Mac Mini late 2012 with LG 34UC98 at 3440x1440

[OscarC23]

Hi, I'm in very similar situation as you guys, but I would like to know if any of you have tried using an active MDP to HDMI converter with a 2012 Mac mini for 3440x1440, like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PJ3LSIG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_BT0TAbPBAT8Y5

I have a Alienware AW3418DW it only has 1 DP and 1 HDMI, I already tried connecting the Mac mini with MDP to DP cable and it works great at 3440x1440 @50Hz. But I'm using the DP to connect my gaming PC and want to use the Mac for work, but only the HDMI port is free now, the HDMI port on the Mac only outputs 1080p. Have you tried or do you think this converter might work at this resolution? Do I also need to use Switchresx?

 

[Celerondon]

Hi, I'm in very similar situation as you guys, but I would like to know if any of you have tried using an active MDP to HDMI converter with a 2012 Mac mini for 3440x1440, like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PJ3LSIG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_BT0TAbPBAT8Y5

I have a Alienware AW3418DW it only has 1 DP and 1 HDMI, I already tried connecting the Mac mini with MDP to DP cable and it works great at 3440x1440 @50Hz. But I'm using the DP to connect my gaming PC and want to use the Mac for work, but only the HDMI port is free now, the HDMI port on the Mac only outputs 1080p. Have you tried or do you think this converter might work at this resolution? Do I also need to use Switchresx?

Perhaps you should start a new thread for your question.

 

[Neodym]

You should be fine with mDP-mDP or mDP-DP cabling. I don’t have that display but you can message the (ultra wide screen) posters in this thread to confirm.

Go for it!

(And please let us know how things work out for you.)

When I tried to use the late 2012 mini to drive an LG UC98W via a Thunderbolt connection (the monitor has TB ports), it worked fine for some weeks, using the official resolution offered in the monitor settings (OSX 10.11).

Since an OSX update a few weeks ago (claiming to take care of Spectre and Meltdown vulnerabilities iirc), I get pixel garbage in the lower ~20% of the screen, when trying to run that resolution. 2560x1440 works fine and Hardware test showed no problems, though. So buyer beware!

 

[pogacsa]

When I tried to use the late 2012 mini to drive an LG UC98W via a Thunderbolt connection (the monitor has TB ports), it worked fine for some weeks, using the official resolution offered in the monitor settings (OSX 10.11).

Since an OSX update a few weeks ago (claiming to take care of Spectre and Meltdown vulnerabilities iirc), I get pixel garbage in the lower ~20% of the screen, when trying to run that resolution. 2560x1440 works fine and Hardware test showed no problems, though. So buyer beware!

oooh. I was just browsing amazon to order an lg 34", was not sure to get UC98 with tb2, or go for a more modern UC99 type-c. But still would like to use with old i7 mini.

Anyone else having issue after Mac OS patches?

How can I use screen split with mac mini? Mini only has one tb out, however monitor is able to get two signals. Some tried similar setup?

 

[Neodym]

How can I use screen split with mac mini? Mini only has one tb out, however monitor is able to get two signals. Some tried similar setup?

Not sure if I understand your question.

If you intend to overcome the problem by using two inputs with each only using a lower resolution, so the big screen can be driven without pixel garbage, you can use the HDMI port as second “monitor”. The UC98W has 2xHDMI, 1xDP and 2xTB (can only use one as input, though, as the other is for daisy-chaining).

For split screen, you need to couple either TB or DP with one of the HDMI ports. Can’t have DP and TB together in split screen (not sure right now if both HDMI ports would work together in split screen).

And you may have to create a custom resolution to accommodate the unusual pixel counts for each split screen part.

 

[pogacsa]

Not sure if I understand your question.

If you intend to overcome the problem by using two inputs with each only using a lower resolution, so the big screen can be driven without pixel garbage, you can use the HDMI port as second “monitor”. The UC98W has 2xHDMI, 1xDP and 2xTB (can only use one as input, though, as the other is for daisy-chaining).

For split screen, you need to couple either TB or DP with one of the HDMI ports. Can’t have DP and TB together in split screen (not sure right now if both HDMI ports would work together in split screen).

And you may have to create a custom resolution to accommodate the unusual pixel counts for each split screen part.

Thanks for the update. It does not sound a trivial excercise. So, for me ordering an ultrawide high res monitor is not an option as mac os updates removed supoorting it.

 

[pogacsa]

Thanks for the update. It does not sound a trivial excercise. So, for me ordering an ultrawide high res monitor is not an option as mac os updates removed supoorting it.

