Forcing 640x480 resolution on Mac Mini

We are trying to connect our Mac Mini to our LCD panel TV. It worked for a while but now the computer refueses to keep the display setting at 640x480. Using a regular VGA monitor, we set it at 640x480 save, restart and it comes back at 800x600. I have trashed all the preferences files, run the password fix and hard disc utility from the master OS disc, reset the PRAM, started up in the safey mode... The System Prefs will change to just about any other resolution but refuses to hold at 640x480. This must be done before we connect the LCD TV because we just get a blank screen after the startup (the startup preable we CAN see). The only other thing I can think to try is to reinstall the OS but that's going to be a HUGE pain...requiring hours...days to rebuild. Any suggestions? Are there any resolution toggle keys on Mac like on PCs?

There is no solution for displays that are not Mac-Compatible.

Similar Messages

How do I adjust display resolution for Mac Mini?

How do I adjust display resolution for Mac Mini? Text does not look crisp. Using Samsung 27 inch monitor with HDMI input

Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Displays. Depending on your version of Mac OS X, it may be set for "Best for Display" in which case it should already be set at the optimum for your monitor, or it may display resolution options in which case you should set it for the native resolution of your display.
Regards.

Strange resolution problem mac mini 2010 w lion 10.7.3

Hi!
I use XBMC as a media center client, and did the update to 10.7.3 yesterday. This update gave me a problem with the resolution on a 55 "LED TV.
If xbmc is running and I switch the source on the television to for example, tuner or blueray player, and then switch back to the mac mini running xbmc, the resolution changes, everything is so big on the screen that you cant read it. I need to force down xbmc and turn back to lion, and then start xbmc again.xbmc is running 1080i 50 Hz PAL, the same for lion.
My mini is always on, and if i leave it over night or some hours, the resolution in lion changes to 960x540 60 Hz NTSE by itself. therfore i belive the problem is lion and not the xbmc. it looks like the mini forget the settings. I tried to format the mini and installed a frech copy of lion 10.7.3 Still problems!
Anyone? please help me, I use the Mini very much and this is an annoying problem

I ran a few more tests and this problem has something to do with the Video Card sensing the TV (or at least I think). The resolution drops to 960x540 HiDPI 60 Hz NTSC when I return from TV to HDMI (Mac Mini) after any of the following:
1. Screen saver was activated
2. Screen was switched off by Lion Power management
I don't beleive this to do with any application running like Plex or XMBC. I tested this with no applications running just what ever Lion loads in the begining.
I tried reseting the PMU but that didn't help.
The only workarround I found was not to uese any screen savers and not allow the screen to switch off (Power Saving Options)
I have submitted a bug report to Apple hopefully they will look into it.
Hope this helps.

Highest dual display resolution for mac mini mid 2011

I am currently running a mac mini mid 2011. As I've understood (according to the below statement). Am I only able to use 2 secreen with 1920x1200 or could I use one screen with 2560x1600 and one with 1920x1200. I do NOT want mirroring, only dual displays.
I am going to connect the screens in the following way:
1x mini-dvi - HDMI to one screen.
1x HDMI - HDMI to the other screen.
Display Support:
Dual Displays
Resolution Support:
1920x1200*
Details:
*This model simultaneously supports 1920x1200 on an HDMI display or a DVI display using the included HDMI-to-DVI adapterand 2560x1600 on a Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort display or even a VGA display (with an optional Mini DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter, which is compatible with the Thunderbolt port).
2nd Display Support:
Dual/Mirroring*
2nd Max. Resolution:
2560x1600*
Details:
*This model simultaneously supports 1920x1200 on an HDMI or a DVI display (using the included HDMI-to-DVI adapter) and2560x1600 on a Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort display or even a VGA display (with an optional Mini DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter, which is compatible with the Thunderbolt port).
Thanks in advance
Rich

According to the copy&paste from wikipedia, HDMI should support higher resolution than 1920x1200. So the question is, does it aupport that on the mid 2011 mac mini. It says in the specifications
"Mac mini is designed to work with HDMI devices that comply with versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.2a, 1.3, 1.3a, and 1.4 of the HDMI specification."
That should mean it should be able to support it, but I don't know : <
HDMI version
1.0
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
2.0
Date initially released
December 9, 2002
May 20, 2004
August 8, 2005
June 22, 2006
May 28, 2009
September 12, 2013
Maximum clock rate (MHz)
165
165
165
340
340[109]
600
Maximum TMDS throughput per channel (Gbit/s) including 8b/10b overhead
1.65
1.65
1.65
3.40
3.40
6
Maximum total TMDS throughput (Gbit/s) including 8b/10b overhead
4.95
4.95
4.95
10.2
10.2
18
Maximum throughput (Gbit/s) with 8b/10b overhead removed
3.96
3.96
3.96
8.16
8.16
14.4
Maximum audio throughput (Mbit/s)
36.86
36.86
36.86
36.86
36.86
Maximum color depth (bit/px)
24
24
24
48[a]
48
Maximum resolution over single link at 24-bit/px[b]
1920×1200p60
1920×1200p60
1920×1200p60
2560×1600p75
4096×2160p24
4096×2160p60
Maximum resolution over single link at 30-bit/px[c]
N/A
N/A
N/A
2560×1600p60
4096×2160p24
Maximum resolution over single link at 36-bit/px[d]
N/A
N/A
N/A
1920×1200p75
4096×2160p24
Maximum resolution over single link at 48-bit/px[e]
N/A
N/A
N/A
1920×1200p60
1920×1200p60
Maximum 3D resolution (using a full resolution 3D format) over single link at 24-bit/px
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1920×1200p60

