I didn't track everything in your post, but can confirm the M1 MBA runs my ASUS XG27UQ 4K monitor at 144Hz.
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External monitor support
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I didn't track everything in your post, but can confirm the M1 MBA runs my ASUS XG27UQ 4K monitor at 144Hz.
Will any of these docks support dual external monitors?I suppose you should try for the ones that support the max USB speed of 10 Gbps. Actually, they don't get faster than 5 Gbps. The DL-6000 series of chips seems to be the latest and most capable. They can do up to 5120x2880.
DisplayLink Products | Synaptics
Where to buy DisplayLink productsDisplayLink technology appears in a wide range of products from the world's leading PC and peripheral brands. It features in docking stations, monitors, adapters, and more.Products with DisplayLink technology are supported on Windows, macOS, Android and Chrome OS...www.displaylink.com
Interesting about SwitchResX. Apple is going in the wrong direction when it comes to giving info about graphics. Knowing refresh rates, framebuffer size, framebuffer color format, output color format, output size is important to ensure that a display is receiving the optimum signal. Hopefully SwitchResX just needs to change the API it uses?
That definition of framebuffer/back buffer is from OpenGL. It might not apply to macOS (which doesn't even do OpenGL in Big Sur on M1 macs). However, how macOS graphics works isn't spelled out anywhere. There must be a buffer for drawing. I don't know if there's another buffer for scaling to the output size. I only know there may be a scaling operation before the signal is sent out on the wire. So for simplicity, I say there's a one framebuffer that may be scaled.
I haven't used DisplayLink before. The DisplayLink macOS software download page says "DisplayLink Manager is a new way to enable your DisplayLink dock, adapter or monitor on macOS platforms. It's an application that combines our latest driver with features that streamline the setup of mutliple displays up to 4K." So, if you get a dock that supports multiple displays, then it should work. They have product search function where you can choose how many displays you want to support. Most of the docks support more than one display. There are a few that support three.
DisplayLink Products | Synaptics
Where to buy DisplayLink productsDisplayLink technology appears in a wide range of products from the world's leading PC and peripheral brands. It features in docking stations, monitors, adapters, and more.Products with DisplayLink technology are supported on Windows, macOS, Android and Chrome OS...
That might be a dumb question but I want to be sure:
does a Mac laptop connected to an external screen (Dell 26" monitor) need more performance than when using the normal laptop screen?
I used to use my MBP 13" on my desktop screen connected with a 60FPS HDMI cable... but the question comes up now when considering buying a new one...
does a Mac laptop connected to an external screen (Dell 26" monitor) need more performance than when using the normal laptop screen?
I used to use my MBP 13" on my desktop screen connected with a 60FPS HDMI cable... but the question comes up now when considering buying a new one...
Just sharing my dual 1440p display plan here, in case it is useful to others:
MacBook Air M1 16/512
-> Apple “USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter” ($69). It has 3 ports as shown below
-> HDMI -> 27” 2560x1440 monitor @ 60hz
-> USB 5gbit -> Displaylink adapter -> HDMI 27” 2560x1440 monitor @ 60hz
-> USB C Power Port Passthrough -> Apple Power Brick
My Displaylink adapter also has Ethernet, audio, and USB ports for my keyboard/mouse.
- This setup should hypothetically allow me to boot up in clamshell mode (I have successfully tested this with just the apple adapter connected to a single monitor/keyboard/mouse).
- This setup should still leave a Thunderbolt port free for storage arrays and such.
- I used the two-part solution vs. a single dock because it gives me clamshell support and full display bandwidth on the first display.
Although I have never used Displaylink before, we know that it works with the M1. My assumption is that my left monitor will end up being better for video editing, gaming, or watching 4K video (downscaled) because it has a direct path to the GPU. My right display will have the extra overhead of a frame-buffer that is compressed, shoved over 5gbit USB, and then decompressed onto the display. This should be fine for terminal windows, XCode, web browsing, financial charting, etc.
I will receive the Displaylink adapter today, and will report back on how well this all works.
[EDIT] It seems to be working really really well. This is the one I bought for $140: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0823BQ4PK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
MacBook Air M1 16/512
-> Apple “USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter” ($69). It has 3 ports as shown below
-> HDMI -> 27” 2560x1440 monitor @ 60hz
-> USB 5gbit -> Displaylink adapter -> HDMI 27” 2560x1440 monitor @ 60hz
-> USB C Power Port Passthrough -> Apple Power Brick
My Displaylink adapter also has Ethernet, audio, and USB ports for my keyboard/mouse.
