Best way of several options to connect dual monitors MacBook Pro M1 Pro?

[seriouslyjaded]

I posted this over on Reddit without any answers so perhaps I'll get a better response here...

I have a MacBook Pro 16” M1 Pro 10/16C 32GB/1TB on order. My first work Mac machine - been a Microsoft/intel laptop user forever prior to this. I do have a home intel MacBook from 2016 that I inherited from someone but it’s only used for light browsing.

My usual setup on my current Lenovo is 2 x QHD external displays via a dock plus the internal display. From reading around, it seems I have multiple options to run 2 external displays with the MacBook - the question is, what runs the most reliably?

1 - hdmi to one plus a usb-c to hdmi adapter to another.

2 - hdmi to one plus a usb-c dock with hdmi/display port to another.

3 - usb-c display link compatible dock with 2x displayport (or hdmi) connections to both.

I also need several usb-A type connections for my external keyboard/etc so will need a multiport adapter.

3 seems to tick all the boxes with just 1 cable. 1 requires a minimum of 3 cables hanging off the laptop if I include the multiport adapter.

The question is, how reliable are display link docks and do they work seamlessly as my current Lenovo does?

Your experiences are appreciated.

 

[tstafford]

Maybe I'm not understanding your question completely but option 3 sounds like the worst option. There is no need for Display Link to run two monitors on a M1P MBP.

You have three USB-C ports plus the HDMI.

• Cheap option - buy some USB-A to USB-C adapters for your devices and use the I/O on the MBP
• Less cheap option - buy a USB-C hub with the USB-A ports
• Expensive option - buy something like Caldigit TS4 and have a single connection from the MBP to all your devices and displays

 

[headlessmike]

I have a Caldigit TB3 Mini Dock that works well with my M1 Pro MacBook Pro. It comes in two different versions, dual HDMI and dual DP, and has one or two USB-A ports (depending on version) as well as an ethernet port. The only drawback is that it cannot charge the computer. It's not cheap, but is still reasonably priced in my opinion, especially when compared to many other TB docks, and I can recommend it.

Mini Dock | Thunderbolt 3 | HDMI | DisplayPort – CalDigit

www.caldigit.com

 

[seriouslyjaded]

Maybe I'm not understanding your question completely but option 3 sounds like the worst option. There is no need for Display Link to run two monitors on a M1P MBP.

You have three USB-C ports plus the HDMI.

• Cheap option - buy some USB-A to USB-C adapters for your devices and use the I/O on the MBP
• Less cheap option - buy a USB-C hub with the USB-A ports
• Expensive option - buy something like Caldigit TS4 and have a single connection from the MBP to all your devices and displays

Yes, my option 1 is what you suggest, but it entails hanging numerous cables directly off the Macbook - a minimum of 3, or even 4 if I have to use magsafe to charge - so unplugging and moving the laptop is less convenient than just 1 from a dock that would include power, 2x screens, and additional ports.

My goal is not only to reduce cable clutter but also to ensure that multi-monitor support works well - I know other people have reported intermittent issues with multiple monitors in certain setups for instance.

 

[seriouslyjaded]

I have a Caldigit TB3 Mini Dock that works well with my M1 Pro MacBook Pro. It comes in two different versions, dual HDMI and dual DP, and has one or two USB-A ports (depending on version) as well as an ethernet port. The only drawback is that it cannot charge the computer. It's not cheap, but is still reasonably priced in my opinion, especially when compared to many other TB docks, and I can recommend it.

Mini Dock | Thunderbolt 3 | HDMI | DisplayPort – CalDigit

www.caldigit.com

Do you run dual displays? Any issues with the desktop or moving windows between them, glitches, etc?

 

[headlessmike]

Do you run dual displays? Any issues with the desktop or moving windows between them, glitches, etc?

Yes. No problems at all. It's designed to work this way, so why would there be any glitches?

 

[seriouslyjaded]

Yes. No problems at all. It's designed to work this way, so why would there be any glitches?

Honestly, not all hubs are created equal, and not all work as well as they should. Good to know this does - as it should for the price!

 

[headlessmike]

I just reread your original post and it made me wonder, what dock are you using for the Lenovo? If it's a USB-C or Thunderbolt dock then it might work with the MacBook Pro too.

 

[seriouslyjaded]

I just reread your original post and it made me wonder, what dock are you using for the Lenovo? If it's a USB-C or Thunderbolt dock then it might work with the MacBook Pro too.

No, unfortunately, the one I have is a side connecting Lenovo ThinkPad-specific dock. Ironically, I used to have a Lenovo USB-C dock but I gave it to a colleague who used a MacBook at work. I had some issues with monitor detection with that one too which is why I switched.

 

[headlessmike]

Ok. The dock I mentioned works great and I highly recommend it, but it is a bit pricey. Your cheapest option is probably one of the first two options you mentioned. The downside there is potential clutter of having more loose cables to plug in. Note that you do not need DisplayLink to run two external monitors with an M1 Pro. You could even run two separate USB-C to HDMI/DisplayPort cables from different ports without any issues if you couldn't use the built-in HDMI port. DisplayLink would only be needed to run three or more external displays.

 

[seriouslyjaded]

Ok. The dock I mentioned works great and I highly recommend it, but it is a bit pricey. Your cheapest option is probably one of the first two options you mentioned. The downside there is potential clutter of having more loose cables to plug in. Note that you do not need DisplayLink to run two external monitors with an M1 Pro. You could even run two separate USB-C to HDMI/DisplayPort cables from different ports without any issues if you couldn't use the built-in HDMI port. DisplayLink would only be needed to run three or more external displays.

Oh, then I misunderstood - I thought that running more than 1 display off a dock required a DisplayLink driver, so good to know you don't.

 

[headlessmike]

Oh, then I misunderstood - I thought that running more than 1 display off a dock required a DisplayLink driver, so good to know you don't.

That’s only with the base M1, not the Pro, Max, or Ultra.