Will 27" WQHD 2560x1440 monitor work well with Mini 2018?

[Spectrum]

Good post. However, I think there's a bit of a correlation vs causation confusion that is often repeated here. I would just point out that people correlate the scaling factor as the cause for for better sharpness. It's really more pixel density. 1440 looks better on a 27" 5K versus a 27" 4K not because of the 2x integer scaling (versus non-integer scaling) but because the 5K has more pixels.

Great point. I totally agree.
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Is there a model under $1,000.00 you would recommend to go with a Mini (i7/16GB/1TB) or do I have to go over $1,000.00?

A colleague of mine has a 27 inch 4K LG monitor. It seems fine to me. Runs it from a MacBook.
Or look at th Dell ultra sharp range.

 

[ixxx69]

Is there a model under $1,000.00 you would recommend to go with a Mini (i7/16GB/1TB) or do I have to go over $1,000.00?

Not clear what size/resolution you're referring to, but for 27" 4K, the Dell U2718Q is a fantastic general purpose 4K display for around $500 (amazon link).

 

[Easttime]

For those thinking about sub 4k, I’m really enjoying my Dell 27” UltraSharp USB-C Monitor U2719DC QHD 2560 x 1440 at 60 Hz on my 2018 mini. No blurriness to my eyes. The 4 port USB hub built into the monitor works really well. I like the monitor’s clean lines and adjustability. I run my Windows work laptop simultaneously with the mini, connected to the monitor by DP. It’s easy to switch between the two with the buttons on the lower edge of the monitor. The mini runs a second monitor by HDMI. Zero problems with wake from sleep on the Dell. The monitor’s USB-C can charge a laptop at 65 Watts. I got it for just over $600 Canadian from Dell. First visit to their website showed $800 price, next visit was the $600 price.

 

[Spectrum]

Not clear what size/resolution you're referring to, but for 27" 4K, the Dell U2718Q is a fantastic general purpose 4K display for around $500 (amazon link).

Be careful: there is both the U2718Q and the UP2718Q. The latter is 2.5x the price!

 

[HuskerHarley]

Not clear what size/resolution you're referring to, but for 27" 4K, the Dell U2718Q is a fantastic general purpose 4K display for around $500 (amazon link).

I would like a 5K over 30"...My sister has a Mac. Every time I see her screen it makes me want that level of quality but on a larger screen.
I see LG makes a 34" 5K2K but I don't yet understand what 5K2K is. I'm in the early stages of researching that monitor along with the Dell 27"...

 

[Fastrip66]

"Would going with a 2560x1440 27 inch work well for those Purposes? i.e.., Will it scale correctly or cause some type of performance issues? Fuzzy Text, etc."

A 27" monitor with a native resolution of 2560x1440 (1440p) won't be "scaled".
It will run at 1440p in its native resolution.*

You'll be fine.
Use a USB-c to displayport connecting cable.

Note:
I can't address the text issues.
These complaints seem to have more to do with the Mojave OS than they do "with the Mini".

* However, IF it's a 4k 27" display, to get 2560x1440 you WILL BE "scaling".
The display's native resolution makes all the difference.
So.. be careful what you buy.

So it won't work with standard hdmi?

I have the 2018 Mac mini and my monitor supports 2560x1440 but my mini only shows up to 1080x1920 with HDMI. I used switchresX to add the resolution of 2560x1440 under hemi but the text is a little blurry but looks amazing under windows (and is seen without 3rd party app too). Very weird.....

 

[treekram]

So it won't work with standard hdmi?

I have the 2018 Mac mini and my monitor supports 2560x1440 but my mini only shows up to 1080x1920 with HDMI. I used switchresX to add the resolution of 2560x1440 under hemi but the text is a little blurry but looks amazing under windows (and is seen without 3rd party app too). Very weird.....

What monitor (brand and model #) do you have. Which port (USB-C, HDMI, other) are you connecting the monitor to?

 

[Fastrip66]

It's an Asus but not home to check model number. I'm connecting directly into HDMI on Mac mini and monitor. Highest native resolution on Mac Mojave it shows is 1080x1920 unless I use SwitchRes. Weird...it's a 2560x1440 Mac resolution....that's why I asked if hooking it up through thunderbolt USBC with an HDMI or DisplayPort adapter wood make it look or shall I say, notice the higher resolution capability other than the stock HDMI port?

 

[treekram]

It's an Asus but not home to check model number. I'm connecting directly into HDMI on Mac mini and monitor. Highest native resolution on Mac Mojave it shows is 1080x1920 unless I use SwitchRes. Weird...it's a 2560x1440 Mac resolution....that's why I asked if hooking it up through thunderbolt USBC with an HDMI or DisplayPort adapter wood make it look or shall I say, notice the higher resolution capability other than the stock HDMI port?

If you have a native 2560x1440 monitor with a HDMI port, it should look good connected to the 2018 Mini HDMI port. But what you describe with the blurry text sounds like you have a 4K monitor being scaled to 2560x1440. But it's pointless to speculate unless we know the specific model number.

In the 2018 Mini, the HDMI output is actually DisplayPort converted to HDMI in the Mini. So a USB-C/HDMI cable is really doing the same thing - it's not likely you get better results using a 3rd-party cable/adapter to do the conversion vs. what's already in the Mini. You might get better results with a USB-C to DisplayPort cable but unless you don't mind spending the money, I would try to see if I could get the HDMI to work. It might be your HDMI cable but for me, I've never had problems connecting computers to monitors with HDMI cables but sometimes there are problems with video equipment. I was surprised that some old generic cable that I had worked (without problems) with my 4K monitor (at 60Hz) - so who knows?