- This setup should hypothetically allow me to boot up in clamshell mode (I have successfully tested this with just the apple adapter connected to a single monitor/keyboard/mouse).
- This setup should still leave a Thunderbolt port free for storage arrays and such.
- I used the two-part solution vs. a single dock because it gives me clamshell support and full display bandwidth on the first display.
Although I have never used Displaylink before, we know that it works with the M1. My assumption is that my left monitor will end up being better for video editing, gaming, or watching 4K video (downscaled) because it has a direct path to the GPU. My right display will have the extra overhead of a frame-buffer that is compressed, shoved over 5gbit USB, and then decompressed onto the display. This should be fine for terminal windows, XCode, web browsing, financial charting, etc.
I will receive the Displaylink adapter today, and will report back on how well this all works.
[EDIT] It seems to be working really really well. This is the one I bought for $140: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0823BQ4PK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Last edited:
As mentioned above, I asked OWC about this. I got an answer!
At first, my question: "Dear OWC, with great interest, I read your post here https://eshop.macsales.com/blog/678...n=cj&cjevent=008527c6299311eb81e900600a180511 There you state that your docks will work with the M1 Macs. But will they still support two 4K displays? Especially the mini dock. As Apple states, that the M1 MBA and MBP only support 1 external display. Not 2 as with the former Intel MBA."
The answer: "Unfortunately, we can’t “officially” confirm whether or not this is possible. But please keep your eye on the blog as we will continue to release information as we can!"
Mmh... ?
The only Dell 26” displays I’m seeing are 1920x1080 resolution, so change out the numbers below if your external display specs are higher.
Its mostly a factor of the total pixels being rendered and the connection being used. Assuming you are connecting a single monitor with the Apple “USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter” over HDMI it would work like this:
Internal display only=
2560x1600 -> approx. 4.1 million pixels
External Dell display only=
1920x1080 -> approx. 2.1 million pixels
So assuming all displays are running at 60hz, the total load on the GPU will vary depending on what you have plugged in. Running the external alone (laptop in clamshell mode) should put about half the load on your processor than the internal alone!
But both internal and external running simultaneously would be pushing 6.2 million pixels, so a bit reduced performance.
If you are using a Displaylink adapter instead of the Apple one there will be a bunch of extra overhead that will reduce performance.
If you try to connect 1 external display to each Thunderbolt port directly, only the first one plugged in works. The second display won‘t turn on unless you unplug the first external display.As mentioned above, I asked OWC about this. I got an answer!
At first, my question: "Dear OWC, with great interest, I read your post here https://eshop.macsales.com/blog/678...n=cj&cjevent=008527c6299311eb81e900600a180511 There you state that your docks will work with the M1 Macs. But will they still support two 4K displays? Especially the mini dock. As Apple states, that the M1 MBA and MBP only support 1 external display. Not 2 as with the former Intel MBA."
The answer: "Unfortunately, we can’t “officially” confirm whether or not this is possible. But please keep your eye on the blog as we will continue to release information as we can!"
Mmh... ?
The best workaround for those who need 2 external displays is to use AirPlay to wirelessly connect to the second display. I confirmed that it works with my LG Ultrafine 5K and a 4K TV that supports AirPlay.
Can confirm that M1 Mac Mini (base model, 8GB ram 256GB ssd) can run full res LG 5K display. And that it can do so while also running a 4K display at full res simultaneously through the HDMI port. Don’t have a second Thunderbolt Display to try a dual set up through the second TB/USB 4 port.
Wait... really? I honestly never knew that Macs could drive external displays above 60 Hz. That is VERY tempting to me as I love high refresh rate screens.
I have a Mac Mini M1 connected to an Apple Thunderbolt Display.
I have a couple of annoying pixels which where not there when my MacBook Pro 2019 was connected but suddenly appeared when I changed machines. I no longer have the MBP so I can't test it...
I have a couple of annoying pixels which where not there when my MacBook Pro 2019 was connected but suddenly appeared when I changed machines. I no longer have the MBP so I can't test it...
