Dell released their newest Ultrasharp model ,U2723QE, U3223QE Ultrasharp monitor

[Christopher Kim]

I'm not an expert by any means, so welcome others inputs, but responses below.

Ah, but do I connect the Studio to one monitor and daisy-chain to the second, or use two of the T4 ports with one cable to each monitor?

You should be able to daisy-chain if you want (these Dell monitors have USB-C upstream/downstream ports for this purpose), but I think the easier / cleaner way would be just to connect both directly to the Mac Studio with separately cables. Unless you really need all of the 4 Thunderbolt ports on the back of the Mac Studio for other peripherals, this way each monitor gets it own full lane.

And what are the differences (if any) if I use USB-C cables or T3/T4 cables?

In this case, there's no difference between using a USB-C or a TB3/TB4 cable, because the monitor only has a USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2) port (20gbps), not a TB3/TB4 port (40gbps). So you'll be limited by the monitor port. So frankly you'd be wasting money buying TB3/TB4 cables (which are pretty expensive), and would recommend just get a USB-C to USB-C cable (try to get USB 3.2 Gen 2 cables for maximum bandwidth).

Having the full 20gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 bandwidth for each monitor will allow you to use each of the monitors as hubs (as it's advertised) and be able to plug additional peripherals into the monitor directly - while keeping the most bandwidth available apart from the display signal. If you use a lower-bandwidth USB-C cable (and are using the max 4K @ 60Hz resolution with the monitor), there's a chance you'll have limited bandwidth available for a high-speed external hard drive for example (depends on what lower-bandwidth cable you'd be using).

That being said, the Mac Studio has a lot of ports, so I think this is less critical, as you could always just plug peripherals directly into the Mac Studio (vs the monitor) unless you have a real need to plug directly into monitor from a desk-organization / cabling perspective.

And what's the difference between connecting with HDMI and connecting with T4/T3/UCB-C?

I think bandwidth. I don't know the exact HDMI specs for the monitor / Mac Studio, but I would use USB-C over HDMI if you can. It's generally the better spec for display signals over HDMI. I would think of the HDMI ports more for compatibility (eg. Mac Studio HDMI port to use with monitors / TVs that only have HDMI; Monitor HDMI port to use with computers / devices that only have HDMI). You're getting 2 very newly released monitor / computers with USB-C / TB ports - I'd use them if you can.

 

[jasnw]

Thanks for the tutorial. I think this covers my questions/concerns.

 

[Amethyst1]

You should be able to daisy-chain if you want (these Dell monitors have USB-C upstream/downstream ports for this purpose),

No.
You cannot daisy-chain DisplayPort/USB-C monitors on macOS because it doesn’t support the type of MST required for that.

 

[yinyang]

For anyone in Australia, you can get a 30% Dell discount code via this link, and actually you can also use an additional 7% code that they send in the email. It's a lot better than the 20% code I got via work!!

Hope this helps someone!!

Dell Discounts: Member Purchase Program | Dell Australia

Join Dell Member Purchase Program for discounts on selected Dell laptops, desktops, and monitors!

www.dell.com

 

[TimFL1]

No.
You cannot daisy-chain DisplayPort/USB-C monitors on macOS because it doesn’t support the type of MST required for that.

How anyone still releases basic USB-C monitors in 2022 with a 1k+ price tag goes beyond my grasp of reality. I'm in desperate need of a new monitor setup and have been eagerly checking the monitor scene for new releases that could fit my needs. Sadly almost none of them offer Thunderbolt ports, let alone Thunderbolt daisy chaining...

My dream scenario:
MBP and a Desktop PC both using the same peripheral setup.
- 2x Monitors daisy chained via Thunderbolt daisy chaining
- MBP hooked up to a monitor with 1x Thunderbolt
- Desktop PC hooked up to the same monitor via DP

Only switch one input on the primary monitor (between TB and DP) to switch between devices. Sadly barely doable. The only monitors I found, that support TB daisy chaining are the LG 32UL950-W and BenQ PD3220U, which both rock 140ppi and get blasted by several Apple focused sites for causing blurry text (not sure if over-exaggerated or legit complaints). I wonder if we'll ever get some 220ppi competition from non-Apple manufacturers.

