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bigcletus123

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 12, 2009
71
2
Hello:

I recently picked up a new i5 Mac Mini. My old one was a late 2014 with mini Display port, aka T bolt 2. My monitor only has mini dp, DP, and HDMi inputs. My question is whats the best way to connect the monitor..will I get the same quality with HDMi as with USB-C (tbolt 3??) Is there a cable adapter - mini-dp to USB C ??

Thanks
 
"My monitor only has mini dp, DP, and HDMi inputs"

Try a "USBc to displayport" cable first.

If you get "the black screen at boot" (common 2018 Mini problem), you might then try a HIGH SPEED HDMI 2.0 cable instead. That might work if the USBc cable doesn't.

By "black screen at boot", I mean:
During boot, the Mini will briefly "lose the connection" to the display. The display will "go black" for a second or two, then "go back to normal".
With SOME cables and displays, the display will go black and WILL NOT come back unless you unplug it and reconnect to the Mini.

This seems limited to some display/cable combinations, some Minis do it, others, no.
You'll find whether YOUR Mini does it or not when you get connected !
 
"My monitor only has mini dp, DP, and HDMi inputs"

Try a "USBc to displayport" cable first.

If you get "the black screen at boot" (common 2018 Mini problem), you might then try a HIGH SPEED HDMI 2.0 cable instead. That might work if the USBc cable doesn't.

By "black screen at boot", I mean:
During boot, the Mini will briefly "lose the connection" to the display. The display will "go black" for a second or two, then "go back to normal".
With SOME cables and displays, the display will go black and WILL NOT come back unless you unplug it and reconnect to the Mini.

This seems limited to some display/cable combinations, some Minis do it, others, no.
You'll find whether YOUR Mini does it or not when you get connected !

If I use the cable that came with my monitor, it briefly goes black and then comes back. If I use an Amazon Basics HDMI cable I bought, it goes black and has to be unplugged and plugged back in, like you said.

There seems to be too many quirks with the mini, with monitor, Bluetooth and WiFi issues. I feel like they could be solved if Apple decided to devote the proper attention to them.
 
"My monitor only has mini dp, DP, and HDMi inputs"

Would this cable work ???

Thanks

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=24446


Try a "USBc to displayport" cable first.

If you get "the black screen at boot" (common 2018 Mini problem), you might then try a HIGH SPEED HDMI 2.0 cable instead. That might work if the USBc cable doesn't.

By "black screen at boot", I mean:
During boot, the Mini will briefly "lose the connection" to the display. The display will "go black" for a second or two, then "go back to normal".
With SOME cables and displays, the display will go black and WILL NOT come back unless you unplug it and reconnect to the Mini.

This seems limited to some display/cable combinations, some Minis do it, others, no.
You'll find whether YOUR Mini does it or not when you get connected !
 
"Would this cable work ???
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=24446"


I don't like that cable.
Look at the big "box" (of circuitry) near the USBc connection.

Looks to me like after you plug this in, that the weight of "the box" is going to put a lot of "downward pressure" on the USBc connection on the back of the Mini.

That means wear-and-tear, and perhaps an early failure.

A cable like THIS ONE:
https://www.amazon.com/DisplayPort-...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

...would do better.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
"Would this cable work ???
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=24446"


I don't like that cable.
Look at the big "box" (of circuitry) near the USBc connection.

Looks to me like after you plug this in, that the weight of "the box" is going to put a lot of "downward pressure" on the USBc connection on the back of the Mini.

That means wear-and-tear, and perhaps an early failure.

A cable like THIS ONE:
https://www.amazon.com/DisplayPort-...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

...would do better.


Thank you..I'll order this one...
 
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Is the black screen at boot thing that brief black screen during boot? I get Apple logo with progress bar then quick all black and back to logo with progress bar. 2018 I7 Mini, Apple DVI to HDMI, and Apple 23”ACD. Since Mojave 10.14.6 I also get a couple of vertical lines on the display that go away with unplugging / plugging HDMI into mini after boot.

Does anyone know if this issue also happens with a Thunderboldt display connection?
 
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