Super interesting! Is this a relatively new LG 5K and how are you sure it’s not doing 4K upscaled? Also, can you tell if the 4K monitor on the HDMI port is in RGB mode or in YCnCr mode?
Apple still sells the UltraFine 5K. Do you really think they'd fail to mention that it runs degraded with the M1 machines? Especially given that they used it for performance testing and list it in the footnotes?
They have done non-standard support things with this monitor in the past (on-screen controls, etc) - why wouldn't they do the same for the M1?
Is there something special about the way the Cinema Display does its dual-DVI interface though? Because dongles like this that supposedly support the 2560x1600 resolution of the Cinema Display specifically say they do not work with the Cinema Display:
Yogi Basic USB-C to Dual Link DVI Active Video Adapter 2560 x 1600 USB C Type-C
Yogi Basic USB-C to Dual Link DVI Active Video Adapter 2560 x 1600 USB C Type-C
www.amazon.com
I have exact same issue with Samsung CRG9. Was working find with 13 inch MBP (intel card not deducted GPU). Same 8k cable from Cable Matters, same display no go now. I can not even get it to connect at all with USB-C to DisplayPort cable. Tried with USB-C to HDMI, max I get is 3840x1080 but that could be the cable limitation. But the DisplayPort cable definitely should work. Something is messed with the drivers probably? I had a similar issue when my MBP was on Catalina. Could only manage full 5120x1440 via two cables and picture-in-picture mode (so two virtual displays). But after Big Sur (even on beta) was woking perfectly with one cable.
Quick follow up. Tinkering with SwitchResX I managed to get 5120x1440 going. Not sure if it actually had anything to do with SwitchResX per se, because I was messing about with monitor settings as well, but basically the only way I managed to get it working is:
1. Plug in the monitor first. NO POWER plugged in, lid open.
2. External monitor starts working. Set the SwitchResX resolution to 5120x1440
3. Connect power and close the lid.
This way I can use my USB-C to DisplayPort cable with 5120x1440 @ 119Hz
Will keep testing for consistency, but now it looks like a software bug for sure.
Oh, BTW, went ahead and updated to 11.1 Beta as well. So, again, not a very scientific approach as I am not sure exactly what worked at the end
1. Plug in the monitor first. NO POWER plugged in, lid open.
2. External monitor starts working. Set the SwitchResX resolution to 5120x1440
3. Connect power and close the lid.
This way I can use my USB-C to DisplayPort cable with 5120x1440 @ 119Hz
Will keep testing for consistency, but now it looks like a software bug for sure.
Oh, BTW, went ahead and updated to 11.1 Beta as well. So, again, not a very scientific approach as I am not sure exactly what worked at the end
Curious how the M1’s will run with the display open and connected to a single 27” Dell 4K monitor.
My 16” sounds like a jet engine half the time with the fans on
My 16” sounds like a jet engine half the time with the fans on
Confirmed also on the pro deck. 10gbe networking doesn't work yet either although it is connecting at 1gb. Hopefully the networking issue can be resolved with a driver update.
Well, sound won't be a problem with the Air! The M1 handles my 5K monitor like a champ, so I'm sure it would be even better with a 4K monitor.
The classic Apple Thunderbolt Display allows for daisy-chaining. Has anyone tried plugging one into the M1 Mac and the other into the first display? I know it probably won't yield anything, but might as well exhaust all options.
I suggested my father buy an M1 MacBook Air to replace his original rMBP - but, it seems he may have to wait for a later revision: he uses 2x Apple Thunderbolt Displays and wants to continue using both those displays with whatever new Mac he gets. Currently, it seems that that's not possible to do, with an M1 Mac. (As an aside, he wants a laptop — not a Mac Mini — and absolutely doesn't want any old HDMI display in place of the second Tb display.)
I suggested my father buy an M1 MacBook Air to replace his original rMBP - but, it seems he may have to wait for a later revision: he uses 2x Apple Thunderbolt Displays and wants to continue using both those displays with whatever new Mac he gets. Currently, it seems that that's not possible to do, with an M1 Mac. (As an aside, he wants a laptop — not a Mac Mini — and absolutely doesn't want any old HDMI display in place of the second Tb display.)
Kind of an FYI, because I was also desperately trying to find an answer to this question. It looks like someone got a m1 macbook to work on a 5120x1440 ultrawide display without extra software/tweeks