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Need a New Display for my 2012 Mini

M

mrhansolo

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 24, 2011
79
85
I have decided to upgrade my dual monitor setup on my 2012 Mac Mini (I7, 16GB Ram, SSD, Intel 4000 Graphics 1024MB). I have been using dual 24" Viewsonic VA2431WM LCD screens. Lately I've been getting late night headaches and I am needing more screen space when working in Indesign and Photoshop. I installed f.lux a few weeks ago and that has helped my headache problem a little bit.

Earlier this week I went out and purchased a Dell 27" P2815Q LED 4K @30Hz Screen. Plugged it in Via mini display-port and fired it up. Now I know my Mini doesn't support 4k, but I figured the monitor would work until I upgrade. First thing I noticed is the Mac support for anything over 1080 sucks. Icons and text are tiny, but I used the scaling and turned it back into 1080. That works just fine as the extra three inches over my old screen is what I want. This is hands down the most clear display I've ever used. Everything is crisp. That's all I can say. That part I'm in love with, and I'm going to have a hard time going back to anything else.

Alright, now to my issues. I want to stay dual monitors so I hooked my second Viewsonic back up (HDMI to DVI cable) until I purchase another Dell display. When it turned the Mac back on, both screens flicker, wash out and artifacts. However, they do work. So, I hook the Dell up via HDMI and use the viewsonic with a mini Displayport to DVI cable. This time it works ,but the screen clarity on the Dell sucks! It's like its on part with the Viewsonic next to it. At this point I use a another LCD 1080 monitor I have and test it in place of the viewsonic, Dell in mini display-port and the new monitor in HDMI. Same artifact issue.

Did some searching and couldn't really find a solution to the problem. At that point I found out that Dell is running in 30hz even in 1080. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like there is a way to change that on the Mac and the monitor itself doesn't give me that option when plugged in via mini-displayport. Then I plug in the Dell (and only the dell) using the HDMI. The screen quality sucks once again, but I am able to change the refresh rate back to 30hz. When I do, the screen looks amazing again but I start having artifact and flickering issues again.

Since I haven't really found a solution I'm chalking my problem up to the fact that my Mac won't let my Dell running at 30hz won't play with my other monitors that run at 60hz. I'm back to finding a new dual monitor setup. I plugged in my brothers ASUS 24" VG248 via HDMI and while it certainly does look better the my old viewsonic it's no where near as crisp as the dell.

I'm looking for suggestions on monitors in the 27"-28" range that will give me the image quality and crispness this Dell monitor gives me without the issues. Right now I'm looking at the Viewsonic 27" Vp2770-LED Screen and the 27" Dell Ultrashatp UZ2715H. From the reviews I've read, both are crisp and have great color reproduction. I even read a review where someone used dual monitors on a Mac without an issue. Just wanting some input so I make the right buying decision.

Thanks,

Han
 
Those of us with sensitive eyes often find various screens troublesome. What I can say is not everyone has the same issues so it is hard to really provide fully useful advice.

What I can say is that given that you work with graphic/photo images, the Dell Ultrasharp is not a bad choice. It is somewhat a prosumer graphics monitor. If they allow you to buy and return if unsatisfied, give it a try.
 
Hopefully this will give you an idea of the difference.

The first one is a screenshot of your post with the HDMI.

The second on is with displaypory at 1920x1080@30hz.
 

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Whatever monitor you get, perhaps you should run it at native resolution only. Most graphics oriented monitors are not set up with the ratio (resolution) for typical movie playback as you show with 1920x1080.
 
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phrehdd said:
Whatever monitor you get, perhaps you should run it at native resolution only. Most graphics oriented monitors are not set up with the ratio (resolution) for typical movie playback as you show with 1920x1080.
Click to expand...

I figured that may be an issue as well.The 2012 Mini's HDMI will only output at 1080at the highest. That said I'm leaning towards the Dell since its a native 1080. The only problem is that I'm worried that I wont have the screen clarity I have now.
 
No problem.
Just don't buy a 1080p display, OK?
;-)

Displays with 1920x1200 aren't that much more expensive.
Though my parents bought a 1920x1080 display while I wasn't looking..
 
Well after much thought I'm either going to buy a 2014 Mini I5 with the Iris graphics and dual Mini Displayport or I'm going to get an older 2010-2011 Mac Pro with the appropriate display ports and keel my current Dell monitor.

My only problem with the 2014 I5 is that it's a downgrade from the 2012 in that sense. I don't play games, but I do use Parallels to run Windows to work in ArcGIS.
 
IMO, a pre-2013 MacPro is not worth it, if you don't already have a lot of hardware (PCIe cards) to use it.
Or want to use the internal drive-bays.
The exception might be if you get a well-spec'ed one with all the stuff you need - for a very good price.
I'd rather look for a used 2013 entry-level MacPro that sells for a decent price. Favoring one that still has AppleCare.
The 2014 Minis have the advantage of two display ports - but still no way of making reasonable use of a 4k display.
The 2013 MacPro can make use of a 5K display (like the one from Dell) that you can then run in a 2560x1440 ^2 resolution, which should be easy enough for your eyes.
Personally, I don't need 4K, so a 2013 MP would be totally overkill and thus I bought the (maxed out) 2012 i7 Mini in early 2014.
 
mrhansolo said:
My only problem with the 2014 I5 is that it's a downgrade from the 2012 in that sense. I don't play games, but I do use Parallels to run Windows to work in ArcGIS.
Click to expand...

Is it necessary to sacrifice the 2012 to fund the 2014? If not, no reason you shouldn't be able to still run Parallels on the 2012 and then remote in via the 2014.

Better still, you could dual-boot the 2012 to Windows and operate it from your 2014.
 
Thank everyone for their replies.

After looking into it, I have decided to get a used 2012 Mac Pro. After doing some research the 2010 mac pro is the same or better in every regard to the 2012 Mini except for the lack of USB3. I plan on getting the used pro then selling my mini and hopefully re-cooperating most of the cost.

That said, I'm also returning the Dell 28" due to the fact that it's 30hz and even if I get a new Mac in the next few years it's still limited to 30hz. While this isn't a big deal for usual work I (or someone in my family) may be wanting to play a game in the future and I wont want the monitor to hold me back.

I'm looking at getting two Viewsonic VP2770 or Two 30" Dell 3007WFP. These should both give me equivalent to what I was used to in the 28" Dell and still have the sharpness.
 
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you just have to find the high end 6 core CPUs and max out the RAM.
Installing the SSDs is probably much easier in the Mac Pro of 2012 than in the Mini...
Based on reviews, I'd go with the Viewsonic display. The Dell one is way too old.
 
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