 

[Christopher Kim]

No.
You cannot daisy-chain DisplayPort/USB-C monitors on macOS because it doesn’t support the type of MST required for that.

Gotcha, thanks for the correction. @jasnw my recommendation that even if it did, better to connect each monitor directly to the Mac Studio still holds.

 

[Tealc.]

For anyone in Australia, you can get a 30% Dell discount code via this link, and actually you can also use an additional 7% code that they send in the email. It's a lot better than the 20% code I got via work!!

Hope this helps someone!!

Dell Discounts: Member Purchase Program | Dell Australia

Join Dell Member Purchase Program for discounts on selected Dell laptops, desktops, and monitors!

www.dell.com

Requires you to be a part of an eligible Employee Purchase Program so any old email simply won't work?

 

[AndyWhite]

Thanks for the great discussion. What a wonderful resource this forum & thread are!

TL;DR:
1. Which is more efficient from a productivity standpoint, one 32" monitor or a 27" + 20" monitor?
2. How well does Dell's "Display Manager" software work, particularly for dividing a 32" monitor into 3 vertical windows or 2 verticals + 2 stacked square windows?

Background
For almost 20 years, I've used a 27" iMac plus a 20" Acer AL2016W B monitor. I very much like that I can dedicate one screen for a specific purpose (e.g., display software documentation) and use the other for development (e.g., code + output).

However, now I'm trying to decide between a 27" monitor (Dell U2723QE) or a 32" (Dell U3223QE). Either one would run off a 2021 14" MacBook Pro M1 Max. Either monitor will be used at home on a 60" x 30" standing desk. The 27" would be used with the MBP & a 20" Acer AL2016W B monitor. The 32" would share desk space with only the MBP.

I also have a large, homemade NAS drive that runs FreeNAS (soon to be updated to TrueNAS) and needs RJ45 Ethernet connectivity. It currently has its own monitor (a small, old Polaroid TV) used solely for troubleshooting. Most of the time I log into the NAS from another computer on the network. I understand that TrueNAS has KVM, and the Dell monitors have it too. So, I'm hoping I can get rid of the Polaroid by administering the NAS using only the Dell monitor, either via the network interface or directly via KVM.

My workflow includes the usual stuff -- reading email, browsing the net, using office software (LibreOffice), etc. My serious work mainly involves maintaining an academic library (Zotero), statistical work (R + RStudio + a little Python), some web development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript), simulation of economic systems (in R or using Minsky), geographical analysis (like GIS, but typically using R), and writing (LaTeX, LyX, Markdown, RMarkdown). Very rarely, I use symbolic mathematical software, like Mathematica. The thing about the more technical softwares is that they invite multiple windows or screens, e.g., simultaneously viewing software documentation, code, graphical output, and text output.

As I see it, the main advantages of the 27" are (1) less money and (2) it provides more total screen real estate with a separate 20" monitor.

The advantages of the 32" are: (1) it simplifies wiring (very important with a standing desk), (2) takes up less total desk space, and (3) most persons who've compared them on this thread seem to prefer the 32" experience. Furthermore, in either case, I'll probably buy a monitor arm for the large (27" or 32") monitor. I don't know how this would work with a small monitor standing on the desk. So, (4) with two monitors I may have to buy either two arms or a more expensive, double-mount arm. Finally, (5) the Acer only has a d-Sub (VGA) connector, so from the MBP I'd either have to run a USB-C to an adapter to the ACER monitor or connect a USB-C to the Dell monitor, and then try to daisy chain with a display port to d-Sub connector. This involves lots of wires and seems like a kludge.

Lastly, from what I've read, Dell's Display Manager software seems to be ideal for arranging windows on a large screen. Currently, I use the free Spectacle Mac app to do something similar, and I'm rather happy with it. So, with a 27" screen I'd stick with it, but with a 32" screen I don't think Spectacle has enough capability to make best use of screen real estate. I've never used Display Manager and am wondering what people who have used it think of it.

