How does HDMI resolution compare with USB-C on Mac mini M4?

MartinR wrote:

Just to expand on what you said ... HDMI & Displayport are competing standards. One is not necessarily better than the other unless you are comparing specific versions of each. While one could claim that HDMI 2.1 is "better" than the older DP 1.4 in terms of resolution, refresh rate & data rate combined, it is not "better" if you are comparing it to DP 2.1, which the M4 Mini Pro supports.

If I am not mistaken,

• HDMI v2.0 has a bandwidth of up to 18 gigabits per second.
• DisplayPort v1.4 has a bandwidth of up to 32.4 gigabits per second.
• HDMI v2.1 has a bandwidth of up to 48 gigabits per second.
• DisplayPort v2.1 has a bandwidth of up to 80 gigabits per second.
• Thunderbolt v5 has a bandwidth of up to 120 gigabits per second.

You might get by with one of the Dell supplied cables.

However for the best results, you should pick-up and use a short high speed HDMI cable

or... optionally a short high speed USB-C to DisplayPort cable.

For a good example of each type:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NX5CZTF/ref=sspa_dk_detail_3?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B099S1PTHC/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?

Just to expand on what you said ... HDMI & Displayport are competing standards. One is not necessarily better than the other unless you are comparing specific versions of each. While one could claim that HDMI 2.1 is "better" than the older DP 1.4 in terms of resolution, refresh rate & data rate combined, it is not "better" if you are comparing it to DP 2.1, which the M4 Mini Pro supports.

Results also depend on what the OP's Dell display is capable of & the cables in use ... but the OP didn't identify the model so we don't know.

There is another consideration. HDMI and DP appear to use different LUTs (color lookup tables) in the mini resulting in somewhat different 'looks' on screen. The OP may want to try both in order to see which produces more satisfactory results in his/her case.

HDMI 2.1 is a better because it’s mature and proven, unlike DP 2.1 which in comparison, is in its infancy https://www.tomshardware.com/monitors/displayport-21-has-a-serious-issue-with-uhbr-certified-cables-perhaps-thats-why-nvidia-opted-to-stick-with-dp14-on-the-rtx-40-series and mostly on paper.

It has potential, granted, but it’ll take a minimum 10 years to see how much of that it lives up to. Right now, it’s all dressed with nowhere to go - like an oversized Mercedes Electric SUV - looks great on the driveway, but best to leave home without it 😁

Let’s take this up in year 2030…

Start with the official Display Support specs:

Mac mini - Technical Specifications - Apple

Regards.

That depends on the Display, see > Connect a display to Mac mini - Apple Support

Plus if you have or buy an M4 or an M4 Pro, > Mac mini - Technical Specifications - Apple

HDMI is technically superior and more stable. Use it (you paid for it).