Ultrawide for a late 2012 Mac Mini

[DavidEl]

Has anyone had success in using an ultrawide monitor with a late 2012 Mac Mini?
If so, can you let me know what model you purchased and any adapters, etc. you had to use.
Also, I'm trying to use the HDMI out. My Thunderbolt is being used for my audio interface.

 

[AppliedMicro]

Any models you've been eyeing?

I think you will probably be limited in the resolution available through HDMI. Doubt that it'll support more than 1920 pixels vertically (though Apple's spec page understates the resolution, since the 2012 Mac mini can support 4K/30Hz through DisplayPort on newer OS X/macOS releases).

EDIT: Though you may want to see this thread.

 

[DavidEl]

Thanks for responding. One monitor I am considering is the AOC CU34G2X 34".​

 

[southerndoc]

Happy Dell U3421WE user here. Thinking of upgrading to the 38" or 40" version.

 

[Boyd01]

I may be missing something here, but AFAIK the HDMI port on the 2012 Mini only supports a maximum of 1920 x 1200 pixels. So why would you use a screen with 3440 x 1440 resolution?

Mac mini "Core i7" 2.6 (Late 2012) Specs (Late 2012, BTO/CTO, Macmini6,2, A1347, 2570): EveryMac.com

Technical specifications for the Mac mini "Core i7" 2.6 (Late 2012). Dates sold, processor type, memory info, hard drive details, price and more.

everymac.com

 

[Amethyst1]

I may be missing something here, but AFAIK the HDMI port on the 2012 Mini only supports a maximum of 1920 x 1200 pixels. So why would you use a screen with 3440 x 1440 resolution?

The 2012 Mac mini has a HDMI 1.4 port, which tops out at 340 MHz pixel clock. 3440×1440 at 60 Hz requires 319.75 MHz pixel clock using CVT-RB timings, so it should work - technically. The problem is macOS artificially limits the HDMI port to a pixel clock of 165 MHz, so it won't work OOTB and a pixel clock patch of some sort is required.

DisplayPort 1.1a, which the 2012 Mac mini also has, tops out at 360 MHz pixel clock and can thus also do 3440×1440 at 60 Hz. It is, however, possible that macOS artificially limits the DisplayPort output to a pixel clock of 270 MHz (it does on a 2011 Mac mini’s HD 3000) but I've not tested the 2012’s HD 4000 yet), because that is required for 2560×1600 at 60 Hz, i.e. the maximum resolution the Mac mini officially "supports". So, again, a pixel clock patch may be required. FWIW this 270 MHz limit also allows 3840×2160 at 30 Hz, so it's not surprising the 2012 mini can also “do” that.



UPDATE: I have now tested the HD 4000 and it is subject to the same artificial 270 MHz pixel clock limit as the HD 3000, so 3440×1440 at 60 Hz isn't possible unless the limit is patched.

 

[southerndoc]

I'm sorry, I completely misread the title of your thread. You are wanting to use this with a 2012 Mac mini. I'm using mine with a Mac mini M1.

 

[Daud]

The 2012 Mac mini has a HDMI 1.4 port, which tops out at 340 MHz pixel clock. 3440×1440 at 60 Hz requires 319.75 MHz pixel clock using CVT-RB timings, so it should work - technically. The problem is macOS artificially limits the HDMI port to a pixel clock of 165 MHz, so it won't work OOTB and a pixel clock patch of some sort is required.

DisplayPort 1.1a, which the 2012 Mac mini also has, tops out at 360 MHz pixel clock and can thus also do 3440×1440 at 60 Hz. It is, however, possible that macOS artificially limits the DisplayPort output to a pixel clock of 270 MHz (it does on a 2011 Mac mini’s HD 3000) but I've not tested the 2012’s HD 4000 yet), because that is required for 2560×1600 at 60 Hz, i.e. the maximum resolution the Mac mini officially "supports". So, again, a pixel clock patch may be required. FWIW this 270 MHz limit also allows 3840×2160 at 30 Hz, so it's not surprising the 2012 mini can also “do” that.



UPDATE: I have now tested the HD 4000 and it is subject to the same artificial 270 MHz pixel clock limit as the HD 3000, so 3440×1440 at 60 Hz isn't possible unless the limit is patched.

Confirming Amethyst findings but I also have additional resolutions options on LG4k monitor. The 4k and 1920x1080 look sharp, but for 4k everything is so tiny.1920x1080 looks good and would be an eye saver for somebody with eyesight issues. I will download BetterDisplay whether the 3008x1692 can be "cleaned out".

 

[Daud]

So BetterDisplay does not work on Catalina. I found an alternative program RDM which after installation (you need to allow install in Security settings) gives me more alternatives but still, the sharpest is the 1920x1080 and the 4k. Obviously RDM misses some features (Create custom HiDPI resolutions for real displays manually and redefine certain system display parameters) of BetterDisplay. My preferred resolution would be 2560x1440 if it would not be slightly fuzzy. I also tried SwitchResX with the same result, the last resolution with HiDPi sharp fonts is the 1920x1080.
You also can get some additional selection option when you hold the option-alt button while clicking on the "Scaled" button in Displays panel.