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M4 Mac Mini with a cheap, around $100 Monitor

Y

yustas

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 11, 2009
553
464
Are there any issues using a cheap monitor with the new M4 Mac Mini?

For example, this monitor.

Thank you.
 
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Many non-Apple display will have some flickering especially in dark mode. But third party utilities (e.g,. BetterDisplay) can fix this flickering issue. Also some of the cables that ship free with the display are really junky, you might want to get a better HDMI cable if you have display artifacts.

github.com

GitHub - waydabber/BetterDisplay: Unlock your displays on your Mac! Flexible HiDPI scaling, XDR/HDR extra brightness, virtual screens, DDC control, extra dimming, PIP/streaming, EDID override and lots more!

Unlock your displays on your Mac! Flexible HiDPI scaling, XDR/HDR extra brightness, virtual screens, DDC control, extra dimming, PIP/streaming, EDID override and lots more! - waydabber/BetterDisplay
github.com github.com
 
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throAU said:
MacOS does look a bit... crappier in 1920x1080 (apple devices really are made for higher resolution displays these days) but it will work just fine.
Click to expand...

What is the minimum resolution for MacOS to look better than 1920X1080?

What about this 4K monitor?
 
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Todays macs will be able to use almost any monitor.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with 1920x1080 resolution. Also known as 'Full HD'. I have a 55" OLED LG TV and a 32" Benq 4k connected to my mac mini by HDMI and they are both set to 1920x1080 resolution. They work flawlessly, and macOS looks fantastic on both.
 
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Ben J. said:
Todays macs will be able to use almost any monitor.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with 1920x1080 resolution. Also known as 'Full HD'. I have a 55" OLED LG TV and a 32" Benq 4k connected to my mac mini by HDMI and they are both set to 1920x1080 resolution. They work flawlessly, and macOS looks fantastic on both.
Click to expand...
Are both of your screens 4K running at 1920x1080 HiDPI ?
 
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The only big issue is the pixel scaling AFAIK. I myself am planning to buy a base Mac mini (I have a Dell P2317H monitor). Since my workload is development it won't be a big deal, but consider it if, say, you're a photo or video editor consider that
 
I am using the Philips 221V8LB (HDMI) as a second screen for the new mini. The reviews are insanely positive and I completely agree. It is phenomenally cheap on Amazon.
 
I think this all really depends on what you're using it for. Graphic designers who need very precise pixel placement will want a good, retina display to keep from having to constantly zoom in to see details accurately. Other uses might not be so demanding. I work hybrid on a 1440p display at my office and a 4.5K iMac display at home. When on the lower res display in Illustrator and such, I often have to zoom way in to get a good look at something. On the iMac's retina screen, I can see finer details accurately without zooming in as much.

But when working with just email and office stuff, the sharper details are more of a "nice to have" and don't really impact my work much.

The one thing that does help usability across the board, IMO, is brightness. I'd take a bright, lower-res display over a dim one any day.
 
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There should be no issues that prevent you from using it.

I suppose the main downside is that macOS seems to be rendered for Retina-resolution displays these days. Text and graphics for traditionally standard resolutions are often just downscaled or anti-aliased versions of the natively-rendered text and graphics, so in a way, they can look even blurrier or rougher than from Macs from the early 2000s.

Here's a screenshot from Sequoia at 1080p with typical stuff going on – this would be approximately the fidelity the Asus monitor would give you.

 
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Basic75 said:
I'd look at 27" 1440p displays for a cheap but workable option.
Click to expand...
Hard no on that. The text quality is horrible in Sequoia at 109 ppi. These are "Retina" at 32" or more away from the screen.

I would recommend:

24" 4K (184 ppi) <-- Do these still even exist? They used to but I can't find them anymore. These are "Retina" at 19".
27" 4K (163 ppi) <-- Text quality is decent. These are "Retina" at 21".
 
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Dell 32 Inch Curved 4K UHD Computer Monitor - S3221QS | Dell USA

View the Dell 32 Inch Curved 4K UHD Monitor (S3221QS) and enjoy expansive views in 4K plus built-in dual 5W speakers, or shop all Computer Monitors at Dell.com.
www.dell.com

Dell 34 Inch Ultrawide WQHD Curved Computer Monitor - S3422DW | Dell USA

View the Dell 34 Inch Ultrawide WQHD Curved Monitor (S3422DW) featuring built-in speakers and a height adjustable stand, or shop all Computer Monitors at Dell.com.
www.dell.com

Dell 34 Inch Curved USB-C Monitor (S3423DWC) : Computer Monitors | Dell USA

Shop the Dell 34 inch Curved USB-C Monitor (S3423DWC) featuring USB-C connectivity and built-in speakers, or view all External Computer Monitors at Dell.com.
www.dell.com

Dell 27 Inch 4K UHD Computer Monitor with USB-C Hub - S2722QC | Dell USA

View the Dell 27 Inch 4K UHD Monitor with USB-C Hub (S2722QC) featuring simplified USB-C connectivity, or shop all Computer Monitors at Dell.com.
www.dell.com

