How Do I Connect 3 x 27” Apple LED Cinema Displays (Mini DisplayPort) to Radeon HD 7970?

[MP39]

This may have been addressed somewhere, but I’ve been looking for hours...

I have a Mac Pro 2010 5,1 with a AMD Radeon HD 7970. I have 3 x 27” Apple LED Cinema Displays with Mini Displayport. I have two connected right now to the the two mini displayports on the graphics card. I understand that Mini Displayport can connect to a MST hub? I cannot find a Mini Displayport to Dual Minidisplayport so I can connect the third monitor.

How do I accomplish this?

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Something like this https://atlona.com/product/at-dp400/

 

[h9826790]

Never see anyone do this in MacOS, not sure if it can work.

https://www.startech.com/m/AV/Displayport-Converters/mini-displayport-mst-hub~MSTMDP122DP

DP and mDP are effectively the same thing, just a $1 adaptor can fix the hub’s “wrong” output.

 

[saulinpa]

Never see anyone do this in MacOS, not sure if it can work.

https://www.startech.com/m/AV/Displayport-Converters/mini-displayport-mst-hub~MSTMDP122DP

DP and mDP are effectively the same thing, just a $1 adaptor can fix the hub’s “wrong” output.

Probably won't work as MST is not supported on Mac for multiple monitors.
[doublepost=1523492752][/doublepost]Try http://www.gefen.com/product/dual-link-dvi-mini-dp-converter-GTV-DVIDL-2-MDP
Make sure to use a dual-link DVI cable. I was using the older model Gefen for a while - https://www.amazon.com/Gefen-Dvi-Mini-Displayport-Adapter/dp/B00PB51XVE

 

[MP39]

Something like this https://atlona.com/product/at-dp400/

Wow, I have never seen anything like this before — not even with all my google searches. Thank you. Clearly my card supports Dual-Link out so this definitely could be a solution that could work.
[doublepost=1523495793][/doublepost]

Never see anyone do this in MacOS, not sure if it can work.

https://www.startech.com/m/AV/Displayport-Converters/mini-displayport-mst-hub~MSTMDP122DP

DP and mDP are effectively the same thing, just a $1 adaptor can fix the hub’s “wrong” output.

So I saw several of these when I was searching. I was going crazy not understanding why they ALL went from mDP to minimum dual DP x 2 or higher number of ports output. I figured there had to be someone else out there wanting to connect more than 2 mDP to a compatible graphics card. I wonder why they won’t build one that is mDP to dual mDP? Reading through the Displayport specifications, it clearly states that is a supported connection.

So if I get one of these, then I would need to purchase two Displayport to MiniDisplayPort adapters to connect to those two outputs that would then connect to the mDP of the cinema displays?

Do you happen to know any pro/con to this method vs the one Mr_Brightside_@ linked taking the dual link DVI to mDP?
[doublepost=1523496101][/doublepost]

Probably won't work as MST is not supported on Mac for multiple monitors.
[doublepost=1523492752][/doublepost]Try http://www.gefen.com/product/dual-link-dvi-mini-dp-converter-GTV-DVIDL-2-MDP
Make sure to use a dual-link DVI cable. I was using the older model Gefen for a while - https://www.amazon.com/Gefen-Dvi-Mini-Displayport-Adapter/dp/B00PB51XVE

I didn’t know that MST was not supported for Mac for multiple monitors. If you happen to have the source of that info, let me know. I was looking for that endlessly and could only see the support protocol info but no valuable info of anyone actually implementing on the Mac in the real world — they were all PCs when I saw YouTube. So you may very well have a valid point here.

Any difference in the newer version of Gefen Dual Link vs AT-DP400 linked above by Mr_Brightside_@? Sounds like you have had real-world experience using this adapter. Any feedback? I am looking for a seamless solution as if it were connected just like my other mDP connections with zero lag and same resolution (2560 x 1440). Thanks in advance for any further details you could share.

 

[saulinpa]

I didn’t know that MST was not supported for Mac for multiple monitors. If you happen to have the source of that info, let me know.

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-daisy-chaining-works-on-high-sierra.2051490/
[doublepost=1523508001][/doublepost]

Any difference in the newer version of Gefen Dual Link vs AT-DP400 linked above by Mr_Brightside_@? Sounds like you have had real-world experience using this adapter. Any feedback? I am looking for a seamless solution as if it were connected just like my other mDP connections with zero lag and same resolution (2560 x 1440). Thanks in advance for any further details you could share.

I played with a Gefen adapter a few years ago. I remember it worked. Don't remember any issues.