MM with 5k +120hz?

[bp1000]

I need to upgrade from an iMac from 2013.

I'd like Mac mini + v.good monitor but last time I checked I found the whole thing a minefield.

Mac mini is the easy part

Monitor wise I want something that scales correctly (I heard 4k isn't ideal and can tax the MM under scaling), so 5k ideally and also something with at least 120hz at around 27-34"

Does anything like this exist yet? I want to use the same monitor for gaming too and I think the refresh rate is the issue here.

Thanks

 

[magicMac]

I need to upgrade from an iMac from 2013.

I'd like Mac mini + v.good monitor but last time I checked I found the whole thing a minefield.

Mac mini is the easy part

Monitor wise I want something that scales correctly (I heard 4k isn't ideal and can tax the MM under scaling), so 5k ideally and also something with at least 120hz at around 27-34"

Does anything like this exist yet? I want to use the same monitor for gaming too and I think the refresh rate is the issue here.

Thanks

Mac Mini M2 HDMI Port
4K @ 60Hz

Mac Mini M2 Pro HDMI Port
8K @ 60Hz
OR
4K @ 240Hz

Mac Studio M2 Max/Ultra HDMI Port
8K @ 60Hz
OR
4K @ 240Hz with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)

--

4K on a Mac is more suited to monitors around 24", since the 4K desktop size is the same as 1080p HD. At 27" I would recommend looking at 5K, where the desktop size is the equivalent of 1440p QHD. You can use a 27" 4K monitor with a Mac if you want, but you might find you need a deeper desk to push the monitor further back / or if too close find yourself moving your eyes around the screen alot (everything will be blown up too large). You can manually adjust the scaling down to compensate, but then you loose quality from scaling. So in summary it's recommended to stick to:

22-24"
1080p HD (1920x1080) OR 4K (3840x2160)
^both are the same desktop size with the latter at "retina quality"

27-28"
1440p QHD (2560x1440) OR 5K (5120x2880)
^both are the same desktop size with the latter at "retina quality"

--


I haven't really come across any 5K 120Hz Monitors, there might be some. So you might end up having to go with 27" 4K 120Hz, which there are plenty about.

 

[gnomeisland]

AFAIK there are only very few 5k panels available (maybe even only the LG display panel used in the LG, Apple Studio, and Samsung 27" models). It isn't a popular resolution and 8k 120hz isn't really a thing.

Right now you are limited to 4k if you want to go higher than 60hz—unless you go ultra wide. I never had a problem scaling 4k on my m1 Mac mini and my M1 Max Studio with dual 4k monitors running at 5k equivalent (one at 120hz) is just fine.

 

[Moonjumper]

I have a 2015 27" iMac with a 27" 4K monitor as a second screen, and the performance is not noticeably affected when running the 4K scaled to match the 5K monitor compared to running it pixel doubled. I do run the iMac quite hard often, running Unity, Visual Studio, Illustrator, Photoshop, and more at the same time. So I would notice a difference.

4K scaled to look like 5K does not look as good as the iMac screen, but a lot better than the 1440p screen I had before.

If my old iMac can cope, a recent MM should be fine.