Mac Mini 2018 really struggles to connect to my monitor

..hmfmm..

While there are several articles in Apple database, some don't clarify or cover most aspects.

• Connect a display to your Mac - Apple Support

//support.apple.com/en-us/HT202351

• Adapters for the Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, or USB-C port on your Mac - Apple Support

//support.apple.com/en-us/HT207443

There have been several technical advances or changes behind these cable/adapters.

And just to match the ports, does not mean they would suffice or even work. Some of

the cables (of sufficiently high quality, from known makers) may do well. With or with-

out an additional adapter. That's why as technologies advance, things differ..

The Mac mini has changed a fair degree since the first PPC G4 model; & have a few.

Including Late 2005 1.5GHz PPC G4, (10.5.8) still in use; & Late 2012 quad-core 2.3

Server w/ dual 1-TB rotational HDDs; and four macOS versions, on partitioned drives.

[M2 series and SoC looks like the 'newest alien planet' from those early hardware designs.]

For now investigate the adapters, cables, and quality brands; and where applicable, the

power and data cables have significant place ~ again when and where they are needed.

..hmfmm..

There had been an evolution among those actual DisplayLink drivers and versions, among

them are ones specific to various upgrades &/or updates across several macOS systems.

Had you used their newer versions, then tested the premise again?

Following is 'partial re-post of information' earlier ASC reply thread.

Here's edited information, that may be relevant to this topic; & how it

tends to repeat, after a few lapses or failures to follow newer drivers:

• Drivers and downloads from Synaptics: for macOS and Other OS:

DisplayLink Downloads Page | Synaptics

https://www.synaptics.com/products/displaylink-graphics/downloads

[This, made available from link within the OWC product's portal.]

.If you already bought an adapter from OWC, notice new software.

All macOS product downloads

DisplayLink macOS Software

https://www.synaptics.com/displaylink/downloads/macos

macOS DisplayLink Manager (newer DL drivers & download)

"DisplayLink Manager Graphics Connectivity"

for: Ventura 13, Monterey 12, Big Sur 11

Release: 1.8 | Oct 24, 2022 ..See all "Legacy Releases +".. via toggle

DisplayLink macOS Software for Downloads Section | Synaptics

https://www.synaptics.com/products/displaylink-graphics/downloads/macos

https://www.synaptics.com/sites/default/files/release_notes/2022-10/DisplayLink%20Manager%20Graphics%20Connectivity1.8-Release%20Notes.txt

The details & other versions of DisplayLink driver/software are worth a critical look.

Hi, hmfmm( hope I spelled your name correctly)

hmmmmmm….. your Mac mini outputs hdmi 2.0 which has to support HDCP 2.2, and so does your output cable… it also has Thunderbolt 3 via USB-C which supports hdmi, DisplayPort, etc with the use of compliant adapters… so, I don’t think your Mac mini is an M1, but an Intel Mac mini… so try the usual, reset smc/pmu and zap pram 3-4 times on startup… you can use apple’s support page on Intel Mac minis or google/yahoo/bing to get you the “how-to” and how to do that… failing that, start up in ‘safe” mode and see if your problem happens… you can do that by shutting down your Mac mini and restarting, holding down the “shift” key on your keyboard… until you see the words “safe mode” on your screen, then let go of the shift key…… you also have to pick a frequency and display mode your Mac mini likes.., 30 or 60 hz, fine, 24 hz ? Maybe… if you’re running Catalina ?? Anything else, no… hold down option key while going into system prefs> display> and you should see native for display and scaled for display… your Mac mini has to “talk” to the monitor and the monitor has to “answer/talk” back to it and identify itself… also, I don’t know which different newer monitors or other monitor you’re referring to… perhaps you could help us out on that, say with a maker and model number for all 3 monitors… i don’t even know what Mac OS you have installed on your Mac mini… so I can’t really help you out a lot, you do have a PS5, which is nice… but you’re going to have to help us, throw us a bone or two, so that we can help you

John b

Looks like that LG display also supports DisplayPort input.

https://www.lg.com/hk_en/monitor/lg-27gp95r-b

If it does, a USB-C to DisplayPort cable would be better than using an HDMI.

usb-c to displayport cable

FWIW it looks like the 32" Samsung also has DisplayPort input that you could use instead of HDMI.

https://www.samsung.com/uk/monitors/high-resolution/uj59-32-inch-uhd-4k-lu32j590uqrxxu/