At this stage better to find a monitor as max 2560 x 1600 what "official" supported?

Unfortunately I have not found any work around to combine the ability of two (daisy chained) monitor max resolution added together as a single screen of 2*2560 by 1600.

Or anyone knows how and where can I compose custom resolution for this intel HD chip?

thx

 

[ActionableMango]

Unfortunately I have not found any work around to combine the ability of two (daisy chained) monitor max resolution added together as a single screen of 2*2560 by 1600.

Or anyone knows how and where can I compose custom resolution for this intel HD chip?

Connect monitor via DP/TB and HDMI.
In App Store download DisplayMenu (free version is fine).
In DisplayMenu set resolutions to 1720x1440.
In monitor turn on PBP (picture by picture).

If you use Windows as well, download the video drivers directly from Intel and you can add custom resolutions in the Intel software. Once they are added in the driver, you can select them in Windows Display Settings.

Keep in mind that the OS literally thinks it is two separate monitors, so anything that wants to lock/maximize to one full screen will only use half the screen. So this solution isn't really a 100% identical workaround to native 3440x1440 support.

 

[Neodym]

Newsflash: Some good ol' PRAM reset FIXED the problem (shame on me I did not think of that earlier)! I can again drive the beauty in full glory with 3440x1440x50Hz via Thunderbolt and using an officially selectable resolution within OS X. In fact, that resolution is defined as standard for this monitor by OS X.

So you can give it a try and get a 21:9 Thunderbolt-capable monitor for your mini. Enjoy!

Just one recommendation: Go for a curved one, no matter what. The flat one may be a bit cheaper, but the image on the curved is so much more enjoyable and less strainful on the eyes ...

 

[AngelusRC]

Has anyone tried hooking the monitor through a Thunderbolt dock? IE Mac mini -> Thunderbolt dock -> ultrawide monitor
I'd be curious if I'd be able to get the 3440x1440x50Hz with this config

 

[Neodym]

I can drive the UW monitor with a hard drive daisy-chained between the mini and the monitor, so I would assume that a dedicated dock would work accordingly. In a Thunderbolt chain the picture signal is forwarded over the individual hops.

 

[knightwrangler]

I'm thinking of picking one of these up for my 2012 Mac mini.
Since the Mac mini doesn't seem to have a issue with the higher resolution my only other concern with this monitor
is will it support a seagate thunderbolt hard drive sled on the other thunderbolt port?

 

[Neodym]

Should work, however, I’m not sure if the ports stay powered when you switch off the monitor and keep the mini running. Might result in the harddrive not being properly ejected.

 

[pogacsa]

confirming as 3440 x 1440 works fine on 50Hz connected to thunderbolt or displayport. What I have issue with when Mac Mini goes to sleep the new LG monitor sometimes stays zombie. My solution is another monitor on HDMI, when primary monitor is no on/off with computers sleep/enegry save, then slave monitor still does work (another LG), and able to trigger a "Sleep" from system menu. then primary monitor will be wake up correct. Does is only for me? or LG UC99?

thx

 

[Neodym]

Problem is known for LG TB monitors. Your approach of manually triggering a sleep to wake up the TB monitor again, sounds interesting - will try that. Thanks for sharing!

Edith says that that approach does not work, either, unfortunately. And by simply switching off (and after a couple of minutes on again) the additionally connected HDMI monitor, after the 3rd power cycle the TB-connected monitor stayed black again (remedy: plug power cable on it).

Still not sure whether the cause is the mini's GPU (being DP1.1 only) or the monitor or the TB implementation/chip in either device. At least the new mini's tech specs sound promising, so it might be worth a try to see whether it is capable of dealing properly with 2 monitors via TB & HDMI.

 

[iamronwahl]

Just to confirm that my new LG 34UM88C works just fine at 3440x1440@50hz with my Late 2012 Mac Mini i7

Can your 2012 mac run the 3440x1440 display and still run a 1080p monitor?

 

[bigfatipod]

Hi, so in reading this post this made me wonder about my own monitor. If OP or anyone feels I should instead ask this question in a separate thread, please let me know - it just seems like there's a good group of knowledgable folks reading this one.

I have a late 2012 Mac mini and connect it to an Acer P235H monitor via HDMI. If I go into System Preferences // Displays, it shows I'm using 1080p and 60 Hz via HDMI. Am I getting the best resolution from my mini and monitor or is there a way with the display port it could get event better?

My monitor has: VGA, HDMI, DVI.

Thanks for any information, I appreciate it.

