Three displays (extended desktop) on Intel Mac MIni

[Malcolm1701d]

I'm looking at purchasing the Intel 3.2Ghz (6 core) Mac Mini with 32GB RAM and a 1 TB SSD to replace an old Alienware desktop. I have three displays with the PC - a 35" Ultrawide, and two 32" Displays (see pic) and I need the Mac Mini to run all three as an extended desktop. Apple says that the intel Mac Mini will run up to three displays - two at 4096 by 2304 at 60 Hz on Thunderbolt 3 via adapters, and one at 4096 by 2160 at 60 hz via HDMI 2.0. Can anyone confirm that this is as an extended desktop - not simply a mirrored display? I'd hate to spend all this money (about $3400 AUD) on a new computer only to find its not as capable as my ten year old Alienware.

 

[frou]

The Intel Mini has weak graphics (Intel 630) so even if this does work, it might chug a bit during usage. What resolution are your displays?

 

[pshufd]

You didn't state the resolutions of your monitors but I am assuming 4k territory for these monitors. I have 2014 and 2015 MacBook Pros, one with Intel Integrated and one with AMD Radeon graphics. They do both technically support 4k monitors but the thermals are bad running just one 4k monitor. I can run 2 QHD monitors without problems, though. I could get artifacts running 2 QHD displays on the Intel Integrated.

The CPU on the 2018 Mac mini is already known for running hot so adding a big GPU load probably doesn't help.

I have a 3x4k + QHD setup and I did run it all off a Windows desktop with a GTX 1050 Ti + GT 1030 and it ran cool and quiet but the system was designed to run cool and quiet. If I were in your position, I would wait for the M1X if you can wait or get two Mac mini M1 systems and tie them together with Synergy. This could work if you can partition your workflow.

 

[Boyd01]

This was discussed in several threads if you read back a few years in this forum. Several people claimed to be using three monitors with the integrated Intel UHD630 without issues. I'm sure it would get warm however. I use a single 32" QHD monitor as a primary display and have been very happy with that. Recently, I've been editing video and have added a Sony 1080p HDMI production monitor for use in Final Cut Pro. I have noted that the mini is warmer (even while doing nothing) ever since I added the second screen. My 2018 Mini runs warm, which is no surprise since my 2012 quad-core 2.6 ghz Mini also runs warm, the case was designed to be a heat sink.

But to answer your real question, you can configure the displays to act as an extended desktop.

 

[mr_hyde]

Consider also that, there is a difference between Windows extended desktop and Mac OS extended desktop: in Mac OS you cannot have one Windows across monitors: you can drag the window from one monitor to another but just to move it, you cannot enlarge it to use more than one display (at least if I remember correctly)

 

[pshufd]

Consider also that, there is a difference between Windows extended desktop and Mac OS extended desktop: in Mac OS you cannot have one Windows across monitors: you can drag the window from one monitor to another but just to move it, you cannot enlarge it to use more than one display (at least if I remember correctly)

You are correct (I just tried it out).

One advantage to the macOS approach is that separate monitors are separate desktops for using virtual desktops which I find a lot more convenient on macOS than the Windows approach. On Windows, all of your monitors are one display so switching virtual desktops switch all of the monitors. Most people I talk to like to have one monitor that stays the same for their main workflow and virtual desktops used on a secondary monitor for reference stuff.

I run my production stuff on Windows but I would really like to run it on macOS just for the better handling of Virtual Desktops.

 

[frou]

A window can span multiple monitors if you uncheck "Displays have separate Spaces" in SystemPreferences > MissionControl. That has other effects too, like the Menu Bar now only being on the main monitor.

 

[pshufd]

A window can span multiple monitors if you uncheck "Displays have separate Spaces" in SystemPreferences > MissionControl. That has other effects too, like the Menu Bar now only being on the main monitor.

Thanks for the info. I think that I far prefer the default though. I wish that Windows allowed you to set it up the way macOS has it.