Dell 2407 WFP optimal screen resolution for Mac Mini

Running Snow Leopard on Mac Mini, however I keep getting pop up saying sceen resolution is not optimal for iphoto. What is optimal resolution for Dell 2407 WFP monitor?

Information.
Windows stuck in top left hand corner of screen

Max resolution with mac mini and two 27" thunderbolt displays

What is the maximum resolution I can get on each monitor when connecting two 27" thunderbolt displays to a mac mini?

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
You can get the maximum resolution for the Thunderbolt Display (2560x1440) on both monitors, but the graphic performance may decrease

Widescreen TV resolution (unsupported?) intel mac mini

I'm having problems setting the mac mini up to my tv, i'm in the uk so no HD yet but the resolutions the mac mini with dvi-component adapter is displaying only have 4x3 aspect ratios, so when watching widesreen tv or movies it double letterboxes them. Is there any way i can force the mac mini to display at 1024x576 rather than just giving me the options of 720x576, 800x600 and 1024 x 768. I remember on older mac with older monitors there was abutton in teh system prefs which allowed you to display resolutions that might not be supported is there any way around this?
It doesn't appear to be the tv as when hooked up to a powerbook the display options are far greater and include 16x9 meaning tv and movies are displayed full screen.
On the plus side it is seriously fast, with handbrake in universal binary it runs 3-4 times faster than my powerbook, 15fps on the 1.67ghz pbook and 60fps on the mac mini, which compares well to 37fps average on a mates dual 1.8ghz G5 nice.

I have the same sort of problem with a brand new Dual Core Mac Mini and a Pioneer Elite PRO-710HD. The TV is quite capable of handling 1080i input via the VGA/RGB jack, but the Mini won't give me 1920x1080 as a resolution option. I've currently got it set to 640x480, which displays fine, but I really want the higher resolution to work.
If anyone can point me to a guide to hacking the display settings tables that Display Preferences uses to figure out what a particular display is capable of, that would be great. I tried the restart with cmd-opt-a-v and that didn't change the available options (which are many, btw, but none with 1080 as a vertical resolution option, 1050 and 1200 being the closest and they don't work).
Cheers,
-Sam

Max resolution Mac mini 1660x1050???

I'm using my mac mini through logmein remote desktop with a windows laptop with a 1920x1200 display.
I want to get this resolution on the mac mini also but it let me get not higher as 1680x1050.
Is this the max resolution the mac mini can get?
I have tried different utility's like switchresx and newscreen but none of them getting it at 1920x1200.
Have anybody have a 1920x1200 monitor connected on the mac mini? or have a solution?

I think is not limitation of logmein because between to xp laptops i can change the resolution to the max.
I only have a monitor with 1650x1050 support, but my xp laptop does support 1920x1200 and don't want an extra monitor on my desk and sometimes and work an the mac on a different location.
Perhaps the is remembering the last connected monitor which is 1680x1050?
I have also also laptop with hackintosh osx86 installed and that laptop has also an 1920x1200 display and i can connect through logmein at 1920x1200.
so why the mac mini does not???

Setting resolution to 1680x1050 60Hz on Mac Mini

I have a non-Apple display that I am using with a Mac Mini, OSX 10.5.8. This display has a native display resolution of 1680x1050. Unfortunately this is not one of the display options in System Preferences, although there are display options with an even higher resolution. Is there any way that I can force the Mac Mini to output a 1680x1050 resolution?
Alternatively, is there some lower resolution that will be "native" for a 1680x1050 monitor? The monitor in question is a Samsung SyncMaster 2253BW.
Thanks for your help!

