Mac mini (2018) max resolution - HDMI & USB-C to HMDI

[cwanja]

I cannot get a clear answer on this. I have a Mac mini (2018) that is currently using an HDMI to HDMI monitor and happy with it. Looking to add a second monitor, but am not thrilled about the USB-C monitor prices. So was interested in USB-C to HDMI. But am curious what resolution and refresh rate I could get?

Apple support provided their USB-C adapter, but that would be at 30Hz. I found a USB-C to HDMI cable that supports up to 60Hz, but Apple would not commit that it would come across at 60Hz.

My end goal is:

• HDMI to HDMI - 3840 x 2160 at 60Hz
• USB-C to HDMI (no adapter) - 3840 x 2160 at 60Hz - looking at this cable

Currently have this monitor and looking to purchase a second one: LG 27UD68-W.

Any one have any knowledge they can provide? Or the "best" setup to maintain resolution? Saw in another thread that HDMI -> HDMI and USB-C -> HDMI causes some wake delays, etc.

 

[joevt]

If a display has DisplayPort input, then use that (USB-C to DisplayPort cable) instead of HDMI, especially for 4K 60Hz. DisplayPort has more bandwidth so you can get 4K 60Hz 10 bpc RGB. HDMI 2.0 can only do 4K 60Hz 8 bpc RGB. macOS might do something weird with HDMI 4K 60Hz and use YCbCr 4:2:2 which is a little fuzzy for non-greyscale content compared to RGB or 4:4:4.

Chroma Subsampling: 4:4:4 vs 4:2:2 vs 4:2:0

What is Chroma Subsampling and where is this visible? Chroma subsampling is a type of compression that reduces the color information in a signal in favor of luminance data.

www.rtings.com

The Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter can only do 4K 30Hz from your Mac mini because the Mac mini only supports DisplayPort 1.2 and the adapter has a USB 3.0 port that uses half of the signal lines that USB-C can use for DisplayPort (4 lines total, 2 lines for send and receive of USB 3.0, 2 lines for DisplayPort). You want an HDMI 2.0 adapter that uses 4 lanes of DisplayPort like that cable you linked.

Other Macs that support DisplayPort 1.4 can get higher bandwidth from the Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter. Other Macs that also support DSC can get even higher bandwidth from the adapter.

 

[mVICm]

I just bought a LG 4K monitor (27UL850-W) using the usb-c to usb-c cable provided by the monitor. I also tried with HDMI but I had some problems with it. usb-c to usb-c it's not free of problems though.

With HDMI when the Mac is booting I see a pink screen for just an instant before It gets into the desktop. It's not big deal but it's annoying. The big problem is that I don't know why, some times It's not getting into the desktop when it boots up, it stay in a black screen.

With USB-C cable I don't see any pink screen and always boot properly, but I have issues too, I had to disable Display port 1.4 in the monitor settings because if I have it activated, sometimes the Mac mini boots in HDR mode, and it do a very bad job with the colours. I guess usb-c use DisplayPort 1.4 for default.

In addition, with DisplayPort 1.4 activated the Mac takes 2 seconds more to boot up. That's estrange.

So, my conclusion is if you can, go for a usb-c monitor that allows you to disable DP 1.4 (!!!) until Apple solves HDR issues. I didn't try any usb-c to DisplayPort adapter.

 

[Mabsport]

Hi I have the same issue. Was using a 4k monitor via usb-c to Displayport and it was faultless. Due to moving I have had to put the mini through a 4K TV via usb-c to Hdmi and I can only get 30hrtz not 60 and also a long delay booting.

 

[mVICm]

Maybe your are using a HDMI 1.4 cable. In order to get 4k at 60hz you have to use a 2.0 HDMI. About the delay booting, in my case was only 2 seconds... maybe with hdmi 1.4 cord it gets worse... I guess the usb-c to displayport cable you was using before was 1.2, it wasn't? I don't understand why usb-c to usb-c is DP1.4 capable (4k 60hz HDR) but usb-c to PisplayPort is only DisplayPort 1.2...

 

[joevt]

I don't understand why usb-c to usb-c is DP1.4 capable (4k 60hz HDR) but usb-c to PisplayPort is only DisplayPort 1.2...

