ATV2, Mac Mini and 3 displays

[rodsky77]

Hi all,

Perhaps this is not the right forum for this, but since this is more ATV2 related than Mac Mini, I decided to post it here. I currently have a PC running to 3 screens and am going to switch to a Mac Mini for a desktop. The Mini can't run 3 displays, so, I thought about using ATV2 to stream video, audio, pics to the 3rd display (that's what I mostly use it for. Will the ATV2 serve well in that purpose (to stream all the content I will have on my Mac mini)? Will there be any limitations?

Thank you for all your input.

 

[cfedu]

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The Mac mini with the ati card supports 3 displays

 

[rodsky77]

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The Mac mini with the ati card supports 3 displays

It supports 2 TB displays via TB and one more via HDMI. I have 3 regular DVI/ HDMI displays and don't see the 27 inch Apple display in my future - the price tag is a bit too much. Am I missing something? Will the mid-level model support 3 regular displays? Thanks for your response.

 

[obsidian1200]

It supports 2 TB displays via TB and one more via HDMI. I have 3 regular DVI/ HDMI displays and don't see the 27 inch Apple display in my future - the price tag is a bit too much. Am I missing something? Will the mid-level model support 3 regular displays? Thanks for your response.

Only if you can somehow dasiy-chain displays, which would require the TB display. Otherwise, you can use a standard mini displayport-HDMI/DVI/VGA/etc. adapter to use the TB port as a second display.

If you don't mind dropping some extra money, there are HDMI splitters available that can drive 2 displays from one HDMI input. The only thing here is that the mini won't let you use the displays independently, so the display will just mirror across the 2. Another option would be to get a USB 2.0 to DVI or HDMI out, but the thing with those is questionable support with OSX. I believe some have had success with these, so maybe someone can point you in the right direction there (check the mac mini forums).

Otherwise, you should be able to use the ATV2 to stream movies and pictures from the mini to the display.

 

[rodsky77]

Thank you for the replies.

I will checkout the USB adapter, perhaps this will work.