Mac Mini (Late 2012) with LG 5K? Possible?

[dlmanning]

I recently found a great deal on the LG Ultrafine 5K Display and jumped on it before the sale ended. (In hindsight, I should have checked to make sure my computer works with it). I have a Mac Mini (Late 2012), which obviously doesn't have USB-C. I connect my current ASUS monitor through an HDMI cable, so I purchased an HDMI to USB-C adapter. The new LG display doesn't recognize it. My Mac Mini also has a Thunderbolt 2 port as well as FireWire. Will another adapter allow me to use my new LG display, even at a lower resolution? Thank you.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

The LG UltraFine 5k doesn't require USB-C, it needs Thunderbolt 3 (same connector, but totally different electronics). That's why it's not recognizing an HDMI signal.

If you have a Late 2012 Mini, you have a Thunderbolt 1 (not Thunderbolt 2) port. I have no idea what the LG would do if connected via (expensive) adapters to the Thunderbolt 1 port, but it definitely wouldn't function at 5k...

If you want to try it & see what happens, get (preferably borrow) a TB2-TB3 adapter and a Thunderbolt cable and give it a shot. But your best bet, is to get a 2018 Mac Mini.

 

[treekram]

According to this article from Apple, the 2012 Mini isn't supported with the UltraFine 5K monitor.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207448

It may be that the article only lists scenarios that will run at 60Hz.

 

[alphaod]

It's not possible.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

According to this article from Apple, the 2012 Mini isn't supported with the UltraFine 5K monitor.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207448

It may be that the article only lists scenarios that will run at 60Hz.

Oh, good find. So yeah, if you can only get "3200 x 1800 @ 60Hz" with a 2014 Mini - which actually has Thunderbolt 2, not Thunderbolt 1 like your 2012 - you're not going to get anything useful out of your 2012.

 

[Mellofello808]

You will need a 2018 mini, or a MacBook pro from 2016 on to drive that monitor