Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Is next spec Mini up from base worth $300 more?

Thanks.
I checked the back of the monitor-only has a DVD I in or RGB in no HDMI. I have a newer LED monitor hooked up to my mother's computer (my even older Mini) and I'll check the ports on that tomorrow. I do prefer my LCD monitor though
 
steve333 said:
Thanks.
I checked the back of the monitor-only has a DVD I in or RGB in no HDMI. I have a newer LED monitor hooked up to my mother's computer (my even older Mini) and I'll check the ports on that tomorrow. I do prefer my LCD monitor though
Click to expand...

HDMI to DVI converters are cheap and work well
 
twalk said:
HDMI to DVI converters are cheap and work well
Click to expand...
OK, then I won't use my old adapter, I assume my 2011 Mini didn't have an HDMI port and the adapter I have won't work. I'll look for the HDMI adapter
 
steve333 said:
OK, then I won't use my old adapter, I assume my 2011 Mini didn't have an HDMI port and the adapter I have won't work. I'll look for the HDMI adapter
Click to expand...

The 2011 should have had HDMI:
SP632_macmini_techspecs-en.jpg

But you might have been using MiniDisplayPort/Thunderbolt instead.
Unless you used a Firewire to VDA adapter?

I would get whatever your monitor uses to HDMI adapter. Sounds like you're a couple generations behind here ;)
 
mpfuchs said:
The 2011 should have had HDMI:
SP632_macmini_techspecs-en.jpg

But you might have been using MiniDisplayPort/Thunderbolt instead.
Unless you used a Firewire to VDA adapter?

I would get whatever your monitor uses to HDMI adapter. Sounds like you're a couple generations behind here ;)
Click to expand...
I think you're right, I guess I already have the HDMI to DVI adapter. Good, one less thing to get.
For the extra USB ports I'll need I see a lot of USB-A hubs but not a Compact USB connector with USB-A ports. I could use the first one but that would use up one of the USB-A ports.
I thought I had seen one but it was for laptops and said it didn't supply enough power to charge an iPod
 
steve333 said:
I think you're right, I guess I already have the HDMI to DVI adapter. Good, one less thing to get.
For the extra USB ports I'll need I see a lot of USB-A hubs but not a Compact USB connector with USB-A ports. I could use the first one but that would use up one of the USB-A ports.
I thought I had seen one but it was for laptops and said it didn't supply enough power to charge an iPod
Click to expand...
I wouldn't get a USB-A hub. I'd get a USB-C hub. Sounds like you have more -A peripherals to hook up to than -C.
Plus the -C can power more outlets.

Sounds like you need this one:
https://www.newegg.com/wavlink-wl-uh3074c1-usb/p/0J2-008P-00031
Or this: https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Premiu...rds=usb-c+hub&qid=1561141673&s=gateway&sr=8-3
 
Last edited:
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
  • Like
Reactions: steve333
"Would this product be good? I like this idea instead of a hub hanging on the desk, as long as it's feasible
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CVX3516/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza"

I've tried something like those, and found them problematic.
They -work- (i.e., they "connect"), BUT...
... with the ones I bought (admittedly cheap ones on ebay), I found that when I plugged one into a USBc port, it BLOCKED access to the USBc port(s) next to it, because the plug "casing" is too wide.

My recommendation:
Use short "dongles" like these instead:
(I've tried both, and both work as intended without blocking adjacent ports)
https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Adapter-Converts-Technology-Compatible/dp/B01COOQIKU/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2RPNO849D6PB4&keywords=usbc+to+usba+female&qid=1554511884&s=gateway&sprefix=usbc+to+usba,aps,137&sr=8-5

or
https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Adapter-USB-C-Inches/dp/B00UUBQ0U8/ref=sr_1_21?crid=2RPNO849D6PB4&keywords=usbc+to+usba+female&qid=1554512146&s=gateway&sprefix=usbc+to+usba,aps,137&sr=8-21

I haven't bought a USBc hub yet.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
I decided to keep the monitor that's here already. Turns out is is also LCD not LED and has a HDMI port.
Any recommendation for a good cable?
 
Last edited:
Last edited:
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
mpfuchs said:
The 2011 should have had HDMI:
SP632_macmini_techspecs-en.jpg

But you might have been using MiniDisplayPort/Thunderbolt instead.
Unless you used a Firewire to VDA adapter?

I would get whatever your monitor uses to HDMI adapter. Sounds like you're a couple generations behind here ;)
Click to expand...
I'm going to keep the monitor that's there already since it has an HDMI connection, just need a HDMI to HDMI cable. Any brand suggestions?
 
I ended up buying the mid level Mini with 8Gb RAM. Read an article that said it was enough and the chip and HD size was more important. Amazon had it on sale for $999 so I grabbed it. Got AppleCare too.
I bought a DVI to HDMI cable from Best Buy since my monitor ended up not having the HDMI port the box said it had. $35 which was a rip-off and the cable is defective. I have to unplug and plug it in every time to get it to work. ordered a Cable Matters cable from Amazon for $9. paid more than that for shipping to get it here tomorrow.
So far so fast
 
  • Like
Reactions: russell_314 and ConvertedToMac
New cable, same issue.
OS update didn't fix the issue with HDMI.
First new Mac I'm going to return. Maybe I'll just wait until there is a definitive fix for this.
Bizarre. Come on Apple, this issue has been reported for a year now and still no fix
 
steve333 said:
New cable, same issue.
OS update didn't fix the issue with HDMI.
First new Mac I'm going to return. Maybe I'll just wait until there is a definitive fix for this.
Bizarre. Come on Apple, this issue has been reported for a year now and still no fix
Click to expand...
Do you have File Vault enabled?
I'm using the USB-C cable, but had a similar issue until I disabled File Vault.
 
