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New Mac mini HDMI port fixing underscan/overscan issues?

A

amphibious

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 30, 2005
76
1
I currently have a Mac mini (two generations old) hooked up to my 1080p HDTV. I tried battling the underscan/overscan issue that some people experience and never found a solution that worked.

I know this is a little early to be asking the question, but I'm wondering if anyone had underscan/overscan issues that were fixed by the new mini with its HDMI port?
 
amphibious said:
I currently have a Mac mini (two generations old) hooked up to my 1080p HDTV. I tried battling the underscan/overscan issue that some people experience and never found a solution that worked.

I know this is a little early to be asking the question, but I'm wondering if anyone had underscan/overscan issues that were fixed by the new mini with its HDMI port?
Click to expand...
This cnet review mentions some kind of option to deal with overscan/underscan with the new HDMI port, is that what you mean? Don't know if it's a new feature or not.
 
thefaceless said:
This cnet review mentions some kind of option to deal with overscan/underscan with the new HDMI port, is that what you mean? Don't know if it's a new feature or not.
Click to expand...

I hadn't seen any mention of a feature like that, but it appears to at least address the problem. I'm not sure that a slider is the best solution, as I have the display set to output 1920x1080 right now and I still have a black border about 1" on either side and .5" on the top and bottom. HD stuff looks pretty crappy when it's not matching up pixel for pixel.

I suppose I'll go try it and return it if it doesn't work.

Thanks.
 
I'm interested in this too. But I'm slightly confused by your post amphibious... if the mini is set to 1920x1080 and your tv is 1920x1080, why would there be a bar around the edges? Are you sure your tv isn't doing the underscanning?
 
The new mini has an option for that on displays in preferences. Look it.
 
jwhazel said:
I'm interested in this too. But I'm slightly confused by your post amphibious... if the mini is set to 1920x1080 and your tv is 1920x1080, why would there be a bar around the edges? Are you sure your tv isn't doing the underscanning?
Click to expand...

The TV displays a full screen image while the computer is booting, until it gets to the login screen. Indicates to me that some display setting is changing when it gets to the login.

I played around with DisplayConfigX and went through a ton of walkthroughs but could never get it to work even close to correctly.

Sensamic said:
The new mini has an option for that on displays in preferences. Look it.
Click to expand...

Just because the option is there doesn't mean it's necessarily going to fix the problem, unfortunately. I'd really like to find somebody that previously had this problem, and solved it via the new HDMI option and additional software settings.
 
Just because the option is there doesn't mean it's necessarily going to fix the problem, unfortunately. I'd really like to find somebody that previously had this problem, and solved it via the new HDMI option and additional software settings.
Click to expand...

Agree. I'd like to see this too. My 2008 mini shows a black border & while I'm not about to replace it, it would be very good to know that the problem is actually solved..
 
I connected my 2010 Mini to a 42" LCD. There was some overscan initially, so I couldn't see the outer edges of the screen (menu bar, bottom half of dock, etc.). The underscan slider in the Display settings took care of this issue with no problems. It's a nice little tool which lets you avoid the hassle of using DisplayConfigX or SwitchResX.
 
OmegaRed1723 said:
I connected my 2010 Mini to a 42" LCD. There was some overscan initially, so I couldn't see the outer edges of the screen (menu bar, bottom half of dock, etc.). The underscan slider in the Display settings took care of this issue with no problems. It's a nice little tool which lets you avoid the hassle of using DisplayConfigX or SwitchResX.
Click to expand...

And do you find that the slider is accurate enough that it's not mapping like 1.1 or .9 pixels per pixel on screen? I know it's never going to be perfect, but I'd really like a bluray rip at 1080p to look the same as if it were playing off a bluray disc.
 
I have an 09 mini connected via DVI outputing 1200P and theres no borders around my monitor. If the mini natively did under/overscan through the output wouldn't everyone with a computer monitor see borders/non 1.1 mapping? I bring this up because I know that my 58" panasonic will "zoom" the image by default (something like 20px on each side) to compensate for broadcast data thats around the edges. You have to delve deep into the menus to adjust it or shut if off all together.

But if the mini really does try to overscan the display through HDMI, this will throw a wrench in my spokes.
 
amphibious said:
And do you find that the slider is accurate enough that it's not mapping like 1.1 or .9 pixels per pixel on screen? I know it's never going to be perfect, but I'd really like a bluray rip at 1080p to look the same as if it were playing off a bluray disc.
Click to expand...

I found the slider to be quite precise. If you fidget with it, I believe you can get a 1:1 pixel ratio, though I'm no measurementician. ;)
 
This feature matters to me. My television can't handle it, in firmware.

Thanks to the OP.
 
Hi,

Registered just for this question :)

Is there any reason this wouldn't work on the previous generation Mini when using a Mini Display to HDMI adaptor? It has the checkbox for overscan after all...

Thanks :)

Kev.
 
thefaceless said:
This cnet review mentions some kind of option to deal with overscan/underscan with the new HDMI port, is that what you mean? Don't know if it's a new feature or not.
Click to expand...

Just used the feature. There's an "Underscan" slider in the Displays setting. It worked perfectly to get everything lined up with my LCD panel.
 
Amphibious -- did you buy the new Mac Mini, and if so was the over/underscan issue fixed? I'm in the exact same situation but I'm hesitant to buy it if this isn't fixed...
 
I'm a novice at all this stuff, but connected my 2010 Mini to my Pioneer 60" via HDMI and used the display setting slider to get it larger. But on my TV which using right now to send this, cuts the L&R edges by about 4" and the top/bottom edges by about 2".

Are you saying there is a another fix for this?
 
So I'm assuming this is for people that can't set their HDTVs to "pixel-by-pixel" displays?

I too wrestled with this for a while on my Mac Mini and also my MBP but the setting to be changed is on the set, not the computer (again, this is in my case).

Just checking here...
 
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