 

[Neodym]

Can your 2012 mac run the 3440x1440 display and still run a 1080p monitor?

Yes. Having exact this setup with the 3440x1440 monitor connected via TB (DP) and the FullHD Monitor connected via HDMI. This is the only way it works, as the HD4000 GPU in the 2012 mini does not support DP1.2, which is required for DP passthrough.
[doublepost=1550352908][/doublepost]

I have a late 2012 Mac mini and connect it to an Acer P235H monitor via HDMI. If I go into System Preferences // Displays, it shows I'm using 1080p and 60 Hz via HDMI. Am I getting the best resolution from my mini and monitor or is there a way with the display port it could get event better?

Your current monitor does not support a higher resolution. If you want a higher resolution, you’d need to purchase another monitor with higher resolution and connect it via DisplayPort (Thunderbolt Port on the mini).

 

[timidpimpin]

Question... is video playback good with only 50hz? The same as with 60hz?

 

[Neodym]

May depend on the video watched or how sensitive you are, but I never noticed any difference. Also - unlike 30Hz - with 50Hz I did not notice any jerky mouse pointer or sluggish window movement.

 

[timidpimpin]

May depend on the video watched or how sensitive you are, but I never noticed any difference. Also - unlike 30Hz - with 50Hz I did not notice any jerky mouse pointer or sluggish window movement.

Thanks for your reply. I'm very strongly considering buying an i7 2012 mini at the moment, and really want to run an ultra wide on it. I'm also considering a 2009-2012 Mac Pro, but it will consume far more power, so I need to figure out which is best overall.

 

[Neodym]

Another factor (besides footprint, expansion options and energy consumption) could be noise: The mini is silent under normal conditions and medium load, but gets comparably loud under sustained/heavy load.

The MP on the other hand is constantly audible with a basic (though non-intrusive) hum, but sticks to that even under load. Only really heavy load for longer periods of time makes it increase fan RPM, so it becomes acoustically really present.

Depending on your use case and personal preference either option seems acceptable. Driving the UW display is not making the mini leave it’s silent mode and I also don’t see other problems (except for the occasional monitor-not-waking in Multi-Monitor scenarios and/or switching inputs on the UW when running multiple computers on it).

 

[th0masp]

Looking at the Mac Pro forum the cheesegrater looks like a lot of effort involved to keep it running smoothly.

Is it merely a question of budget? Else the 2018 Mini sounds like a better option than the 2012 to me which I can confirm is quite challenged in the GPU department. Either that or the trashcan Mac Pro which is pretty silent, doesn't consume a lot, is rather small and has enough GPU grunt to drive an Ultrawide display with ease.

Of course you could probably hook up an eGPU to anything that comes with a Thunderbolt port and use that to drive the display.

 

[timidpimpin]

I really want upgradeable storage, and the 2018 Mini doesn't offer that. Other options could be a trash can MP, or maybe even a 2014 mini with 16GB RAM. The 2014 is the exact opposite of the 2018... upgradeable storage, but soldered RAM. Plus the 2014 has much better graphics than the 2012 from what I've heard.

Though I do really like the cheese grater... I'm not sure I want to give my Mac that level of attention very often.

Right now my main desktop is a late 2009 mini @ 2.26GHz, 8GB RAM and an SSD. It gets the job done fine, but I'm stuck at 1920x1200. I understand the 2014 only comes in dual core configs, but that performance is fine with me. And even a dual core i5 will be at least double the performance of my C2D.

Thanks for the input everyone!

 

[Neodym]

I really want upgradeable storage, and the 2018 Mini doesn't offer that.

That’s incorrect. The 2018 mini actually has upgradeable storage, but you have to open the housing and remove a metal shielding (screwed to the MoBo) to get to the Ram socket (iFixit guide). If you are the DIY type of guy you can do it relatively easily - else your local service provider can do it for you.

Regarding the MP6,1: I also toyed with the idea of getting one (as kind of a spiritual successor to the Cube), but there have been reports about problems with kernel panics that seem to be connected to the GPU’s (see this MR thread), so I’m not sure about the long-term reliability and would perhaps rather go for the 2018 mini, partly also because it is technically up-to-date with 4xUSB-C/TB3 ports and its tech is generally 5-6 years younger.

The 2012 mini looks like a legit alternative at a lower price level. Geekbench scores for the i7@2.3 are not as far from the quad-core MP6,1 as one might expect (single/multi 3.3k/10.8k vs 3.8k/13.3k). And it has no problem to drive 2 monitors in parallel, even if one is a 3440x1440UW.