External monitor support

[jqc]

I just picked up a M1 MBP from the local apple store. Good news in bad news. The good news is that you can actually have 3 screens going in extended desktop, and the laptop is staying nice and cool so far. The bad news that the screens are the following:

1) MBP screen
2) external monitor (in this case a 27" Dell 1440p monitor)
3) iPad Pro 12" (1st gen) via side car

 

[cmhsam]

I just picked up a M1 MBP from the local apple store. Good news in bad news. The good news is that you can actually have 3 screens going in extended desktop, and the laptop is staying nice and cool so far. The bad news that the screens are the following:

1) MBP screen
2) external monitor (in this case a 27" Dell 1440p monitor)
3) iPad Pro 12" (1st gen) via side car

Are you saying you can use an external screen and the MBP screen in extended desktop even w out sidecar? How are you connected to the 27” Dell?

 

[DSMinAtlanta]

I think they copy and pasted that description from elsewhere and did not make changes to address the limits of the M1 Macs.
I think they mean up to two 4K displays can be used if the computer has Thunderbolt ports that support two displays. The M1 Macs only support one display from Thunderbolt.


All the DisplayLink devices should work with the DisplayLink drivers installed.

DisplayLink macOS Software for Downloads Section | Synaptics

WindowsmacOSAndroidChrome OSUbuntuCorpo

www.displaylink.com

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. I have the Dell D6000 in my home office now so this sounds promising. I just wonder how much of a performance hit there will be with the DisplayLink drivers/software.

 

[ryanbates]

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.

Was this clamshell or with the laptop open? I ordered both the MBP and the MBA and good performance with a monitor is a must for my workflow as I use my 4K monitor as the main display and then the laptop open to the side.

 

[magicschoolbus]

I was sold on the Apple silicone until I saw this thread. Serious letdown.

 

[deeddawg]

Are you saying you can use an external screen and the MBP screen in extended desktop even w out sidecar? How are you connected to the 27” Dell?

Don’t there’s been any question that you could do thiswith one wired external.

 

[jqc]

Are you saying you can use an external screen and the MBP screen in extended desktop even w out sidecar? How are you connected to the 27” Dell?

The Dell is the "one supported monitor. I am connected to the dell via HDMI to USB-C, and then wireless to iPad Pro through side car. No mirroring, all extended.

 

[Zelek]

I just picked up a M1 MBP from the local apple store. Good news in bad news. The good news is that you can actually have 3 screens going in extended desktop, and the laptop is staying nice and cool so far. The bad news that the screens are the following:

1) MBP screen
2) external monitor (in this case a 27" Dell 1440p monitor)
3) iPad Pro 12" (1st gen) via side car

How is font rendering on the 1440p screen? Is it the same as an Intel Mac running Catalina?

 

[askabob91]

I just bought a DisplayLink hub (Dell D6000) and can report back on multiple monitor performance when my M1 MBA arrives next week.

 

[MK500]

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

So it took me about 5 minutes to set up my QGeeM Displaylink adapter. The driver installed really quickly. It instantly brought my second monitor online over a Displayport connection. Everything looks great on both 27" 1440p screens.

The only time I notice anything different between the two screens is for full screen video playback. I played back a 4k60 video full screen on left monitor and it was totally smooth. When I moved the Safari window to the second monitor and went full screen I could see that the frame rate was much lower. Probably like 20 frames per second or so.

So while this isn't a perfect setup, it is working well for me. I have a single USB-C cable to connect my M1 MacBook Air to my desktop dual display workstation. This gives me two 27" 1440p monitors, gigabit ethernet, audio to my speakers, and my keyboard and mouse.

I only have a single cable to unplug when I want to go mobile, and I have a free thunderbolt port for future use.

I wish both displays were direct connect; but I really don't notice unless I'm watching video on the second display.

Total cost for this setup was:

Apple “USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter” ($69)
QGeeM USB 3.0 Docking Station ($140)
Total: $209

And I still have 4 free USB 3 ports I can use for additional SD readers and other peripherals.