Dell UltraSharp 27 Inch Monitor - U2724D | Dell USA

Shop the Dell UltraSharp 27 Inch Monitor (U2724D) certified by TÜV with 5-star eye comfort. Experience a new level of visual comfort, enhanced productivity and extensive connectivity. View on Dell.com.
www.dell.com
www.benq.com

Buy EW3270U｜31.5" 4K UHD 16:9 HDR Monitor

View product info of EW3270U, BenQ's 4K Multimedia Home Entertainment Monitor with Eye-Care Technology
www.benq.com

The above are between USD 250-360,

Here`s a comparison between the 32" which I did my homework on a few years ago:
www.rtings.com

Dell S3221QS vs BenQ EW3270U Side-by-Side Monitor Comparison

The Dell S3221QS and the BenQ EW3270U are very similar overall. The main differences are that the Dell gets brighter in SDR and HDR, and the BenQ has faster response time. The BenQ has wider viewing angles, but still not as good as most IPS panels.
www.rtings.com www.rtings.com

A few of these are fairly good value and quite palatable with the discounts offered at present. I wouldn`t go below that level, but that`s just me. If cash is tight, I`d get the monitor now (or at new year`s sale) at these prices and wait with the Mini if that works to your benefit.You could assume the Mini M4 prices will stay rather flat, but you could always wait for it for the occasional 50 off or so (?) They never are discounted in "my" market.

Rtings is not the bible, but it is a ok starting point for a research.
 
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Tago said:

Dell 32 Inch Curved 4K UHD Computer Monitor - S3221QS | Dell USA

View the Dell 32 Inch Curved 4K UHD Monitor (S3221QS) and enjoy expansive views in 4K plus built-in dual 5W speakers, or shop all Computer Monitors at Dell.com.
www.dell.com

Dell 34 Inch Ultrawide WQHD Curved Computer Monitor - S3422DW | Dell USA

View the Dell 34 Inch Ultrawide WQHD Curved Monitor (S3422DW) featuring built-in speakers and a height adjustable stand, or shop all Computer Monitors at Dell.com.
www.dell.com

Dell 34 Inch Curved USB-C Monitor (S3423DWC) : Computer Monitors | Dell USA

Shop the Dell 34 inch Curved USB-C Monitor (S3423DWC) featuring USB-C connectivity and built-in speakers, or view all External Computer Monitors at Dell.com.
www.dell.com

Dell 27 Inch 4K UHD Computer Monitor with USB-C Hub - S2722QC | Dell USA

View the Dell 27 Inch 4K UHD Monitor with USB-C Hub (S2722QC) featuring simplified USB-C connectivity, or shop all Computer Monitors at Dell.com.
www.dell.com

Dell UltraSharp 27 Inch Monitor - U2724D | Dell USA

Shop the Dell UltraSharp 27 Inch Monitor (U2724D) certified by TÜV with 5-star eye comfort. Experience a new level of visual comfort, enhanced productivity and extensive connectivity. View on Dell.com.
www.dell.com
www.benq.com

Buy EW3270U｜31.5" 4K UHD 16:9 HDR Monitor

View product info of EW3270U, BenQ's 4K Multimedia Home Entertainment Monitor with Eye-Care Technology
www.benq.com

The above are between USD 250-360,

Here`s a comparison between the 32" which I did my homework on a few years ago:
www.rtings.com

Dell S3221QS vs BenQ EW3270U Side-by-Side Monitor Comparison

The Dell S3221QS and the BenQ EW3270U are very similar overall. The main differences are that the Dell gets brighter in SDR and HDR, and the BenQ has faster response time. The BenQ has wider viewing angles, but still not as good as most IPS panels.
www.rtings.com www.rtings.com

A few of these are fairly good value and quite palatable with the discounts offered at present. I wouldn`t go below that level, but that`s just me. If cash is tight, I`d get the monitor now (or at new year`s sale) at these prices and wait with the Mini if that works to your benefit.You could assume the Mini M4 prices will stay rather flat, but you could always wait for it for the occasional 50 off or so (?) They never are discounted in "my" market.

Rtings is not the bible, but it is a ok starting point for a research.
Click to expand...
IMO, at a normal seating distance, a 32" 4K monitor has really bad text quality, at 138 ppi. Not recommended for macOS.
 

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EugW said:
IMO, at a normal seating distance, a 32" 4K monitor has really bad text quality, at 138 ppi. Not recommended for macOS.
Click to expand...
4K on 27 will improve dpi of course, but there`s a lot of different panels with different treatments and variations in the electronic which, thus there are nuances at play.

Anyway, I didn`t intend to tell Yustas what to pick, just to illustrate what`s available at 250 (+) Had a 27 UltraSharp which was gruesome, and are using the BenQ 32 which is fine. I used them because I did my homework when "transforming the Mbp to a stationary" on a budget.

In general I`d stay far away from low budget Samsungs and LG`s, and being a bit picky amongst the Dells, it is possible to get something half decent on a budget.
 
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