Connecting 2 Cinema Displays to 13" 2012 MBP

[stib]

I've done some research online and even got ahold of apple support, but didn't get any definitive answers. Is there any way to connect 2 cinema displays to my MPB (last of the non-retinas) simultaneously?

Both displays are non-thunderbolt, use mini-dvi and only have usb ports on the back. I tried to daisy chain them together via usb, obviously didn't work. I've read that the one other port the MPB has free (firewire) can't send video so that's out.

Does anyone know if there's a mini dvi Y splitter so I can use the one mini dvi output on the laptop for both? I'd prefer to have separate desktops on each monitor rather than one stretched out.

Thanks.

 

[LiveM]

Run one with a mini displayport to DVI adaptor and the other with an HDMI to DVI adaptor. Both are available from Apple.

Whoops - looks like your model doesn't have HDMI. I thought it would as my 2012 Mini has one and that's how I do it.

 

[matreya]

The only way you can run two monitors off of your MacBook Pro is if they were both Thunderbolt displays.

 

[stib]

Run one with a mini displayport to DVI adaptor and the other with an HDMI to DVI adaptor. Both are available from Apple.

Whoops - looks like your model doesn't have HDMI. I thought it would as my 2012 Mini has one and that's how I do it.

My mistake, I said mini DVI but meant mini Displayport. Yeah, the MPB only has one thunderbolt port, a firewire port but nothing else for video. Been looking in to the Matrox DualHead2go as a possible solution. A little bit more expensive, but if it works, it's worth it.

 

[LiveM]

If you only want to mirror, I would suggest Airplay to an Apple TV. However, they don't work properly with the 20" Cinema Display.

 

[JTToft]

Rather than Matrox or other external graphics solutions, you can use this newly announced StarTech Thunderbolt dock with two DisplayPort outputs. It's expensive, but it'll do what you want, with a couple of DisplayPort male to Mini DisplayPort female adaptors.

http://www.startech.com/Cards-Adapt...ations/thunderbolt-2-laptop-dock~TB2DOCK4K2DP