 

[williamtracy]

Any chance anyone has had any luck with cable/adapter combo's to get 4k120 out to a HDMI 2.1 TV? I have a LG CX I'd love to output to.

 

[DenBeke]

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

That's exactly the setup I want to try once my MBA arrives. Good to see I'm not the only one thinking this way

Interesting. I have the Dell D6000 in my home office now so this sounds promising. I just wonder how much of a performance hit there will be with the DisplayLink drivers/software.

Please report back when you can test it.

 

[jido]

I just bought a DisplayLink hub (Dell D6000) and can report back on multiple monitor performance when my M1 MBA arrives next week.

Could a Raspberry Pi function as a DisplayLink hub instead of using a dedicated device?

 

[joevt]

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.

I don't think so. There's no place in macOS that shows the actual output resolution.
Maybe the log command will show what the actual resolution is. Read more at https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/lg-ultrafine-5k-owners-thread.2023452/post-29275635

CORRECTION: M1 Macs have two DisplayPort connections to Thunderbolt, which can be used to provide full resolution (5K) on a tiled display like the LG UltraFine 5K, Dell UP2715K, or HP Z27q. But the two DisplayPort connections cannot be used to connect two separate displays. Whether a display is tiled or not, only one can be connected via Thunderbolt. This has been tested with a HP Z27q that can show the input resolution in its on screen menu. ioreg output confirms this for the LG UltraFine 5K. ioreg also confirms DSC for the 6K case.

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

Club-3d made two USB-C to dual-link DVI dongles. The HDCP OFF version is for Apple 30" Cinema Display. I haven't tried it yet.

Club3D CAC-1510-A USB Type C to Dual Link DVI-D Cable Adapter Support 3840x2160@30hz, 2560x1600@60Hz HDCP Off for Apple Cinema Displays M/F

USB C to DVI-D Dualink adapter without HDCP Support for certain Apple Cinema monitors without HDCP The USB Type C to Dual Link DVI or Single Link DVI Adapter is the easiest solution for connecting your USB Type C source device featuring DisplayPort Alternate Mode to a DVI enabled Monitor or Proje...

www.amazon.com

Any chance anyone has had any luck with cable/adapter combo's to get 4k120 out to a HDMI 2.1 TV? I have a LG CX I'd love to output to.

Only option I know of is the Club 3D CAC-1085 DisplayPort 1.4 to HDMI 4K120Hz HDR Active Adapter M/F

Is there a way to get thunderbolt 3 to hdmi 2.1?

I think the only adapter that might qualify is the Club 3D CAC-1085 DisplayPort 1.4 to HDMI 4K120Hz HDR Active Adapter M/F It requires DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC for best results. The iMac 2020 with an AMD Navi GPU should be capable - Nvidia RTX in Windows is also an option. If you do try it...

forums.macrumors.com

I don't know if it works.

Could a Raspberry Pi function as a DisplayLink hub instead of using a dedicated device?

Only if DisplayLink is open source and the Raspberry Pi has a USB input that can fake being a DisplayLink interface, and the Raspberry Pi can take the DisplayLink info, and decompress it to it's framebuffer. Otherwise you might as well find some other virtual display software / hardware like Side Car or Luna Display for the Rasberry Pi.

 

[yuser]

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

https://www.reddit.com/r/mac/comments/jvwju9

I was thinking of buying that lg 49wl95c-w for my new MBP M1.
Because the limitation to one external display that massive 49 inch screen would be perfect.
Do you think that is too much of a display to drive from my MBP M1?

The MBP is an impressive machine but those limitations regarding support for external displays is annoying.

What do you think: is that one more suitable?

LG 38WN95C-W 38 Inch​

Currently I have a TB3 Docking station (CalDigit TS3+) where I would like to connect my yet to be defined new external display to.

 

[KPOM]

Was this clamshell or with the laptop open? I ordered both the MBP and the MBA and good performance with a monitor is a must for my workflow as I use my 4K monitor as the main display and then the laptop open to the side.