USB-C cables usually support USB 3.1 gen 2 (10 Gbps) so they can also support DP1.2 and DP1.4 (5.4 Gbps and 8.1 Gbps)

Many USB-C to DisplayPort cables are verified for DisplayPort 1.2 only. They might not have good enough quality for DisplayPort 1.4 or they were not tested for DisplayPort 1.4.

 

[djc6]

I have two LG 27UD58P-B 4K displays on my 2018 mac mini. One is connected via HDMI 2.0 port on mac mini, and I get 4K 60Hz from both displays.

The second is connected via USB-C using this active cable - all USB-C HDMI 2.0 cables are active, since the USB-C alt mode for HDMI is HDMI 1.4b - can't do 60Hz without an active cable. This one I've had 1.5 years and works great:

Cable Matters USB C to HDMI Cable, Supporting 4K 60Hz (USB-C to HDMI Cable) in Black 6 ft - Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 Compatible with iPhone 15 Pro Max Plus, MacBook Pro, Dell XPS 13, Surface Pro and More

Cable Matters USB C to HDMI Cable, Supporting 4K 60Hz (USB-C to HDMI Cable) in Black 6 ft - Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 Compatible with iPhone 15 Pro Max Plus, MacBook Pro, Dell XPS 13, Surface Pro and More

smile.amazon.com

USB-C to DisplayPort is a passive cable - USB-C has a DisplayPort 1.2 mode that can do 4K 60Hz

 

[mini5apple]

this thread makes you NOT want to buy the Mac mini

its not fit for purpose, Apple want you buying the iMac so for portability you also need to purchase MacBook Pro

Mac mini is good but plagued with problem such as this,

Lets be reality who the f*** has time for this crap

I just want a computer to work not waste my time solving trivial problems such as configuring decimal numbers on cables & monitors, pathetic

 

[macminimess]

If a display has DisplayPort input, then use that (USB-C to DisplayPort cable) instead of HDMI, especially for 4K 60Hz. DisplayPort has more bandwidth so you can get 4K 60Hz 10 bpc RGB. HDMI 2.0 can only do 4K 60Hz 8 bpc RGB. macOS might do something weird with HDMI 4K 60Hz and use YCbCr 4:2:2 which is a little fuzzy for non-greyscale content compared to RGB or 4:4:4.

Chroma Subsampling: 4:4:4 vs 4:2:2 vs 4:2:0

What is Chroma Subsampling and where is this visible? Chroma subsampling is a type of compression that reduces the color information in a signal in favor of luminance data.

www.rtings.com

The Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter can only do 4K 30Hz from your Mac mini because the Mac mini only supports DisplayPort 1.2 and the adapter has a USB 3.0 port that uses half of the signal lines that USB-C can use for DisplayPort (4 lines total, 2 lines for send and receive of USB 3.0, 2 lines for DisplayPort). You want an HDMI 2.0 adapter that uses 4 lanes of DisplayPort like that cable you linked.

Other Macs that support DisplayPort 1.4 can get higher bandwidth from the Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter. Other Macs that also support DSC can get even higher bandwidth from the adapter.

I'm a bit late to this party, but I think my situation is quite similar to that of cwanja, above, except that my monitor is lower resolution. I have a 2018 Mac mini (running 10.15.7), and I just bought a BenQ SW240 monitor to use as my sole monitor - it's 24", resolution 1920 x 1200, 94 ppi, with HDMI 1.4 and DisplayPort 1.2 inputs. I am trying to figure out the best way to connect it. I could do HDMI to HDMI, but BenQ Support said I would get the widest range of color gamut by using a USB-C to DisplayPort cable, than by using an HDMI to HDMI cable. (They suggested CableMatters, but I ended up buying it from Belkin - the B2B103.) Apple had suggested the Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter; they also sell a somewhat cheaper Belkin USB-C to HDMI adapter.

Is the USB-C to DisplayPort cable my best option? If so, is the Belkin B2B103 ok? The ioGear cable that cwanja linked to is about twice the price of the Belkin (which cost about $10 more than the CableMatters cable that BenQ suggested).

Thanks very much! (By the way, as you can probably tell, I know nothing about any of this!)

