New M4 on the way

[bassjunky]

While I just bragged that my 2011 iMac wouldn't die, its GFX card finally gave up the ghost. RIP. I've ordered a new Mini M4 and am on the hunt for a monitor.

What I don't understand is the difference of video delivery over HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C which delivers both and maybe TB4/5? I understand them in their own right, but should I get a monitor that accepts a USB-C port for video? I guess it really doesn't matter, just curious.

Anyways, the LG Ultrafine lineup looks decent and budget friendly. Any other monitors y'all recommend?

 

[phrehdd]

What do you plan to do mostly with your setup? Photo work or play games or email or...? There are various monitors types and sizes of monitors out there. Gaming enjoys faster reacting monitors while other monitors are noted for their colour space and accuracy ability etc. I don't play games but engage art and photo work so my money went to a monitor in that part of the market. Let us know and maybe someone can recommend some possibilities that match your needs.

 

[bassjunky]

Not a gamer, mostly video editing and audio production. I’m just not clear on what a USB-C connection provides to the monitor. Should I use an HDMI cable for video and a USB-C cable to the monitor to connect USB peripherals, i.e.web cam? Thank!

 

[phrehdd]

Not a gamer, mostly video editing and audio production. I’m just not clear on what a USB-C connection provides to the monitor. Should I use an HDMI cable for video and a USB-C cable to the monitor to connect USB peripherals, i.e.web cam? Thank

Which connection to use for video is for some a point of contention with many swearing HDMI is the way to go while others, say DisplayPort given some quirks with Apple. I use USB C to USB C and take up one of my thunderbolt ports. It works with zero issues in my case to my BenQ monitor. LG as you say makes some nice ones as well along with other makers. What is your budget for your monitor?

 

[dmccloud]

While I just bragged that my 2011 iMac wouldn't die, its GFX card finally gave up the ghost. RIP. I've ordered a new Mini M4 and am on the hunt for a monitor.

What I don't understand is the difference of video delivery over HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C which delivers both and maybe TB4/5? I understand them in their own right, but should I get a monitor that accepts a USB-C port for video? I guess it really doesn't matter, just curious.

Anyways, the LG Ultrafine lineup looks decent and budget friendly. Any other monitors y'all recommend?

HDMI usually maxes out at 120Hz refresh rate, which is fine for most productivity work but becomes a liability in gaming or other workloads which benefit from high framerates. Even on gaming monitors with refresh rates such as 165, 180, or 240Hz, HDMI will lag around the 120Hz mark because of bandwidth limitations. USB-C is a physical connection type, and is independent of connection speeds/bandwidth capabilities. Macs support DisplayPort Alt Mode, which can use the higher bandwidth offered by Thunderbolt 4 & 5 to push refresh rates to their maximum. You really have two options to maximize monitor performance in this scenario. You could pick up a monitor that has DisplayPort and run a DP to USB-C cable to connect to one of the Thunderbolt ports on the back of the device. If you were to pick up a minotor with USB-C support, you would need to verify whether the display supports Thunderbolt or just USB, because there is a big gap between Thunderbolt bandwidth and USB 3.2 bandwidth, which would affect both refresh rates and the max resolution supported over the connection.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"Not a gamer, mostly video editing and audio production"

It depends on what ports the display has. They could be:
HDMI
USBc
DIsplayport
etc.

I'd try HDMI (Mini) to HDMI (display) first.
(this keeps an extra USBc port open)

If that doesn't work, try USBc (Mini) to USBc (display).

Or USBc (Mini) to displayport (display).

 

[bassjunky]

Thanks for the clarifications, fellas. I’m going the “cheaper” route right now with a 27” LG 4k for the time being, and will just use the HDMI port. Coming from an old 2011 iMac, I should be more than happy.

 

[bassjunky]

I upgraded to a 32” LG ultrafine for $50 less than the 27”. I was worried the PPI would be less than the 27”, and maybe it is, but I can’t tell. This 32” with the new mini works awesome. This should last me years.

 

[Mrbobb]

I bought me a 23" hold-over TV when things were turning digital in 2009, unwilling to lug a large flat panel with me to the new placed planned to move to, and that is what I currently use for the M4, good enough for surfing use.