With the laptop open. The M1 easily can handle the laptop display plus a 4K.

 

[babatunde22]

Ok so I've just set up my M1 MacBook Air with an external 4K display using Displayport. It connects fine and recognises it but the display resolution does not seem to scale properly. At all.

The scaled resolution at 4K is far too small to see any text and scaling at lower resolutions does not seem to be working so it is aliased and looks very fuzzy. Does anyone have any solution or possible workarounds for this?

 

[KPOM]

Was this clamshell or with the laptop open? I ordered both the MBP and the MBA and good performance with a monitor is a must for my workflow as I use my 4K monitor as the main display and then the laptop open to the side.

With the laptop open.

 

[nutriousmitten]

Current role is ending, and have to turn in my HP laptop. Work allowing me to keep the HP Thunderbolt G2 dock, into which two 1920x1080 monitors are plugged into Displayport ports in said dock.

It is a powered dock connects to/charges my HP via the single USBC/TB port.

Was set on getting an X1C Think Pad or Yoga Thinkpad on Black Friday, but with all the MBA reviews, very intrigued in making the switch. But I would need it to support this two external monitor setup.

I take it we are waiting for someone to get the required equipment to test this all out?

 

[Anonymous Freak]

Current role is ending, and have to turn in my HP laptop. Work allowing me to keep the HP Thunderbolt G2 dock, into which two 1920x1080 monitors are plugged into Displayport ports in said dock.

It is a powered dock connects to/charges my HP via the single USBC/TB port.

Was set on getting an X1C Think Pad or Yoga Thinkpad on Black Friday, but with all the MBA reviews, very intrigued in making the switch. But I would need it to support this two external monitor setup.

I take it we are waiting for someone to get the required equipment to test this all out?

No. I use that same dock. The M1 Macs only support one single display over all the Thunderbolt ports combined.

The laptops only support one external display at all. (Plus the internal display.) The Mini can have one over Thunderbolt, plus one on the HDMI port.

(At least barring using USB-data display systems like DisplayLink, which don't give you full performance, since they don't use the graphics chip.)

 

[KPOM]

Current role is ending, and have to turn in my HP laptop. Work allowing me to keep the HP Thunderbolt G2 dock, into which two 1920x1080 monitors are plugged into Displayport ports in said dock.

It is a powered dock connects to/charges my HP via the single USBC/TB port.

Was set on getting an X1C Think Pad or Yoga Thinkpad on Black Friday, but with all the MBA reviews, very intrigued in making the switch. But I would need it to support this two external monitor setup.

I take it we are waiting for someone to get the required equipment to test this all out?

Like the previous poster, I have that dock, as well. The M1 MacBook supports only one plugged in external display plus the internal display. You could connect a third display through AirPlay if your monitor supports it, or through an Apple TV if you plug it into the HDMI port.

 

[Cariffo]

More good news

 

[Fomalhaut]

Interesting. I have the Dell D6000 in my home office now so this sounds promising. I just wonder how much of a performance hit there will be with the DisplayLink drivers/software.

Please let me know if the D6000 works if you get an M1 Mac. Thanks!

 

[jqc]

I can also confirm a displaylink hub works. In my case my wife had a Targus doc520 from work lying around, so I hooked up two monitors (27" Dell QHD). With the laptop open, I get all three screens in extended mode, the Dells are running at full resolution at 50hz.

Note: this dock isn't supplying power to the Mac.

 

[hunkster]

I can also confirm a displaylink hub works. In my case my wife had a Targus doc520 from work lying around, so I hooked up two monitors (27" Dell QHD). With the laptop open, I get all three screens in extended mode, the Dells are running at full resolution at 50hz.

Note: for some reason the dock isn't supplying power to the Mac.

Does this mean both the Dells are running 2560x1440?
Is the 50Hz due to the monitors or due to the displaylink hub? I just checked my Dell monitors, they are running at 60Hz in Windows.
Is this the Pro or Air? Did the fans kick in?
Thank you.