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Monitor for 2020 MacMini

OP wrote:
"Hi guys, in the end I bought a BenQ PD2700Q.
I've had it for a week or so now... and frankly I'm having a hard time finding a way to get used to so much space and such small text. I have already enlarged the font size as much as possible, and also tried a scaled resolution.
Max resolution is 2560x1440"

You're not going to like this post.

You bought THE WRONG SIZE display for 2560x1440.
You bought 27" instead of 32".

What that means is... text displayed "at normal font sizes" when the display is running at its native resolution of 2560x1440 (1440p) is going to be on the small side. Perhaps too small.

IF you had bought a 32" 1440p display, text (again displayed at normal font sizes) would be "naturally larger", and more close to what the eye considers "normal" (at least my eyes).

My prediction:
Send the 27" back and get a 32" "QHD" 1440p display instead.
I'll bet that you like that much better.
 
Fishrrman said:
OP wrote:
"Hi guys, in the end I bought a BenQ PD2700Q.
I've had it for a week or so now... and frankly I'm having a hard time finding a way to get used to so much space and such small text. I have already enlarged the font size as much as possible, and also tried a scaled resolution.
Max resolution is 2560x1440"

You're not going to like this post.

You bought THE WRONG SIZE display for 2560x1440.
You bought 27" instead of 32".

What that means is... text displayed "at normal font sizes" when the display is running at its native resolution of 2560x1440 (1440p) is going to be on the small side. Perhaps too small.

IF you had bought a 32" 1440p display, text (again displayed at normal font sizes) would be "naturally larger", and more close to what the eye considers "normal" (at least my eyes).

My prediction:
Send the 27" back and get a 32" "QHD" 1440p display instead.
I'll bet that you like that much better.
Click to expand...
But 32 inch at QHD, the pixel density is ...... poor. Very, very far from Retina display.

My guess would be a Dell U2720Q. With this display, you get this kind of menu :
1597759916242.png


Just like the Retina display. And text should look sharp.
 
It really depends on your needs. I want lots of pixels and a big screen for Photoshop, GIS and CAD applications. 1440 x 2560 is great for that. The pixel density (92dpi) on the 32" screen is just fine for me (and the same I'm used to with my smaller 1080p screen), "retina" would really add nothing.

Also note in the screenshot where it says "Using a scaled resolution may affect performance". There are some threads about that here. But I'll concede that some people might prefer a 27" 4k screen at scaled resolution. The important thing is to understand all these things before purchasing, so that you appreciate the trade-offs with your choice.
 
Fishrrman said:
OP wrote:
"Hi guys, in the end I bought a BenQ PD2700Q.
I've had it for a week or so now... and frankly I'm having a hard time finding a way to get used to so much space and such small text. I have already enlarged the font size as much as possible, and also tried a scaled resolution.
Max resolution is 2560x1440"

You're not going to like this post.

You bought THE WRONG SIZE display for 2560x1440.
You bought 27" instead of 32".

What that means is... text displayed "at normal font sizes" when the display is running at its native resolution of 2560x1440 (1440p) is going to be on the small side. Perhaps too small.

IF you had bought a 32" 1440p display, text (again displayed at normal font sizes) would be "naturally larger", and more close to what the eye considers "normal" (at least my eyes).

My prediction:
Send the 27" back and get a 32" "QHD" 1440p display instead.
I'll bet that you like that much better.
Click to expand...

l don't think you can make a blanket statement like that as it depends on a number of factors besides resolution such as individual eyesight, viewing distance and so on. My 27" NEC PA272W running at 2560 x 1440 is just right for me.
 
weaztek said:
Um... you know this is the Mac Mini forum right? eGPUs work excellent with the Mini.
Click to expand...
From what I've seen, many applications don't support sending work over eGPU.
Setup can be complicated.
Mac mini is a subpar computer. It should have a dGPU, even if it was a 5300M. This computer will really shines when Apple release its Apple Silicon. Until then, Mac mini doesn't have enough graphics power, and I personally don't trust eGPU for production workload.
 
pldelisle said:
From what I've seen, many applications don't support sending work over eGPU.
Setup can be complicated.
Mac mini is a subpar computer. It should have a dGPU, even if it was a 5300M. This computer will really shines when Apple release its Apple Silicon. Until then, Mac mini doesn't have enough graphics power, and I personally don't trust eGPU for production workload.
Click to expand...
That's fine, your call.

However, my Mini with an RX 570 eGPU benchmarks at Open GL: 33,005 metal: 33,795, LuxMark Luxball: 11,311, Hotel: 2,162, Neumann: 7,713 which is plenty of horsepower for my professional workstation.
 
weaztek said:
That's fine, your call.

However, my Mini with an RX 570 eGPU benchmarks at Open GL: 33,005 metal: 33,795, LuxMark Luxball: 11,311, Hotel: 2,162, Neumann: 7,713 which is plenty of horsepower for my professional workstation.
Click to expand...

Is the use of your eGPU transparent to you or do you have to do all the screwing around that so many people have posted about, plugging in and unplugging monitors, typing in passwords blind, that kind of thing?
 
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Daverich4 said:
Is the use of your eGPU transparent to you or do you have to do all the screwing around that so many people have posted about, plugging in and unplugging monitors, typing in passwords blind, that kind of thing?
Click to expand...
Completely transparent. eGPU was plug and play. It's a Sonnet Breakaway Puck RX 570.
 
Keep in mind there are two of them.. There is the actual Sonnet Puck which comes with an RX560 and is in an enclosure about the shape/size of the Mini, and there's the Sonnet boxes that you throw your own card in. Performance is probably the same with both though..
 
Monotremata said:
Keep in mind there are two of them.. There is the actual Sonnet Puck which comes with an RX560 and is in an enclosure about the shape/size of the Mini, and there's the Sonnet boxes that you throw your own card in. Performance is probably the same with both though..
Click to expand...

I notice you have the RX570 as well. Do you have the puck (which doesn't seem to be available anywhere) or the separate enclosure? Whichever you have, do you have any startup problems with it?
 
Daverich4 said:
I notice you have the RX570 as well. Do you have the puck (which doesn't seem to be available anywhere) or the separate enclosure? Whichever you have, do you have any startup problems with it?
Click to expand...

Actually neither one at the moment, but Im getting the enclosure so I can throw my 570 in it. The 570 is in my Mac Pro at the moment, bought it so I could upgrade to Mojave and then found out that was our last bone Apple threw us heh. The pucks are pretty awesome if you need a card, the 560 should be pretty decent, the 570 let me play Battletech with full graphics in 4k on the Pro with no trouble.

All the reports are iffy right now to be honest. It works flawlessly for some, and others have no luck with it, so it seems its just like any other peripheral. Im just crossing my fingers Im one of the ones everything just works for, Ive had pretty good luck with that my entire life so Im hoping it doesn't change haha. If not eh, I got an extra HDMI cable to keep the monitor connected while it boots.
 
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Dear weaztek: Could you please comment on the noise of the puck under load? Given it is relatively small and has (of course) a fan I wonder how loud it is
 
andrinho14 said:
Dear weaztek: Could you please comment on the noise of the puck under load? Given it is relatively small and has (of course) a fan I wonder how loud it is
Click to expand...
Mine is very, very quiet. It is actually only audible maybe 1-3% of the time I use it. It's much better than my external hard drive.
 
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