Mac mini 2018 with Apples new 32" 6K monitor

[mixart]

So the rumours says that Apple will launch the new display with Mac Pro update later this year.

What do people think about parring a 32" 6K monitor with the Mac Mini 2018 and a good eGPU? Will that be a smooth experience?

 

[chabig]

The maximum display resolution of the 2018 Mini with one display is 5120-by-2880. The rumored 6K display would work with the machine (smoothly) although not at the maximum display resolution.

 

[mixart]

With an eGPU that support 6K/8K, it should be possible?

 

[F-Train]

It isn't news that Apple is likely to announce at least one new monitor this year. I won't be surprised if a 31"/32" 6K monitor is part of that. This was just uploaded by 9 to 5 Mac. The only way that I can see it costing US$3000, as Benjamin speculates, is if there is much stronger colour space support than the LG UltraFine monitors provide, starting with the inclusion of Adobe RGB:

 

[chabig]

I would think so.

 

[saulinpa]

The MM specs show that with 2 displays only one is 5120-by-2880 with the other on HDMI. It doesn't actually state "maximum" resolution. Possibly with only one display it can drive 6k. In the past we have seen Apple and Intel be overly conservative in their specs.

 

[Spectrum]

It should work well via eGPU assuming it has the correct outputs and inputs...

I assume this will need either 2xTB3 ports or 2x DP ports.

As such, no reason why a MM2018 could not run it directly if permitted in macOS. 6K is fewer pixels than 5K + 4K

 

[Fishrrman]

F-train wrote in #4 above:
"This was just uploaded by 9 to 5 Mac. The only way that I can see it costing US$3000, as Benjamin speculates"

It will easily cost $2,500 or more.
That's Apple.

Having said that...
I don't believe the 2018 Mini can support 6k without an external GPU.
So add another $500 (or more) onto the buy-in price.
And I'm wondering how 3rd-party applications are going to handle 6k/3k ...?

 

[Spectrum]

Personally, what I'd like to see is a 32 inch 5K.

 

[saulinpa]

Personally, what I'd like to see is a 32 inch 5K.

Probably won't see that. 32" at 5K doesn't follow Apple's 100 dpi native / 200 dpi retina standards.

 

[Spectrum]

Probably won't see that. 32" at 5K doesn't follow Apple's 100 dpi native / 200 dpi retina standards.

Which is exactly why I'd like to see it. I personally find 27 2560x1440 a little on the small side. I think 2560x1440 at 32 inch might be just about perfect.

Current options are only to run a 32 inch 4K with scaling. 32inch 5K would be a perfect 2x

 

[ElectricPotato]

I personally find 27 2560x1440 a little on the small side.

I'm with you on this. 27" (2560x1440/5K) = 109/218 DPI. Over 100/200 DPI starts to be a problem for me. 32" @ 5K = 183DPI, which is close to the 27" 4K 163 DPI I'm now using in 2x scaling mode. A little below the 100/200 mark is very kind to the eyes. Over feels like a constant strain to me.

 

[theluggage]

What do people think about parring a 32" 6K monitor with the Mac Mini 2018 and a good eGPU? Will that be a smooth experience?

A good eGPU that can already drive dual 5k displays and supports DisplayPort 1.4 ought to be OK with a 6k display. (Obviously the standard Intel iGPU wouldn't touch it... and no pre-2018 Mac supports DisplayPort 1.4 because only the latest Intel TB3/USB-C controllers do).

However, it all depends on whether Apple wants to make the new display exclusive to the Mythical Modular Mac Pro - if Apple don't want the Mini to drive it, it won't.

Also, if its a Thunderbolt display most eGPUs won't drive it - AFAIK its only the two, somewhat expensive, Apple/BlackMagic eGPUs that can drive Thunderbolt displays.

We're also assuming that its a 16:9 display - i.e. an enlarged 27" 5k. Since "6k" refers to the horizontal resolution, an ultra-wide screen at 6000-and-something x 2880 could fit the bill.

 

[magicMac]

it would be great if apple offered a more "prosumer" <£700 display again for the MacBooks and mac mini.