I'm shooting for the most productive setup, and hope persons more familiar with the two alternatives can advise.

 

[CurtainBlunderland]

Requires you to be a part of an eligible Employee Purchase Program so any old email simply won't work?

That's correct. Any old email won't work. I'm guessing your email address domain needs to be associated with a company that is a member of Dell's MPP.

Next best option is education, which is 20% plus 7%.

 

[yinyang]

That's correct. Any old email won't work. I'm guessing your email address domain needs to be associated with a company that is a member of Dell's MPP.

Next best option is education, which is 20% plus 7%.

Dammit - I didn't realise that it had to be linked to an existing Corp discount... Sorry for that

 

[CurtainBlunderland]

Thanks for the great discussion. What a wonderful resource this forum & thread are!

TL;DR:
1. Which is more efficient from a productivity standpoint, one 32" monitor or a 27" + 20" monitor?
2. How well does Dell's "Display Manager" software work, particularly for dividing a 32" monitor into 3 vertical windows or 2 verticals + 2 stacked square windows?

For your use case, I'd go with 2 x 27" 4K monitors with 100% native scaling. Ditch the 20" and shout yourself an upgrade

Am using this setup at work right now, and when multitasking over a variety of apps that need to be seen simultaneously, 2 x 27" 4K is better than 1 x 32" 4K. There's just more pixels available, and if you can handle a 27" panel at 4K 100% scaling you'll see a lot of code and text all at once. Even if you set scaling to 125% - 150%, there's still something more manageable about two separate monitors for content visibility. Dell Display Manager works well for window management on a Mac, and will easily allow you quickly snap apps into 3 vertical windows or 2 verticals + 2 stacked square windows (there's heaps of layout templates, and they're super customisable) but for me it doesn't make 1 x 32" better than 2 x 27".

Rotating one of the 27" into portrait for a intensive coding is also an option, but it's impractical with a single 32".

2 x 27" take up more desk space, but it's worth if it for the benefits IMO.

At home, doing creative work such as video/photo editing, and watching Netflix and YouTube, i.e. large, focused, single-app tasks, it's 1 x 32" all the way. The larger panel is great for video timelines and Photoshop canvases, and having my 14" M1 Pro on a stand beside it for basic supporting tasks like managing files in finder, viewing an email or YouTube tutorial is convenient.

Hope that helps.

 

[deuce sluice]

Finally, (5) the Acer only has a d-Sub (VGA) connector

Getting rid of whatever in your chain is still using VGA should be step one for you.

 

[AndyWhite]

That's correct. Any old email won't work. I'm guessing your email address domain needs to be associated with a company that is a member of Dell's MPP.

Next best option is education, which is 20% plus 7%.

I inquired with Dell, and they told me education doesn't offer much. I also searched their web site but couldn't find education. How and where does one qualify for education?

 

[CurtainBlunderland]

I inquired with Dell, and they told me education doesn't offer much. I also searched their web site but couldn't find education. How and where does one qualify for education?

For Dell Australia only - https://www.dell.com/en-au/shop/lp/student-laptops - pretty sure you just need access to a .edu.au email address.

 

[sabester24]

It worked! I got a USB-C to DisplayPort 1.4 cable that was VESA certified 32.4Gbps. I now get the same signal (i.e. 30-bit) as I would get using USB-C to USB-C. Also, the new cable gets me the additional resolution options (see pics). Thanks for the solution!

I'm confused by how this is beneficial? I've currently got my M1 MacBook Pro plugged into the monitor via USB-C PD port and my work HP Laptop is connected via HDMI and USB-A to USB-C port on back of monitor. Am I not using the correct combinations of cables?

 

[sabester24]

I'm trying to navigate Dell's website and having some issues. Can anybody advise what the latest firmware is for the monitor? I can't figure out how to install the firmware. I can download the latest firmware off of Dell's website, and I then install on my MacBook, but I don't see any instructions on how to then install the update on the monitor.

