Yet Another Mac Mini M4 Monitor Question

Does the same thing happen when connected to the HDMI port?

Are you currently using a VESA certified USB-C to DisplayPort cable or a certified USB-C to HDMI cable?

Are you connecting USB-C to USB-C? If so this interface method tends to be troublesome for a variety of reasons.

confuciousDayzd wrote:

I am not sure what a VESA certified USB-C to DisplayPort cable is; I'll have to look that up.

You can get adapters and adapter cables that go from USB-C (DisplayPort) to all sorts of interfaces: DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, single-link DVI, dual-link DVI, and even VGA.

VESA is the organization in charge of the DisplayPort standard, and so an adapter that meets VESA's certification requirements is presumably much to be preferred to one that doesn't.

The LG 5k display is not anything like the LG24MD4KL. The screen was designed with Apple support and it is connected via a TB cable which is rock solid. I have had no issues with that display on any of my Mac computers.

confuciousDayzd wrote:

Currently, for the LG Ultrafine, I am using a Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) Pro Cable (1.8 m) that I bought from the Apple Store back in September. (The old try a different cable fix. Was using the original USB-C cable that came with the LG Ultrafine.)

A Thunderbolt 4 cable should work for just about anything.

Intel – What’s the Difference Between Thunderbolt™ 4 and USB-C?

"Thunderbolt™ 4 Sets Higher Minimum Requirements

Thunderbolt™ 4 certification requires support for power, data, and video with constant 40 Gbps bandwidth. USB cables, devices, and ports may be limited to a variable range of data speeds, with no guarantee of display quality. The Thunderbolt™ logo is a simple, surefire indicator of what a connection between devices can do."

BENQ or Samsung display are highly regarded, even Dell has decent options.

Samsung 28" 4K Display - Amazon.com

Dell Ultra Sharp 4K 27" - Amazon.com

BENQ 32" 4K Display - Amazon.com

TB connection is the best connection if Monitor supports vs HDMI. You can buy the LG 5K reconditioned for <$1000 which is what I did but is still too costly for many but cannot beat the picture.

When you say that the display takes time to wake up – have you tried generating a key press or mouse event to see whether that "encourages" the Mac to talk to the monitor and wake it up sooner?

Asus is another vendor that has some photography-oriented monitors. (I think they call that line the "ProArt" line – and it includes 27" 4K (PA279CV) and 32" 4K (PA329CV) displays.)

tbirdvet wrote:

How about the LG 27" 5k display? I have that model and works great with my Mac Studio and M4 Mac Mini.

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

confuciousDayzd wrote:

So, anticipating that the display is the issue (and not the cable or the port or the Intel mini), I wonder about a suitable replacement. Something not LG, not TB port (HDMI, right?), and not quite Apple Studio $$$ but that comes highly recommended.

confuciousDayzd wrote:

That one is a little rich for me. (The 27MD5KL-B for 1299.00, right?)

Also, no HDMI which, at least in my current configuration, is 100% reliable compared to the TB / USB that is giving me fits. And with no built-in controls, troubleshooting has been a challenge to say the least.

The 27" LG 5K UltraFine display lists for $1299 – and used to go for well over $1000 – but I have seen it on sale recently for as little as $849.

Right now, B&H Photo Video has it on sale for $899. Still expensive compared to most 4K monitors, but not as expensive as a $1599+ 27" Apple 5K Studio Display.