Late 2012 Mac Mini 1440p possible?

[sublunar]

The HDMI port won't give you anything more than 1080p.

The MiniDisplay Port on the 2012 Mac mini is the only option and that only supports Displayport 1.1a (which supports 4k at 30Hz).

The Samsung U32j590 Monitor you quote has the following passage in a DisplayNinja review:

"At the back of the monitor, you will find the following ports: HDMI 1.4 (max 30Hz at 4K), HDMI 2.0 (4K 60Hz), DisplayPort 1.2 (4K 60Hz), and a headphones jack."

So in theory it would appear that MiniDisplayport to Displayport 1.2 would do the job as @Anonymous Freak suggests. He also mentions rightly that running your main monitor at 30Hz is going to be sub-optimal and possibly not something you'd want to do.

The point here is to pick up a cable capable of supporting Displayport 1.2 and there's plenty of those available on the likes of Amazon if you search with 4k in the name too.

As for supported resolutions had you tried this link to show alternative resolutions available?

 

[federom]

I bought a minidp to dp port cable that it is supposed to work with 4k. i plugged in and i dont have 4k but i least have 1440p Thank you all !!

 

[Anonymous Freak]

If you are indeed using the listed Samsung, you need to go in to its menu and set it to DisplayPort 1.1 mode. That’s what I have and used that way with a 2012 MacBook Pro at 4K/30.

 

[federom]

If you are indeed using the listed Samsung, you need to go in to its menu and set it to DisplayPort 1.1 mode. That’s what I have and used that way with a 2012 MacBook Pro at 4K/30.

I tried that, but 1440p is the greatest resolution that offers me

 

[sublunar]

I tried that, but 1440p is the greatest resolution that offers me

How much RAM do you have in the 2012 Mini? Is it maxed out with 16Gb? I seem to remember that lower RAM allocation meant less was used as VRAM. This could perhaps affect ability to hit 4k?

 

[federom]

How much RAM do you have in the 2012 Mini? Is it maxed out with 16Gb? I seem to remember that lower RAM allocation meant less was used as VRAM. This could perhaps affect ability to hit 4k?

I have 4gb, i am in the process to install 16gb this week. should i try when i have the 16gb installed ?

 

[sublunar]

I have 4gb, i am in the process to install 16gb this week. should i try when i have the 16gb installed ?

Definitely worth waiting for if the RAM is coming anyway. My 16Gb 2012 model is showing 1536Mb of VRAM when you look in:
System Report:Hardware:Graphics/Displays (after clicking on Apple Menu/About This Mac in Mojave).

 

[federom]

Definitely worth waiting for if the RAM is coming anyway. My 16Gb 2012 model is showing 1536Mb of VRAM when you look in:
System Report:Hardware:Graphics/Displays (after clicking on Apple Menu/About This Mac in Mojave).

Still not seeing 4k res after 16 gb installation. This is what i see in the System Report

 

[Boyd01]

I think that's all the VRAM you will get, this is what I have also seen on my 2012 Mini. Have never tried a 4k monitor, however the HDMI port can do slightly better than 1080p. Works fine with my ancient 23" Cinema Display at 1200x1920.

 

[sublunar]

Still not seeing 4k res after 16 gb installation. This is what i see in the System Report

Is there a setting in the monitor itself to use Displayport 1.2? Perhaps it's limiting the connection type. 4k support would only be possible with 30Hz on the 2012 (from this thread).

 

[Wahlstrm]

The TB port on the 2012 mini only supports up to 2560x1600 @60hz (the HDMI does 1920x1200 @60hz I think) This was the largest displays available back then. As long as the total amount of pixels/s the machine has to push don’t exceed the total of 2560x1600x60, you might get some modern displays to work as well. 3440x1440 at around 50hz and 5120x1080 might work at 47hz.. Etc. Standard 4K might be doable at 30hz with some workarounds..

 

[fatboyhouston]

Hi, similar question here. I have a late 2012 Mac Mini running two monitors at 1920x1080 via a KVM switch which only supports HDMI connections. So I’ve got one HDMI lead connected to my Mac Mini’s HDMI port, and one HDMI-to-MiniDP lead going into the TB port.

This is all working fine, but I’ve just bought a 27” to use as my main display. It works fine but only at 1920x1080. I can get higher res connecting directly with a MiniDP to DP lead, but ideally I’d like to do it via the KVM. Is it not possible with my current setup? (MiniDP to HDMI)

 

[Boyd01]

According to everymac, the max resolution of the HDMI port is 1920x1200.

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

 

[fatboyhouston]

According to everymac, the max resolution of the HDMI port is 1920x1200.

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

Agreed, but I'm using the TB port. Here's the connection chain:

Mac Mini TB port
MiniDP-to-HDMI lead
KVM switch
HDMI lead
Monitor HDMI port

Sounds a bit convoluted, but it works with my PC (same chain, except using the PC's HDMI port)

 

[Boyd01]

Got ya - I misunderstood your earlier post.

 

[izihakim]

I have a imac mini late 2012. I mad several tentatives in order to get 2560x1440 or 2560x1600 resolution. I am using an LG TV with 4K ability. I tried first HDMI cable, no result. I bought and active thunderbolt to HDMI cable, again no result. Therefore I tried different things and I got result. 1. I mad a connection of HDMI to HDMI cable to my 4K TV. 2. I mad another connection of my brand new active thunderbolt to HDMI cable to another HD TV. 3. from system preferences and display menu, I arranged mirror display option. 4. I downloaded "Display menu" app. With this app and the connection that I mad I got result of 1600 pixel or 1440 pixel. (strange thing is that I have this resolution from 4k TV with HDMI cable.