 

[questionwonder]

According to Apple I can plug 2 4K displays into my Macbook Air 2020 (Intel).
What's the best way to set up 2 up these Dell u2723qe monitors?
Will using 2 of these new displays slow my machine down because of all the pixels?
Would I plug 1 into each port, or get some kind of adapter or something?
I just want the best quality from each display.

 

[Amethyst1]

Would I plug 1 into each port, or get some kind of adapter or something?

One into each port. No adapter necessary.

 

[Degrader]

I'm trying to navigate Dell's website and having some issues. Can anybody advise what the latest firmware is for the monitor? I can't figure out how to install the firmware. I can download the latest firmware off of Dell's website, and I then install on my MacBook, but I don't see any instructions on how to then install the update on the monitor.

As far as I know there is no firmware update (yet) available, at least not on the official website of Dell.
All U2723QE/U3223QE monitors are delivered with the initial version: M2T101.

 

[DIRSGT]

I'm confused by how this is beneficial? I've currently got my M1 MacBook Pro plugged into the monitor via USB-C PD port and my work HP Laptop is connected via HDMI and USB-A to USB-C port on back of monitor. Am I not using the correct combinations of cables?

In my situation I only needed power for my work laptop, the USB-C PD port was taken by my Dell laptop (a nice single connection). So that left me with the HDMI and the Display Port (DP) connections for video from my M1 Mac Mini. I first tried HDMI to HDMI for the video signal (even getting a 2.1 certified HDMI cable). This connection approach for some reason limited me on resolution to 2160p 24-bit (per the monitor status) where I could get 3840x2160 60Hz 30-bit using the USB-C PD port. I fixed this by using a USB-C to DisplayPort-VESA Certified cable (connecting the USB-C side to the Mac Mini and the DP side to the monitor…the VESA certification part may be overkill). The USB-C to USB-A connection stayed the same the whole time covering the keyboard and mouse support.

 

[AndyWhite]

For your use case, I'd go with 2 x 27" 4K monitors with 100% native scaling. Ditch the 20" and shout yourself an upgrade

...

Hope that helps.

Thanks, Curtain.

No doubt you're right. 2 x 27" monitors would be optimal, strictly from a standpoint of using the monitors. But my desk is actually about 59" wide, and 2 Dell U2723QE monitors would use up all but about 11 inches of desk width. I couldn't even use the lamp that came with my desk.

In contrast, a single 32" monitor would leave about 31 linear inches of usable desk space. And a 27" monitor would leave 35".

Additionally, the cost of 2x17" monitors, including a dual monitor arm, is about $1,530, whereas a single 32" w/ a single monitor arm is $1,122, and a single 27" w/ a single arm is $807.

Even a 22" monitor (Dell P2223HC) to replace the VGA Acer costs almost $1,300 with a 27" monitor and almost $1,600 with a 32" monitor (plus a dual mount arm). But with a 27" monitor I could keep the 22" in portrait orientation, and have 24" of usable desk width. (A 32" monitor reduces this by about 2".)

At this point, I guess I'm trying to decide if a 32" monitor is worth the extra $315. Or, should I save my money and use my MBP and iPad as secondary screens.

 

[questionwonder]

One into each port. No adapter necessary.

Do you know if I can daisy chain these Dell monitors with my MB Air 2020?

 

[TimFL1]

Do you know if I can daisy chain these Dell monitors with my MB Air 2020?

If it‘s the M1 Air then no, M1 only supports one external monitor.

 

[questionwonder]

If it‘s the M1 Air then no, M1 only supports one external monitor.

It's the Air 2020 (last Intel version)

 

[Amethyst1]

It's the Air 2020 (last Intel version)

Two external monitors plus the internal LCD (three in total).

Do you know if I can daisy chain these Dell monitors with my MB Air 2020?

Absolutely not. macOS doesn't support the type of MST configuration necessary for daisy-chaining DisplayPort/USB-C monitors.