

Looking to order the same monitor for a second display, but not sure on how about to do this.

If anyone knows the correct setup, please let me know. Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks,

kjs862

 

[DeltaMac]

There is no Late 2013 Mac mini, so I assume you mean a "Late 2012", which was the current model sold until October 2014
That mini has two video outputs - One HDMI, and one mini Displayport
The port labeled Thunderbolt is the one that you would use with a mini DisplayPort cable.
Your Dell display has a VGA, and a DisplayPort connector.
It shipped with a VGA cable, so I suppose that is what you used.
Which port did you use to connect your display to your mini?
All you need is a cable for the other connector.
I suggest that you get a cable that has a DisplayPort connector, and the other end would be for the OTHER connector on your mini.
Monoprice sells a mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable that should work really well in the mini.
https://www.monoprice.com/Product?p_id=13372

 

[frank4]

Mini works great wth dual monitors by using an adapter or two. I'm usually running 2 HDMI monitors, but now run a HDMI monitor and an older DVI monitor.

 

[kjs862]

There is no Late 2013 Mac mini, so I assume you mean a "Late 2012", which was the current model sold until October 2014
That mini has two video outputs - One HDMI, and one mini Displayport
The port labeled Thunderbolt is the one that you would use with a mini DisplayPort cable.
Your Dell display has a VGA, and a DisplayPort connector.
It shipped with a VGA cable, so I suppose that is what you used.
Which port did you use to connect your display to your mini?
All you need is a cable for the other connector.
I suggest that you get a cable that has a DisplayPort connector, and the other end would be for the OTHER connector on your mini.
Monoprice sells a mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable that should work really well in the mini.
https://www.monoprice.com/Product?p_id=13372

Correct, it's Late 2012.

Right now I have the one monitor connected to the mini DisplayPort with a VGA cable that came with the display via a VGA to mini DisplayPort Adapter.

Looks like if I get the cable you linked, I can use that for one display and for the other I can use the VGA cable with a VGA to HDMI adapter:

https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Active-Adapter-Support/dp/B008O7RH5C

Would this work?

 

[techwarrior]

In my experience, VGA resolutions are typically lower than HDMI, DVI or Display Port (DP). This monitor appears to have a DP and VGA DSub port.

There are plenty of HDMI and DVI input monitors in that price range. You might consider a different second monitor, and using an HDMI <> HDMI for the second monitor, and get a Mini DP <> DP adapter to replace the Mini DP <> VGA you currently have.

Display Port monitors are relatively rare, most have VGA\DVI\HDMI inputs. You also have to watch out for HDMI conversions, if you intend to play HD video with copy protection (most iTunes rental\purchased movies), they won't play on anything but HDMI to HDMI.