 

[Fastrip66]

If you have a native 2560x1440 monitor with a HDMI port, it should look good connected to the 2018 Mini HDMI port. But what you describe with the blurry text sounds like you have a 4K monitor being scaled to 2560x1440. But it's pointless to speculate unless we know the specific model number.

In the 2018 Mini, the HDMI output is actually DisplayPort converted to HDMI in the Mini. So a USB-C/HDMI cable is really doing the same thing - it's not likely you get better results using a 3rd-party cable/adapter to do the conversion vs. what's already in the Mini. You might get better results with a USB-C to DisplayPort cable but unless you don't mind spending the money, I would try to see if I could get the HDMI to work. It might be your HDMI cable but for me, I've never had problems connecting computers to monitors with HDMI cables but sometimes there are problems with video equipment. I was surprised that some old generic cable that I had worked (without problems) with my 4K monitor (at 60Hz) - so who knows?

Thanks but definitely not a 4K monitor and not the HDMI cable as it work perfect on my Windows 10 tower and it sees the resolution natively without any special apps but the mini only will show up to the 1080x1920 resolution without using software. Very weird but definitely not the cable nor 4K.

 

[treekram]

Thanks but definitely not a 4K monitor and not the HDMI cable as it work perfect on my Windows 10 tower and it sees the resolution natively without any special apps but the mini only will show up to the 1080x1920 resolution without using software. Very weird but definitely not the cable nor 4K.

If that's the case, it's most likely that the Mac is mis-identifying the monitor. If you haven't already, once you're back at the computer, go into System Preferences -> Displays and see what the Mac thinks you have. If you hold down the Option key and then press the "Scaled" radio button, a list of resolutions will come up. I don't know how SwitchResX fits into the equation - whether it overrides System Preferences or vice-versa or if you direct it not to intervene or what.

 

[Fastrip66]

If that's the case, it's most likely that the Mac is mis-identifying the monitor. If you haven't already, once you're back at the computer, go into System Preferences -> Displays and see what the Mac thinks you have. If you hold down the Option key and then press the "Scaled" radio button, a list of resolutions will come up. I don't know how SwitchResX fits into the equation - whether it overrides System Preferences or vice-versa or if you direct it not to intervene or what.

Mac sees it as exactly what it is even make and model, did the option key already and it won't list any other resolutions. Very weird I know but the second I plug it into my windows Windows machine or even another Mac it pops up just fine natively. I'm on the newest it Mac Mini, plenty of video memory, all is updates installed etc. Mojave 10.14.4

 

[treekram]

Mac sees it as exactly what it is even make and model, did the option key already and it won't list any other resolutions. Very weird I know but the second I plug it into my windows Windows machine or even another Mac it pops up just fine natively. I'm on the newest it Mac Mini, plenty of video memory, all is updates installed etc. Mojave 10.14.4

You should see if Asus has any insight into your problem. If you haven't already, search the web for your monitor and connecting it to the Mac. If that doesn't produce results, you could try a USB-C to DisplayPort cable - you mentioned that the monitor does have some sort of DisplayPort port? If the cable change doesn't work, if you want input from people here on the forum who may have the same monitor, you should probably start a new thread with the Brand-Model # in the title, although in the past such posts haven't always gotten responses.

 

[Easttime]

So it won't work with standard hdmi?

I have the 2018 Mac mini and my monitor supports 2560x1440 but my mini only shows up to 1080x1920 with HDMI. I used switchresX to add the resolution of 2560x1440 under hemi but the text is a little blurry but looks amazing under windows (and is seen without 3rd party app too). Very weird.....

I have two 2560x1440 27 inch “2.5K” monitors of two different brands on my 2018 mini, one USB-C and the other HDMI. They look fine to my eyes.

 

[mavots]

Dredging this thread up because I am suffering the same issue.
I have a NEC PA272 wide gamut monitor with 2560x1440 native resolution. Attached via the Mini's HDMI as another Mac is using the DisplayPort port.
I am not getting 1440 at this time. I think I have another HDMI cable somewhere. Otherwise will wait until this weekend when I can connect the monitor using the DisplayPort cable on my Thunderbay 4 external TB3 enclosure.
I don't understand why HDMI/Mac Mini would have an issue with my monitor.

 

[Fishrrman]

mavots:

Is the HDMI cable that you're using "an older one" that you had laying around?

WHY I asked:
HDMI cables aren't all the same. Older ones can be "slower", while newer ones offer "HDMI 2.0" and are faster.

My thoughts are that the cable you're currently using might be "too old and/or too slow" to support 1440 (although it will deliver 1080p just fine).

A "high-speed" HDMI 2.0 cable -might- fix that. But... no promises.

 

[Fastrip66]

Thanks for the recommendation all. I did fix the issue simy using a display port cable instead. Odd it didn't work under HDMI directly but I out my display port adapter into the monitor side and ran to the mini and boom! 2560x1440 or whatever. Looks awesome. I hate resolutions smaller than this. I like a lot of desktop space but don't like using multiple desktop windows as a workaround, seems clunky. But all good now

 

[mavots]

mavots:

Is the HDMI cable that you're using "an older one" that you had laying around?

WHY I asked:
HDMI cables aren't all the same. Older ones can be "slower", while newer ones offer "HDMI 2.0" and are faster.

My thoughts are that the cable you're currently using might be "too old and/or too slow" to support 1440 (although it will deliver 1080p just fine).

A "high-speed" HDMI 2.0 cable -might- fix that. But... no promises.

Yeah, it might be. I found an unused HDMI cable in a box full of cables. It is marked "High Speed HDMI Cable". I think I got it from Monopoint some time ago, not sure. I think I have the original NEC HDMI cable in the box in my basement. A weekend project.