Mac Mini and Dell 2711

[GoogleFish]

Hello,
Just picked up a refurbed i5 Mini and hooked it up to a Dell 2711 using HDMI as it seemed like the most convenient option. However, notice I am getting only 1080. Is there a way to get the full 1440? Thanks in advanced for any advice.

 

[ivnj]

Which year mini?

 

[Passy78]

This should work on a Mac Mini released after 2014. However if it is a late 2012 model you need a MiniDP to Displayport cable. The Thunderbolt 1 port is also a MiniDP.

 

[GoogleFish]

2018 Mini - lots of searching, closest thing I am thinking is a displayport (on Dell) to Thunderbolt 3 cable on Mini?

I thought this Mini can support 4K via HDMI?

 

[throAU]

Hello,
Just picked up a refurbed i5 Mini and hooked it up to a Dell 2711 using HDMI as it seemed like the most convenient option. However, notice I am getting only 1080. Is there a way to get the full 1440? Thanks in advanced for any advice.

This is a problem with the Dell u2711. When using HDMI input it only supports 1920x1080.

Use DisplayPort instead and you'll get 2560x1440.

I have one of those monitors on my desk at work, the problem is HDMI input on the monitor is an early 9+ years old HDMI version (the "11" in U2711 = model from 2011) which doesn't support higher res beyond 1920x1080. The other inputs on it will work beyond 1920x1080 just fine; the monitor can do 2560x1440, just that early HDMI standard can't.

So as above... get a mini-DP to DisplayPort cable for your mini to plug into it with and you'll be fine.

 

[Passy78]

OK, then it should work. I would try first with another good (and recent) HDMI cable. It’s often due to the cable.

 

[throAU]

OK, then it should work. I would try first with another good (and recent) HDMI cable. It’s often due to the cable.

Nah.

It's the HDMI port on the monitor itself. You can throw whatever cable you like at it, I've been through this with this monitor.... ended up finding this out on a dell support forum.

Also see here:

HDMI - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The HDMI version on the monitor is before 1.3. Yes, Dell cheaped out on the HDMI port on it.

 

[GoogleFish]

This is a problem with the Dell u2711. When using HDMI input it only supports 1920x1080.

Use DisplayPort instead and you'll get 2560x1440.

So as above... get a mini-DP to DisplayPort cable for your mini to plug into it with and you'll be fine.

Is there a mini-DP port on the mini? Only see Thunderbolt 3 ports? Can a TB 3 to DP cable work?

 

[Passy78]

Nah.

It's the HDMI port on the monitor itself. You can throw whatever cable you like at it, I've been through this with this monitor.... ended up finding this out on a dell support forum.

OK, I was looking at the issue from a Mac point of view, don’t know about the display. I find it quite bizarre that there display out on the market that can use their full resolution with an HDMI input. But of course using the DP is a good idea
[automerge]1589380977[/automerge]

Is there a mini-DP port on the mini? Only see Thunderbolt 3 ports? Can a TB 3 to DP cable work?

You need a USB-C to DP cable. Apple says that USB-C ports have native DisplayPort output

 

[throAU]

OK, I was looking at the issue from a Mac point of view, don’t know about the display. I find it quite bizarre that there display out on the market that can use their full resolution with an HDMI input. But of course using the DP is a good idea

It's more common than you might think

A lot of computer stuff skimps on HDMI - Vega GPUs for example don't even include HDMI 2.0 from 2013 which means they can't do 4k60 output via HDMI, they're limited to 30hz. This is on a card released in 2017. Again, if you use DisplayPort, it's fine.

Generally, if you want best results I'd suggest steering clear of HDMI for anything computer related and use DisplayPort by preference, as often HDMI is just included to meet the base spec used by TV related stuff like DVD players, consoles, etc. The display vendor is literally saving cents but....

 

[Fishrrman]

For a 2018 Mini, get a:
USBc (Mini) to displayport (Dell) cable.