Ultra Wide Monitors Woes Woes With Mac mini M1?
 

Hello one and all,
I recently bought a Mac mini M1 and am loving it. Power, speed and tranquility :D

The only issue has been running an ultra wide display. Obviously tempted by the thought of running a gazillion channels and seeing them all on screen at the same time with a humungous arrangement I took the plunge.

First purchase LG 29UM69G 29 inch 1ms 75Hz Ultrawide IPS Gaming Monitor (2560 x 1080, HDMI, DisplayPort, 250 cd/m2, AMD Freesync)

Nice enough monitor. However, I noticed the screen going blank for 1 second and a touch of white noise on occasion. I tried different options in System Preferences/Displays beyond the default (not that there are many) and no change. I swapped monitors with my son who has a Dell S2319H to test and got him to use the LG with his X Box. Fine on both accounts.

Anyhow, I got tired of the issue so assumed it was an incompatibility and went to purchase my own flavour of Dell.

Second purchase
Dell S3422DW 34 inch WQHD (3440x1440) 21:9 1800R Curved Monitor, 100Hz, VA, 4ms, AMD Radeon FreeSync, Built-in Speakers, DisplayPort, 2x HDMI, 3x USB, 3 Year Warranty

Plenty of real estate here, increased resolution and away we go. Sadly, my initial "I've cracked it" turned to despair as I find this has the same issue. Blank screen at random times for around a second.

I have also used three different HDMI cables with the monitors so we should be able to rule that out as the culprit?

So anyone got experience with this? Is getting a UW working with the Mac mini M1 tricky or have I just been unlucky? If so, what monitors work and what spec should I look for? Otherwise, is it just a software configuration thing I am missing?

Many thanks in advance!

Stephen

Re: Ultra Wide Monitors Woes Woes With Mac mini M1?
 

I am using 34 inch 3440x1440 (HDMI) and 27 inch 2560x1440 (TB) without issues. This is a fully loaded M1 mac mini.

EDIT:
34 inch is a Samsung S34J55x and 27 inch is an Apple TB display

Re: Ultra Wide Monitors Woes Woes With Mac mini M1?
 

I couldn't get the Mac Mini (intel) or the M1 MBA to support the ultra wide resolution I needed so I ended up with a Mac Pro. The new M1 Max finally works at the resolution required (5120x1440 - 32:9).
However, in both 'working' cases, the display was glitchy and flickery. I also tried multiple HDMI cables and multiple TB to DP cables and adapters.
In the end the fix, again in both cases, was to install SwitchResX. There are many versions of the same resolution available - some are HighDPI, some not, along with various refresh rates - conventional stuff like 60, 100 and 120Hz but also 59.88 and 99.88. One of the odd ones worked best with the Mac Pro. One of the HDPI options worked with the M1 Max. So, worth a shot - free for 10 days and cheap to purchase if it works.

Dominic

Re: Ultra Wide Monitors Woes Woes With Mac mini M1?
 

Thanks guys. Yes the fresh rate slightly confuses me.

https://www.apple.com/uk/mac-mini/specs/

Video Support
Simultaneously supports up to two displays:
One display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz connected via Thunderbolt and one display with up to 4K resolution at 60Hz connected via HDMI 2.0
Thunderbolt 3 digital video output supports
Native DisplayPort output over USB‑C
Thunderbolt 2, DVI and VGA output supported using adapters (sold separately)
HDMI 2.0 display video output
Support for one display with up to 4K resolution at 60Hz
DVI output using HDMI to DVI Adapter (sold separately)


So is the maximum refresh quoted here 60Hz?

The 32" Dell I have seems to run at 100Hz with the Mac. In fact, when I set it to 60Hz it had a noticeable flicker.

Stephen

Re: Ultra Wide Monitors Woes Woes With Mac mini M1?
 

I stephen, I have a 34" (3440x1440) ultrawide gaming LG monitor. I had the same issue as you on a MBP and my mac mini for a long time. Eventually I figured out that it was in fact poor quality HDMI cables. For that resolution and for those refresh rates (mine operates at 75hz on the M1 and 144hz on my PC), you need an ultra high speed HDMI.

I recommend one that works with 8K, HDMI 2.1 48GB/s. A high quality 4k HDMI 2.0 should work but I suggest just skipping it because it will be a gamble. Go right to the HDMI 2.1.

Re: Ultra Wide Monitors Woes Woes With Mac mini M1?
 

Many thanks. Seems worth a try! Something like this look the part?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/IBRA-High-S...dp/B07WH7L8ZM/

Stephen

Re: Ultra Wide Monitors Woes Woes With Mac mini M1?
 

It's worth a try!

Re: Ultra Wide Monitors Woes Woes With Mac mini M1?
 

New '8K certified cable' arriving today so will see how it goes 👀

Stephen

Re: Ultra Wide Monitors Woes Woes With Mac mini M1?
 

Please do let me know how it goes! I had the same issue and it was infuriating. White/pink noise and intermittent flickering/blackouts. This definitely solved my problem.

Re: Ultra Wide Monitors Woes Woes With Mac mini M1?
 

Will do. Cable was 'delivered' today but by Royal Mail on behalf of Amazon so I need to collect it from the sorting office when they open :confused: So tomorrow it is then...

Stephen