 

[Boyd01]

I have been using a 32" 2560x1440 BenQ PD3200Q screen on my 2018 Mini for over two years with this Belkin cable (apparently the same one you mentioned). Works great. Have read about so many HDMI issues on the 2018 Mini that I decided to use displayport/USB-C. No idea what the "best option" is, but I'm happy with this.

USB-C to DisplayPort Cable - 4k@60hz, 6ft | Belkin US

Our USB-C to DisplayPort Cable delivers a clean, crisp picture with support for 4K resolutions up to 3840x2160 at 60Hz. 6ft length, Thunderbolt 3 compatible.

www.belkin.com

 

[joevt]

I'm a bit late to this party, but I think my situation is quite similar to that of cwanja, above, except that my monitor is lower resolution. I have a 2018 Mac mini (running 10.15.7), and I just bought a BenQ SW240 monitor to use as my sole monitor - it's 24", resolution 1920 x 1200, 94 ppi, with HDMI 1.4 and DisplayPort 1.2 inputs. I am trying to figure out the best way to connect it. I could do HDMI to HDMI, but BenQ Support said I would get the widest range of color gamut by using a USB-C to DisplayPort cable, than by using an HDMI to HDMI cable. (They suggested CableMatters, but I ended up buying it from Belkin - the B2B103.) Apple had suggested the Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter; they also sell a somewhat cheaper Belkin USB-C to HDMI adapter.

Is the USB-C to DisplayPort cable my best option? If so, is the Belkin B2B103 ok? The ioGear cable that cwanja linked to is about twice the price of the Belkin (which cost about $10 more than the CableMatters cable that BenQ suggested).

Thanks very much! (By the way, as you can probably tell, I know nothing about any of this!)

The Belkin cable is fine. There exist USB-C to DisplayPort 1.4 cables that would be better for future proofing (when you get a newer PC and display).

If your display is only 1920x1200 60Hz, then Apple's USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter should be sufficient.

I would usually always use DisplayPort if available. A Windows user with a new GPU and a HDMI 2.1 display may prefer HDMI 2.1.

 

[macminimess]

I have been using a 32" 2560x1440 BenQ PD3200Q screen on my 2018 Mini for over two years with this Belkin cable (apparently the same one you mentioned). Works great. Have read about so many HDMI issues on the 2018 Mini that I decided to use displayport/USB-C. No idea what the "best option" is, but I'm happy with this.

USB-C to DisplayPort Cable - 4k@60hz, 6ft | Belkin US

Our USB-C to DisplayPort Cable delivers a clean, crisp picture with support for 4K resolutions up to 3840x2160 at 60Hz. 6ft length, Thunderbolt 3 compatible.

www.belkin.com

Yes, that's the same cable I bought. Thanks for your report.

 

[macminimess]

The Belkin cable is fine. There exist USB-C to DisplayPort 1.4 cables that would be better for future proofing (when you get a newer PC and display).

If your display is only 1920x1200 60Hz, then Apple's USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter should be sufficient.

I would usually always use DisplayPort if available. A Windows user with a new GPU and a HDMI 2.1 display may prefer HDMI 2.1.

Thank you for your help! I will look into the future-proof cable you mention. But I may go ahead with the Belkin I've already purchased - since the Apple Multiport costs more, and I am unlikely to upgrade either monitor or the mac mini anytime soon.

(Actually - if you care to comment - I just bought the BenQ SW240, and it is still returnable. I realize the resolution is low - but I wanted something 24" or less, with "good" color, without spending too much - and BHPhoto told me this would a good choice, since my goal is to print photos, and I'd like them to match what I see on my screen. (I also bought the Canon Pixma G620 printer.))

When I eventually upgrade my mac, it will most likely be another Mac mini (probably M1; maybe M2). Right now, I think I'd better focus on updating my OS to Big Sur, or more likely, Monterey, since I've (finally) become aware that my Catalina OS is not receiving updates. I won't venture as far as Ventura.

Thanks again, and happy holidays!

 

[Boyd01]

FWIW, Montery is working well on my 2018 Mini.

 

[macminimess]

FWIW, Montery is working well on my 2018 Mini.

Thanks!