steve333 said:
New cable, same issue.
OS update didn't fix the issue with HDMI.
First new Mac I'm going to return. Maybe I'll just wait until there is a definitive fix for this.
Bizarre. Come on Apple, this issue has been reported for a year now and still no fix
Click to expand...
There must be a problem with your particular Mac mini or perhaps your monitor? My mini is hooked up with HDMI and it seems to work fine.
 
steve333 said:
New cable, same issue.
OS update didn't fix the issue with HDMI.
First new Mac I'm going to return. Maybe I'll just wait until there is a definitive fix for this.
Bizarre. Come on Apple, this issue has been reported for a year now and still no fix
Click to expand...

Find an HDMI device in your home (HDTV) and hook up your mini (via HDMI) to that and see if you still have an issue. Chances are your DVI/VGA LCD monitor is simply too old and requires a slightly different or proprietary pin out to work with the mini's HDMI port. I would find something that uses DVI-I to USB-C if you can find one, after you confirm the type of pin out on your LCD display. Or better yet, chuck the LCD display and get something newer.

I readily admit it could be the mini, but I am more apt to conclude it's the display.
 
Zdigital2015 said:
Find an HDMI device in your home (HDTV) and hook up your mini (via HDMI) to that and see if you still have an issue. Chances are your DVI/VGA LCD monitor is simply too old and requires a slightly different or proprietary pin out to work with the mini's HDMI port. I would find something that uses DVI-I to USB-C if you can find one, after you confirm the type of pin out on your LCD display. Or better yet, chuck the LCD display and get something newer.

I readily admit it could be the mini, but I am more apt to conclude it's the display.
Click to expand...
That's sound advice!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zdigital2015
My old mini worked fine with it.
It has a DVI port and an older type RGB port.
I don't have a HDMI port on my other monitor either which worked fine with my 2011 Mini .
I guess I can try my other monitor but it's an LCD monitor even older than the LED that's hooked up now.
I can order a DVI to USB-C cable but that would take up one USB-C port and really this shouldn't be an issue in the first place.
[doublepost=1566934684][/doublepost]
russell_314 said:
There must be a problem with your particular Mac mini or perhaps your monitor? My mini is hooked up with HDMI and it seems to work fine.
Click to expand...
Is your monitor HDMI? I think the issue with HDMI on the Mac going to a DVI monitor port
 
  • Like
Reactions: russell_314
steve333 said:
My old mini worked fine with it.
It has a DVI port and an older type RGB port.
I don't have a HDMI port on my other monitor either which worked fine with my 2011 Mini .
I guess I can try my other monitor but it's an LCD monitor even older than the LED that's hooked up now.
I can order a DVI to USB-C cable but that would take up one USB-C port and really this shouldn't be an issue in the first place.
[doublepost=1566934684][/doublepost]
Is your monitor HDMI? I think the issue with HDMI on the Mac going to a DVI monitor port
Click to expand...
Yes mine is HDMI on both ends. Perhaps something is getting lost in the conversion? I would be willing to bet that compatibility with older monitors might be the problem. This would explain why it's not a problem with your older mini. Perhaps buy a modern HDMI monitor from a place that has a good return policy. If it doesn't solve the problem then just return it. Monitors are relatively cheap nowadays unless you want 4k or something for gaming.
 
Well, I actually have 2 monitors-one I used when visiting my mother, and now I'm living here.
So, 2 perfectly good monitors and it's nice to have a back-up just in case one craps out and I actually like the picture quality of both of them. One is LCD, one is LED, both with DVI ports.
I guess I could buy a DVI to USB-C cable and see what happens. Amazon is going to love me with all of my returns!
If the port issue exists on all 2018 Mini's then the only questions is should I return this and buy one with 16Mb RAM or keep this one.
Or just return it and go back to my old Mini until I'm sure Apple has fixed the issue (supposedly Catalina fixes it)
 
steve333 said:
Well, I actually have 2 monitors-one I used when visiting my mother, and now I'm living here.
So, 2 perfectly good monitors and it's nice to have a back-up just in case one craps out and I actually like the picture quality of both of them. One is LCD, one is LED, both with DVI ports.
I guess I could buy a DVI to USB-C cable and see what happens. Amazon is going to love me with all of my returns!
If the port issue exists on all 2018 Mini's then the only questions is should I return this and buy one with 16Mb RAM or keep this one.
Or just return it and go back to my old Mini until I'm sure Apple has fixed the issue (supposedly Catalina fixes it)
Click to expand...

Do you have access to your genuine Apple branded HDMI to DVI adapter that came with the 2011 Mini that you had? The Apple branded one works with all Macs. I have a third party one that I bought for my MBAir and that stopped working after a few OS updates, so I no longer trust anything other than Apple branded. I would highly suggest that you get the Apple branded one, because it says it is compatible with the 2018 Mac Mini and it is. My sister just got the new Mini and hers work. You don't need to return your Mini; you just need to return your Amazon one and buy the Apple one from the Apple store. Although I heard that some people had issues with this cable past 10.14.4 where it stopped working. The best solution is to just upgrade the monitor to HDMI to maintain future compatibility.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: russell_314
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back