 

[sublunar]

I have a imac mini late 2012. I mad several tentatives in order to get 2560x1440 or 2560x1600 resolution. I am using an LG TV with 4K ability. I tried first HDMI cable, no result. I bought and active thunderbolt to HDMI cable, again no result. Therefore I tried different things and I got result. 1. I mad a connection of HDMI to HDMI cable to my 4K TV. 2. I mad another connection of my brand new active thunderbolt to HDMI cable to another HD TV. 3. from system preferences and display menu, I arranged mirror display option. 4. I downloaded "Display menu" app. With this app and the connection that I mad I got result of 1600 pixel or 1440 pixel. (strange thing is that I have this resolution from 4k TV with HDMI cable.

As above in this thread, the HDMI port on the 2012 Mac Mini is only capable of 1080p (the port is too old for 4K), the MDP/Thunderbolt 2 port is capable of 1440p/1600p - 4K reasonably isn’t possible with the 2012 unless you like to hack around with it and are happy with 30Hz at best.

 

[owidhh]

As above in this thread, the HDMI port on the 2012 Mac Mini is only capable of 1080p (the port is too old for 4K), the MDP/Thunderbolt 2 port is capable of 1440p/1600p - 4K reasonably isn’t possible with the 2012 unless you like to hack around with it and are happy with 30Hz at best.

My experience differs..

Mac Mini 2012, HDMI: 3440x1440 (ultra-widescreen) at 30Hz doable, 1920x1200 (old Cinema Display) also doable
Mac Mini 2012, DP: 2560x1080 (ultra-wide screen) at 60Hz doable, 2560x1440 also possible
edit:
The above is with Catalina
Now, with Linux (popOS, Ubuntu, Fedora tested), even the DP can do 3440x1440 at 60Hz...

 

[avkdm]

Sorry to necro this thread but has anyone tried tb to hdmi2 adapter to get 1440p 60hz working? Specifically a Microsoft EJT-00002 Surface adapter. It an active adapter that is HDMI 2 spec so has the bandwidth. I just wonder f MACOS sees it as an HDMI connection and drops the resolution. Reason being my DVI-D apple adapter works but quite often I have to pull out the TB connector and reseat on the back of the mini before my display gets a signal. Thanks in advance.

 

[robertosh]

I have a late 2012 mini and using mini-display port to display port cable i can get 1440p on my Dell U4021QW. The problem is that is not the aspect ratio of the screen, it would be more like 2560 x 1600, but i don't see that resolution on the resolution list.

 

[abbotsford1980]

60hz supported using thunderbolt to HDMI adaptor

 

[avkdm]

Sorry to necro this thread but has anyone tried tb to hdmi2 adapter to get 1440p 60hz working? Specifically a Microsoft EJT-00002 Surface adapter. It an active adapter that is HDMI 2 spec so has the bandwidth. I just wonder f MACOS sees it as an HDMI connection and drops the resolution. Reason being my DVI-D apple adapter works but quite often I have to pull out the TB connector and reseat on the back of the mini before my display gets a signal. Thanks in advance.

Fyi - it works flawlessly with MS Surface adapter and BetterDisplay 1440p 60hz. If you dont use BetterDisplay (app is free) it defaults to 1080p - wtf Apple?

 

[Stavros75]

Hello to all. Can someone please help me on this? I have mac mini late 2012 model with i7 and 16gb ram. I have this monitor https://support.hp.com/ie-en/produc.../18164503?sku=1FH52AA&serialnumber=6CM8141LVC and I am trying to output 2k resolution from my Mac. Using an hdmi didn't help. As I read here it's can only do 1080p so I tried with the mini display port to display port cable to my monitor Unfortunately it didn't help either. The monitor detects no signal at all and goes into sleep mode. I changed the input source to dp, nothing again, no signal. Is there something I can do? I am lost here. Thank you for your time to read this.

 

[sublunar]

Hello to all. Can someone please help me on this? I have mac mini late 2012 model with i7 and 16gb ram. I have this monitor https://support.hp.com/ie-en/produc.../18164503?sku=1FH52AA&serialnumber=6CM8141LVC and I am trying to output 2k resolution from my Mac. Using an hdmi didn't help. As I read here it's can only do 1080p so I tried with the mini display port to display port cable to my monitor Unfortunately it didn't help either. The monitor detects no signal at all and goes into sleep mode. I changed the input source to dp, nothing again, no signal. Is there something I can do? I am lost here. Thank you for your time to read this.

First thing to do is try it on a different computer or cable. The MDP to DP cable should have worked but you should also try the Mini on a different monitor too.

Is the OS as up to date as you can get it?

 

[Stavros75]

First thing to do is try it on a different computer or cable. The MDP to DP cable should have worked but you should also try the Mini on a different monitor too.

Is the OS as up to date as you can get it?

I will try this tomorrow with a friend of mine. Unfortunately this Mac has to operate on high sierra. It's the maximum I can get so I can connect to the servers at my work and also work with Adobe cs6. Old servers I guess and old programmes that they won't upgrade. So I must have the same equipment. That's what I've been told. Can't I get 2K with high sierra? Is there a bug or a bottleneck?