1680 x 1050 is the only resolution that will give a good picture. If OSX won't give it, you can use SwitchResX
<http://www.madrau.com/SRX3/index.html>
or DisplayConfigX
<http://www.3dexpress.de/>

Mac mini - dvi to hdmi and 1380x768 resolution

Hi,
I've connected my mac mini to a samsung television with a dvi - hdmi cable. Running 1280x720 I get a very nice picture, but also a black belt around the picture. In order to use the full screen (but not overscan) I suspect a 1380x768 resolution is called for. How do I get about that?
Kind regards, Torben

Just to update this:
Got my DVI to HDMI cable today!
Plugged it in, booted her up and was presented with a perfect 1080p HDMI signal without having to alter any display settings.
Fantastic!
In my display menu I have 10 resolutions to play with with , 3 of which are full 1080p, one is specifically for PAL tv in the UK.
Couldn't be happier!
Hope this thread helps anybody who is having any connecting woes between their mac mini and their sharp TV
Thanks
David

Mac mini 09 Display Resolutions odd via DVI -- HDMI

Hi I've got a LG 1366x768 commercial display and it works great with an Apple TV, MacBook 2007 or MacBook Pro 2008.
However when I unplug the MacBook and plug in the New Mac mini, it gives a completely different set of resolutions - none of which work properly on the display.
When overscan is chosen on the Mac mini, it chops off the top of the menu bar. Overscan is on the MacBook and MacBook Pro and it looks perfect.
Everything is blurry no matter which resolution I choose on the Mac mini. Everything is crisp with the MacBook and MacBook Pro. This is a serious problem....
Tried switchresX and it's no help.
Anyone else using one for their home theatre with a HDMI setup?

Which LG model is it? Which HDMI jack (HDMI1, HDMI2) on the TV are you plugged into?
Some LG commercial TVs have a different internal mode for the inputs that has to be changed in the TV menu. If it thinks it is a true HDMI signal, it will automatically overscan it for you resulting in things being cut off and looking fuzzy. You have to convince it that you really want to be a PC type input that just happens to be over HDMI in order for it to display on all visible pixels. Depending on the model, you may have to plug into a specific HDMI port to even make that possible.

New mac mini, resolution incompatible with TV

My shiny new mac mini just arrived today in the mail. I hooked it up to my Emerson 27 inch 720p tv and booted her up. I got the grey screen, then the apple, then a spinny wheel of white lights, then "Please change computers resolution".
This is my first boot and the machine only comes with the onboard HDMI port and the HDMI to DVI adapter. I have no DVI monitors, and my only HDMI monitor is my TV.
Safe boot doesn't work, single user mode doesn't work. Both just throw the same error, safe boot runs a progress bar for a bit before doing so at least.
Apple support is closed right now (***).
My bro and I are Linux admins so we got into the shell and tried editing the com.boot file to change the resolution, but that didn't seem to do anything.
All the forums I've referenced say to install tools to solve this problem, but that's not helpful unless I can get in the first time. Also unhelpful are the people who say buy a new TV or monitor, which cost more then the machine.
I need this machine to boot exactly once into the GUI so I can set up logmein, VNC, and ssh. This is a dev box so I don't care about seeing it on the TV.
Can anyone get me into the GUI one time?
Since it's brand new, it's running Lion which I've been having endless issues with at work.

It sounds like the new Mac Mini has HDCP enabled (as it is on the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros).
This is a kind of copy protection, and will not allow HDCP protected content to be played on an analog source.
A tool like http://www.hdfury.com/ will take the HDCP stream, and convert it to an analog stream. It's perfectly legal.. and will extend the life of older TV's (manufactured before 2002).

New 2012 Mac mini having screen resolution problem when I connect to either 27" LG or 22" Hannspree monitor. Tried mini display port to VGA/HDMI and HDMI to DVI-D cables... all same isse

New 2012 Mac mini having issues in connecting to third party Monitors. Connected my mac mini to a 27" LG monitor. Text looks blurred. Tried connecting to the monitor using 3 options. 1) mini port to HDMI, then HDMI cable to LG monitor. 2) Mini port to VGA, then VGA cable to monitor 3) HDMI port on mini mac to DVI-D cable then DVI to DVI cable... In all cases text is not clear. Anyone has similar issues with latest mini mac. The monitor works fine when I connect to a windows 7 Samsung laptop. Any input is highly appreciated. Thanks in Advance

Why do you use always 2 cables? There's a lot that can go wrong.
1.) Hardware:
- Use only one cable, best an HDMI->HDMI cable. It doesn't need to be an expensive one, they've proven to be no worse than those "esoteric", expensive ones.
- Set the monitor to the HDMI input.
- The modes you are listing are only "picture modes" changing color/brightness/contrast settings, not resolution or the likes, so pick the one you like best later, or enter your own settings under Custom.
2.) OS X:
- Usually the Mac detects the screen itself and chooses the best settings, so by default you need to do nothing than make a proper hardware connection to get a decent image.
- However, there have been issues with new Mac Minis and particularly their HDMI ports. But reportedly they have been fixed with a software update. So, launch the App Store and check under Updates if there is one for you to install. If so, do it; otherwise you should be good to go.
- If you require, go to System Preferences -> Displays. In the Dispaly tab, by default, "Best for display" should be selected, and that is typically true. If you want, select "Scaled" and 1920x1080, plus a frequency from the list (where higher is usually better, but just pick the one that works best for you). If you can't see a change to the better, you best go back to "Best for display".
- If you are not happy with the colors on your screen, you'll find eventually more than one choice in the Color tab, though your particular screen should be in the list and its Display Profile should get you the best result. (Double-check picture modes on your display: if you're far off there, you won't make it much better with the Mac's settings).

