Mac Mini to DP Monitor - Belkin Video Adapter not working

[Peter_M]

HI,

I have an early 2020 Mac Mini (Intel), connected to an Acer X34P monitor. I've connected these with an HDMI-cable. Unfortunately X34P only supports the older HDMI standard, so I get a maximum of 50hz in 3440x1440. Therefore, I wanted to change over to Display Port via USB-C, to get the same resolution at 60hz.

I went to a local Apple store, and bought the Belkin USB-C Video Adapter:

USB-C Video Adapter?(HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, VGA) | Belkin US

Connect your laptop or tablet to an HDMI, VGA, DisplayPort, or DVI video display with a convenient, four-port adapter designed for simplicity of use. Shop now.

www.belkin.com

So, I tried connecting my X34P to my Mac Mini, using my Display Port cable together with the Belkin adapter, and there is no signal or connection.

Does anyone know why this doesn't work? If I get a USB-C to Display Port cable (not DP mini), would that work? Is the Belkin adapter not compatible, or is it an issue with my monitor?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[Fishrrman]

Does the display have ONLY HDMI inputs?
If so, what VERSION of HDMI are they?
If there is more than one port (on the back of the display), are they "the same version of HDMI", or... different?

Could it be the HDMI-HDMI connecting cable you have?
Is it a "high-speed" cable?
(seems to me there are several different "kinds" of HDMI cables)

For some reason (I sense that it has something to do with the built-in graphics), the Mini can present the user with problems connecting to displays that "aren't quite what the Mini is expecting".

Sometimes, the only way to "find a combination that works" is to try different connection schemes, different connecting cables, different adapters, etc. -- until you find one that works consistently.

In a few cases, it might even be necessary to get a different display.

 

[Peter_M]

Thanks for the reply. It's a PC display (Acer X34P), so it has both Display Port (regular) and HDMI. The display's HDMI is the older standard (the display model is a few years old now), so its HDMI port has less bandwidth than its DP, which can give me a 60hz refresh rate (or higher if Apple didn't cap it at 60hz). I could order a direct cable like mentioned in the OP, but I'd rather not throw away even more money - if that also doesn't work.

It's not a bad DP cable, because I used it to connect my X34P to my PC (before I sold it).

 

[Boyd01]

Just a nitpick, but there is no such thing as an "early 2020" Mini - you have a 2018 Mini. The only change in 2020 was to remove the option for a 128gb SSD in the base model.

Apple Mac mini Specs (All Mac mini Technical Specs): EveryMac.com

Technical specifications for the Apple Mac mini series. Dates sold, processor type, memory info, hard drive details, estimated retail prices, and more.

everymac.com

I don't know what issues your monitor might have, but I am using this Belkin cable on my 2018 Mini with a 32" BenQ 1440p/60 hz display and have no problems.

USB-C to DisplayPort Cable - 4k@60hz, 6ft | Belkin

Our USB-C to DisplayPort Cable delivers a clean, crisp picture with support for 4K resolutions up to 3840x2160 at 60Hz. 6ft length, Thunderbolt 3 compatible.

www.belkin.com

 

[Fishrrman]

Agree with Boyd above.
If you have a displayport input on the monitor, then try:
USBc (mini end) to displayport (monitor end).

 

[Peter_M]

Yep, makes sense. A direct cable should work. Some of these adapters are useless turds, and aren't compatible with various mac models, yet these overpriced items are sold in the Apple stores as a universal "plug-and-play" solution. Really annoying.

Thanks for the help, and the link!

 

[AZhappyjack]

Been using this one on my 2018 Mini to LG 27 4K monitor

Warrky USB C to DisplayPort 1.4 Cable (8K 60Hz, 4K 240Hz, 2K 360Hz) Aluminum 32.4Gbps Type-C to Display Port Cord [Thunderbolt 3/4 Compatible] for MacBook Pro/Air, iPhone 15 Series, iPad, Galaxy -6ft

Warrky USB C to DisplayPort 1.4 Cable (8K 60Hz, 4K 240Hz, 2K 360Hz) Aluminum 32.4Gbps Type-C to Display Port Cord [Thunderbolt 3/4 Compatible] for MacBook Pro/Air, iPhone 15 Series, iPad, Galaxy -6ft

smile.amazon.com

 

[joevt]

Thanks for the reply. It's a PC display (Acer X34P), so it has both Display Port (regular) and HDMI. The display's HDMI is the older standard (the display model is a few years old now), so its HDMI port has less bandwidth than its DP, which can give me a 60hz refresh rate (or higher if Apple didn't cap it at 60hz). I could order a direct cable like mentioned in the OP, but I'd rather not throw away even more money - if that also doesn't work.

Apple doesn't cap refresh rates to 60Hz. If it doesn't show the refresh rates you want (hold the Option key and click "Scaled" in the Displays preferences panel), then try SwitchResX.

 

[Peter_M]

I just got a direct DisplayPort to USB-C cable, and I tested it with my Acer X34P. Unfortunately that didn't work either. Does the Mac Mini's USB-C connections lack display support? This is rather disappointing...

Am I missing anything here? Thanks.

 

[joevt]

I just got a direct DisplayPort to USB-C cable, and I tested it with my Acer X34P. Unfortunately that didn't work either. Does the Mac Mini's USB-C connections lack display support? This is rather disappointing...

Am I missing anything here? Thanks.

What cable did you get?

Disable G-SYNC if there's an option to do that?
Set DisplayPort version to 1.2 if there's an option to do that?

Any other displays connected? Only two displays can be connected to the Thunderbolt ports.

 

[Peter_M]

What cable did you get?

Disable G-SYNC if there's an option to do that?
Set DisplayPort version to 1.2 if there's an option to do that?

Any other displays connected? Only two displays can be connected to the Thunderbolt ports.

Thanks for the reply. There's no G-SYNC or DP version option in the monitor's OSD. No other display connected either. It seems the Mac Mini simply doesn't support sending a display signal to Display Port via USB-C, which doesn't make any sense afaik. In other words, typical Apple nonsense, and I just wasted $100...sigh.

Anyways, thanks for the help.

 

[AZhappyjack]

Thanks for the reply. There's no G-SYNC or DP version option in the monitor's OSD. No other display connected either. It seems the Mac Mini simply doesn't support sending a display signal to Display Port via USB-C, which doesn't make any sense afaik. In other words, typical Apple nonsense, and I just wasted $100...sigh.

Anyways, thanks for the help.

Clearly something is defective - the Mini, the display or the cable. I've been running USB-C to DP on my 2018 Mini to an LG 4K monitor since I got it new in 2018... using the $10 cable that I posted about here.

 

[Fishrrman]

Perhaps it's time to try a DIFFERENT display.
I'd suggest one that isn't "widescreen" (that's what you have, right?)

I'd also look into the display menus to see what resolution and REFRESH RATE the display is currently set to.

 

[joevt]

Perhaps it's time to try a DIFFERENT display.
I'd suggest one that isn't "widescreen" (that's what you have, right?)

I'd also look into the display menus to see what resolution and REFRESH RATE the display is currently set to.

Yes.
Does the Mac mini work with a different display (from USB-C)? Have you tried other devices with the Thunderbolt ports of the Mac mini? If there's a problem with DisplayPort output from the port, but it works with a Thunderbolt dock, then you could connect the display to a Thunderbolt dock.

Dose the display work with a different computer (from DisplayPort or USB-C)?