Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

silverlakerCA

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 2, 2020
153
25
Just got my new Mac Studio refurbished M1 - and don't know how to best connect the two Dell monitors. (I just read they can't be daisy-chained). I had them jerry-rigged with the previous Mac Mini using the Mini's HDMI input and connected the other through my CalDigit hub.
Now I don't know what I should do - get an HDMI to USB-C adapter or an HDMI to Displayport?
Really need your suggestions and advice.
Thank you!
 

wdhpgx

macrumors member
Aug 11, 2006
74
69
I have two (older/dvi) dell monitors connected to my studio m1. One connected to the hdmi on the back of the machine, and the other connected to an hdmi port on a usb-C hub.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rhett7660

dawnrazor

macrumors 6502
Jan 16, 2008
415
305
Auckland New Zealand
I‘m using two of the TB4 ports on the back of my MS to connect to my ASMs… why not just buy a couple of USB-C to HDMI dongles? and use two TB4 ports? Or one USB-c dongle and use the MS HDMI port instead?

If you’re asking whats best etc… well that‘s more specific to your monitor but in general HDMI should offer betterer resolution then Display Port… but honestly there are too many variables specific to particular monitors to make that call…

If you already have a cal digit hub you could just use that and only take up one TB4 port on the MS…

Lots of options… none of them are bad…

Oh one is bad. Do not put your monitor at the end of raid storage. I have two Pegasus RAIDS, both TB3 and one has Display Port 1.4 … so I thought I’d put my second monitor at the end of that daisy chain and save a TB3 port on my iMac… seemed like a good solution… Nope. It messed with the iMac really badly as both RAIDS have to boot up before it can see the monitor and that then delays it presenting you with the login screen, took about 5 mins to be able to log in… Nope OWC TB hub was the solution, one TB in and 3xTB out… no daisy chain… avoid daisy chaining different peripherals if possible is my advice, keep all you RAIDS daisy-chained if you want, but don’t go sticking a video I/O on the end or network access or something like that, just asking for trouble…
 

Fishrrman

macrumors Penryn
Feb 20, 2009
29,175
13,223
What kind of INPUTS do the Dell displays have?
HDMI?
DVI?
Displayport?
USBc?

One display ought to go HDMI (Studio) to HDMI (display).

Second might go USBc (Studio) to HDMI (display)
or
USBc (Studio) to DVI (display)
or
USBc (Studio) to displayport (display).

Get the first one set up and working BEFORE you attempt to connect the second one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: wdhpgx

Ladd

macrumors member
Aug 1, 2014
58
18
For my M1 Studio Max, when I had two Dell 27" monitors I connected both of them via one OWC Thunderbolt to two DisplayPort dongle. About $70 new, less if purchased used. It worked very well.
 

rotarypower101

macrumors 6502
Sep 28, 2007
264
3
Portland Oregon
Is there a USBC to Dual DVI output in a single adaptor avalible?

Just exploring option...
Would a Dual Display port with DP to DVI adaptors allow a single USBC port to be utilized and 2 existing DVI monitors?
 

mcnallym

macrumors 65816
Oct 28, 2008
1,207
932
Is there a USBC to Dual DVI output in a single adaptor avalible?

Just exploring option...
Would a Dual Display port with DP to DVI adaptors allow a single USBC port to be utilized and 2 existing DVI monitors?
Not seen one. They tend to be dual HDMI or dual DP from what can see.

usb-c to dual dvi are Dual-Link DVI as in the higher res like need for 2560x1600 etc.

in theory don’t see why not for the two DP to dvi adaptors option with a dual displayport wouldn’t work.

when comes out of the dual displayport then is displayport interface/signal
 

DEMinSoCAL

macrumors 603
Sep 27, 2005
5,053
7,249
Just got my new Mac Studio refurbished M1 - and don't know how to best connect the two Dell monitors. (I just read they can't be daisy-chained). I had them jerry-rigged with the previous Mac Mini using the Mini's HDMI input and connected the other through my CalDigit hub.
Now I don't know what I should do - get an HDMI to USB-C adapter or an HDMI to Displayport?
Really need your suggestions and advice.
Thank you!
What did you wind up doing? You posted and never engaged again?

Curious what model Dell monitors you have? Knowing what monitors you have would help.
 
  • Like
Reactions: wdhpgx

silverlakerCA

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 2, 2020
153
25
Hi again. I wound up plugging in one Dell via USB-C into the Mac Studio and the other into the back of my CalDigit T3plus hub. Seems to work fine now. I appreciate your help and apologize for the late acknowledgment.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MarkC426
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.