Monitor Connections-Port Efficiency

[cgscotto]

Hello,
My Mac Studio (M1 Max with 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, 64GB unified memory, 1TB SSD storage) will be arriving ahead of schedule, so I am trying to decide how to connect peripherals making the most efficient use of the ports. I have lots of Thunderbolt peripherals, and while I could have gone with an Ultra, gaining two extra Thunderbolt ports did not seem worth the extra cost.

The main thing I am thinking about is connecting my two Dell U2718Q 4K monitors. My basic connection plan is using display port to thunderbolt cables and connect each monitor to its own Thunderbolt port, which only leaves me two Thunderbolt ports. I could connect one to the HDMI port freeing up a TB port, but when I did that on my Mac Pro 6,1, the results were not great. I could also the OWC adapter suggested in another thread that allows you to connect the two monitors to the adapter and the adapter only uses a single TB port. Are the USB-C ports on the front the Mac Studio an option as well?

I could, of course, stick with my basic plan and get an OWC TB dock (the one for the Mac Mini) to expand the TB connections. I am just trying to figure out what gets me the most bang for the connections. The other TB peripherals are audio interfaces and hard drives. All the audio interfaces would go on one port and the hard drives on the other, which with my basic plan for the monitors would use all four TB ports.

As I said, just look for the best way to connect everything and if there are any options I missed.

Thanks.

 

[haralds]

Looks about right. Remember there are some USB 3 ports that are adequate for spinning drives and audio DACS and MIDI. I have one connected to a 12-port hub. I also use a Satechi 4-Port USB-C Hub. Note I have NOT tested this with multiple monitors, but it "should" work.
The DisplayPort cable adapters would actually be USB-C. But they will work on the Thunderbolt port. They do not need to be hooked to a Thunderbolt hub.
Be aware that OWC Thunderbolt hubs configured to power MacBooks have a hefty power supply and draw. Look through your needs and see whether you need the expense and capability. I have one of them but it is mostly not connected.
I would keep the front ports clear for casual use.

 

[Ladd]

FWIW: I recently purchased an "OWC Thunderbolt Dual DisplayPort Adapter" to drive two out of the three monitors I am using on my new Studio Max and it works fine connected to a rear Thunderbolt port. Monitor one is Alienware (Dell) AW3418DW (3440x1440 at 120Hz); second monitor is Acer XB270HU (2560x1440 at 120Hz). Monitor three is running off the Studio Max's HDMI port (2560x1440 at 60Hz).

 

[cgscotto]

Thanks for the answers. All this helps.

 

[Killerbob]

I just got the CalDigit Elements Hub, giving my three TB3/4 and four USB-A ports of just one TB4 port.

 

[cgscotto]

I think the CalDigit Elements Hub will solve or allow whatever connection scheme I want to follow. Thanks.

 

[Shamgar]

It's worth considering the bandwidth requirements of the various devices when deciding what to chain. I have one of my displays chained from a 4-bay hard drive enclosure that can easily spare the ~15 Gbps bandwidth for 4k60 without performance loss, but I also have an NVMe enclosure that needs everything it can get and does not get chained with anything.

 

[cgscotto]

"It's worth considering the bandwidth requirements of the various devices when deciding what to chain. I have one of my displays chained from a 4-bay hard drive enclosure that can easily spare the ~15 Gbps bandwidth for 4k60 without performance loss, but I also have an NVMe enclosure that needs everything it can get and does not get chained with anything."

Thanks. This is true. I bought the CalDigit Elements Hub, and I will arrange the most bandwidth hungry peripherals on the TB ports and the other less needy peripherals will go on the Hub. This was one of m concerns in asking this question.