Mac mini and Sony tv resolution issue

Hello,
I have recently purchased a Mac mini for the purposes of hooking it up to my 51" Sony Wega HDTV. I took the mini out and connected the DVI adaptor that came in box and then hooked the mini to the tv via HDMI cable thinking this was the best possible connection for my mini. I have an issue where the screen is over flowing off the TV screen. I looked in system preference and have very limited resolution options but 1080i was selected and also over scan was checked. If I deselect overscan I get borders which I don't want. My tv doesn't have many options so how can I calibrate these two to work togethor?

I just discovered this is not a TV issue at all...
Uh, yes it is. Overscan is a condition unique to TVs. Computer monitors don't do it (overscan) hence there is normally no need for the kind of graphics card driver you are talking about, e.g. one that has precise control of video borders.
Many TVs on the market today have a method for defeating overscan, tucked away somewhere in their menu system, in order to allow the TV to be used just like a computer monitor. That is always the preferred solution when it is available because it will make the best possible image on the TV.
Your TV is a rear projection TV. Such TVs are not well suited for use as computer monitors because overscan is naturally baked into the optics architecture, meaning the manufacturer deliberately sets the mirror and lens system in such a way as to cause the native resolution (1280 x 720 in the case of your TV) to extend beyond the edges of the projection screen. Therefore it is impossible to get the native resolution of the projector's engine to display fully and perfectly on the screen. Only scaled or bordered version of it can ever be displayed. It's all fixed at the factory and there's no getting around the fact.
For the original G4 Mac mini that had ATI Graphics, there was a driver like the one you found for your father's Windows computer that allowed video borders to be set independent of resolution. But apart from that early effort on the part of ATI, I have not seen anything like that since for minis that have graphics based on Intel or nVidia hardware. I think you are going to be stuck with the dark video borders as a necessary limitation of the TV you own in the absence of any driver to counteract that limitation.
I believe the media center front end app called Plex has a facility for setting video borders, but I've never used it personally since I am able to turn overscan off on my TV. So I can't vouch for how well it works. And in any case, since it is bound to the app, it will only be active when Plex is running and not when, say for example, the Finder is in use, which is when you most need it.

Mac Mini and LCD TV, changed resolution and now cannot use the screen anymo

hello,
I have a Mac Mini and and LCD TV which is connected via HDMI cable. I was playing around with the resolution settings (not very smart in hindsight) and managed to select a resolution that my TV does not support. I do not have another monitor or Macbook. Is there anything I can do to reset the resolution settings? I tried to reset the PRAM, but that didnt seem to solve the problem. I also tried starting in Safe mode but that didnt do the trick either.
Appreciate your help!

Arie, it may be possible to get to System Preferences via the keyboard. But you have to be sure the Finder is the foreground application. Is your Mac set to boot straight into your account or does it pause waiting for a password? If it boots straight into a user account, you can try the following procedure:
\- Restart the Mac (It should be hooked up to the misbehaving display in case that's not clear)
\- When it is done booting, type Cmd-Tab and then Cmd-Q. Do this several times. (Cmd-tab will step the Mac through all the programs that might be running. Cmd-Q quits them. Doing this several times ensures that only the Finder is running since the Finder can't be quit. This is important for the next step)
\- Type Shift-Cmd-a (This should open the Applications folder)
\- Type "sys" quickly (System Preferences within the Applications folder should now be highlighted)
\- Type Cmd-o (This should open System Preferences)
\- Type out the word "screen settings" completely (This should cause Displays to be highlighted in the System Preferences main panel)
\- Hit the Return key (This should open Display Preferences)
\- Hit the Return key again (This will clear any alert box that may have popped up)
\- Hit the Tab key once (This will shift the keyboard focus to the resolutions list)
\- Now start using the up (or down) arrow on the keyboard one press at a time. Each press of the arrow key moves to the next resolution in the list. Wait at least five seconds between arrow key presses for the resolution change to take effect. Hopefully, at some point, the monitor will light up with a stable image and you are back in business.

Forcing 640x480 resolution on Mac Mini

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for