Hello! I just bought the Dell U3415W, attached it to my Mac mini using the supplied DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable, and all is well, as far as resolution goes. (Oddly, when I go into the system, it says I'm using a 1920 - 1080 display, but the monitor itself and a web utility report it running 3440 x 1440 at 50 hz.) The problem I'm having is that I can't get any sound out of the speakers. Part of my enthusiasm for the monitor was that it has built in speakers. But when I choose Dell DisplayPort as the sound output, the volume gets grayed out, and I get the message "the selected device has no output controls". I read this forum pretty carefully before buying the monitor, and I know folks are using it on a Mac mini. Is there a way to get the speakers to work, or do people just solve the sound some other way 😩?
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Mac mini late 2012 with Dell U3514W No Sound ☹️
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Further updates: after MUCH searching on the internet, I learned that this is actually a "feature" of OSX-- no volume control on sound that is carried from DisplayPort or HDMI. I wasted too many hours trying free solutions that didn't work (BlackHole, SoundFlower and iShowU audio capture), and then found and bought an app called SoundSource that controls the volume perfectly, at about 5% of the cost of the monitor. I'm leaving this here for anyone else who gets surprised, as I did!
Holy moly, feel like I'm losing my mind! Rebooted my computer and lost all sound again!?! So, I'm back to my first question-- has anybody gotten sound out of these speakers, reliably, and if so, how?
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I have a different display and exactly the same issue. MacOs shows my display as having speakers (which it has!) but I am unable to get it to work. Volume control is greyed out and there is no sound. No a big issue for me, but would still love to get a solution.
So, as I mentioned in my post above, this seems to be baked into OSX-- volume controls disabled (and in my case, no sound at all) when the display is connected using DisplayPort. I got temporary success using the program called SoundSource, but once I rebooted it stopped working, kind of permanently. I subsequently downloaded a trial version of SoundControl, which is cheaper, and is still working after multiple reboots. You might give both programs, which have free trial periods, a try.
Have not. So far my system seems to be working with SoundControl. BitPerfect looks more like an audio player.... how would it help my situation? (not being able to get sound or control volume of built in speakers...)
No BitPerfect is actually more like a replacement for the Mac system control panel for audio inputs and outputs.
Oh! I just read some about it, and it sounds interesting, but doesn't offer a trial. I think I'll stick with SoundControl for the two week trial, and if it seems stable, keep that. Thanks for the information! I'll keep it in mind if things go south 🙂
Thinking about this again.....
THEORY 1: Minor bug on your Dell Display
THEORY 2: You model of Mac mini does not out audio to Displayport endpoints
Possibly the Mac Mini you are using
- outputs only video signals to displayport endpoints
- outputs digital audio signals only to endpoints that report via the Thunderbolt and HDMI protocols
So in other words, even though your Dell U3415W display has a compatible correct physical connector format (mini displayport) , it's not presenting itself to the Mac as a Thunderbolt or HDMI device, and the Mac Mini is therefore not seeing it as an audio-capable device?
Dell says:
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Shop Dell’s high-quality computer accessories like keyboards, mice, webcams, batteries and more. Enjoy great deals and build your ideal PC setup for home or business.
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HDMI, DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort, MHL
Apple says:
Send audio and video to HDMI displays through Mini DisplayPort - Apple Support
Learn which Mac models support audio and video output to HDMI displays through Mini DisplayPort when used with an adapter.
Send audio and video to HDMI displays through Mini DisplayPort
Learn which Mac models support audio and video output to HDMI displays through Mini DisplayPort when used with an adapter.
(This article has been archived and is no longer updated by Apple.)
To connect the Mini DisplayPort of your Mac to an HDMI display, you need a third-party Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter. The following Mac models supply up to 8 channels of audio and video over Mini DisplayPort:
- MacBook Pro models from 2010 through 2015
- MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2010)
- MacBook Air models from 2010 through 2015
- Mac mini models from 2010 through 2014
- iMac models from 2009 through 2015
- Mac Pro models from 2010 through 2013
These models supply only video over Mini DisplayPort:
- MacBook Pro models from late 2008 through 2009
- MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) and MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009)
- MacBook Air models from late 2008 through 2009
- Mac mini models introduced in 2009
- iMac models introduced in early and mid 2009
- Mac Pro models introduced in 2009
Identify the ports on your Mac - Apple Support
If you're not sure which port to use with your external display, hard drive, camera, printer, iPhone, iPad, or other device, the port shapes and symbols in this guide should help.
Thunderbolt
Use Thunderbolt
or Thunderbolt 2
with displays and other devices that connect using a Thunderbolt cable.
These Mac models have Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 ports:
- MacBook Pro introduced in 2011 through 2015
- MacBook Air introduced in 2011 through 2017
- Mac mini introduced in 2011 through 2014
- iMac introduced in 2011 through 2015
- Mac Pro introduced in 2013
Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 are not the same as Mini DisplayPort
. They have the same shape, but use different symbols on the cable and port. However, this port does support Mini DisplayPort for video output, so you can use a Mini DisplayPort cable to connect a Mini DisplayPort display.
Use Mini DisplayPort
with displays that connect using a Mini DisplayPort cable.
These Mac models have Mini DisplayPort:
- MacBook Pro introduced in late 2008 through 2010
- MacBook Air introduced in late 2008 through 2010
- Mac mini introduced in 2009 and 2010
- iMac introduced in 2009 and 2010
- Mac Pro introduced in 2009 through 2012
Mini DisplayPort is not the same as Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2
. They have the same shape, but use different symbols on the cable and port.
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Thank you for this incredibly thorough explanation! When I bought the monitor I suspected I might run into some compatibility issues since my Mac mini (late 2012) is old, both video card and connectors. But I think I'm stuck with thunderbolt, based on other threads on the topic, which suggest that one can only get full resolution on the 3150W with the Mac mini if you use the Displayport to Mini-displayport (Thunderbolt) connection. I'm truly happy at the moment, because even though OSX isn't interpreting the audio correctly on its own (perhaps for the reasons that you said), SoundControl is giving me both sound, and a way to change the volume. At the moment, I have what I need!