 

[InuNacho]

I cannot recommend anyone using the HDMI port on the 2018 Mini. I've had constant issues with it and ultimately abandoned it in favor of USB-C to Displayport for my secondary monitor.

You might benefit from building a DIY eGPU enclosure. Technically speaking any Thunderbolt PCIe enclosure can be used as an eGPU, I ran a DIY one for a couple years in my studio.

You can get a non-auxiliary powered RX460 and drive multiple displays with that.
Check out: https://egpu.io/setup-guide-external-graphics-card-mac/

 

[pshufd]

I cannot recommend anyone using the HDMI port on the 2018 Mini. I've had constant issues with it and ultimately abandoned it in favor of USB-C to Displayport for my secondary monitor.

You might benefit from building a DIY eGPU enclosure. Technically speaking any Thunderbolt PCIe enclosure can be used as an eGPU, I ran a DIY one for a couple years in my studio.

You can get a non-auxiliary powered RX460 and drive multiple displays with that.
Check out: https://egpu.io/setup-guide-external-graphics-card-mac/

I bought a 2018 mini back in 2018 for my wife and run a Dell 25 inch QHD monitor off of the HDMI port (we didn't have any USB cables back then). And it's been fine since then.

 

[InuNacho]

I bought a 2018 mini back in 2018 for my wife and run a Dell 25 inch QHD monitor off of the HDMI port (we didn't have any USB cables back then). And it's been fine since then.

Multiple monitors or just one?
I have an egpu with an RX580 driving my main screen and the integrated 630 driving my secondary screen. HDMI would never work with my secondary screen or if it did, it'd need to be plugged in and unplugged to work which would sometimes result in both screen staying black. The secondary screen isn't even 4k, its an older Dell 2410 @ 1920x1200.

 

[pshufd]

Multiple monitors or just one?
I have an egpu with an RX580 driving my main screen and the integrated 630 driving my secondary screen. HDMI would never work with my secondary screen or if it did, it'd need to be plugged in and unplugged to work which would sometimes result in both screen staying black. The secondary screen isn't even 4k, its an older Dell 2410 @ 1920x1200.

Just one.

 

[Boyd01]

As I posted above, I am using the integrated graphics with a 32" QHD screen via a USB-C to miniDisplayPort cable and a 22" Sony 1080p60 production monitor on the HDMI port for editing in Final Cut Pro. No problems with this setup. Displays come on when I boot and wake up after sleeping. But I only have the displays set to sleep, the computer itself does not ever sleep, I shut it down at the end of the day.

One thing to note, I am still on Catalina, 10.15.4. I recall reading about HDMI problems after a later version of Catalina and/or firmware update, so I decided not to "fix what ain't broke".

 

[Freyqq]

Viable, but I’d get an egpu with rx580 or similar and an external hard drive, and go 16gb ram, 512 ssd internal. Prob come out to the same price but end up being much more performance.

 

[Boyd01]

You definitely want 16gb on the 2018 Mini, that was discussed quite a lot a couple years ago. The integrated graphics use 1.5gb of system memory, only leaving 6.5gb for everything else on an 8gb machine. From what I recall, users with 4k screens that used scaled resolution had lots of issues on the 8gb Mini but they were mostly resolved when upgrading to 16gb.

 

[N9JIG]

I have a 2018 Mini with the 2TB SSD and 32GB of RAM and the UHD 630 internal graphics adapter. I routinely run 3 32" 2560x1440 monitors, one via HDMI and the others via either USB-C to HDMI or USB-C to DP cables with no issues.

I have run 4 of the same monitors with the Sonnet Puck eGPU, 3 with DP-DP cables and one with HDMI-HDMI, again with no problems.

I would buy the Mini with the minimum 8GB of RAM from the factory and then get replacement RAM from Crucial etc., it is easy to replace and you will save a trainload of cash. Of course this is not possible on the M1 but the Intel Mini it is simple.