Using M1 Pro MBP to drive 2 4K monitors via multi-port USBC hub - suggestions?

[karansaraf]

Hi

Got my M1 Pro 14inch MBP last week. Have been thinking about my ideal home office set up.

What I would like to do is:

Have a multi-port hub hidden away that is connected to my two 4K 60Hz 27inch monitors (both have HDMI and DP as inputs, not thunderbolt) as well as have a USBC cable for connecting it to the MBP whenever I need to connect it. The hub would also charge the MBP via the USBC.

So it would be MBP --> 1x (or 2x?) USBC --> multi-port hub --> 1x HDMI and 1x USBC to HDMI/DP --> 2x 4K monitors

Having the hub would also allow me to permanently have some speakers connected that don't need to be connected and disconnected to the MBP every time I want to use them, and any other peripherals I might need.

What's the best way to do this? Will I need to connect 2x USBC to the MBP in order to drive two monitors, or just the one USBC and the hub will do the rest?

I've seen that there are endless number of hubs out there, can anyone recommend a reliable one that will do this job well?

Eventually I'll get something like this ( https://www.brydge.com/products/macbook-vertical-dock ) so I don't even need to connect cables, it will just dock, but they don't make a 2021 MBP version yet, and haven't seen any others out there.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[S_Anderson]

+1

 

[Pro Apple Silicon]

You don't really mention performance or specs of the displays so it's unclear what your needs actually are.

I am running (2) LG UltraFine 4K displays @ 60Hz. Most Thunderbolt hubs advertise the ability to do (2) 4K displays @60, or (1) 5k - 8K display. Thunderbolt, not USB-C.

I purchased this one from OWC, and it is absolute piece of junk that doesn't work. Most of the time the ports just don't even work, and the Mac doesn't recognize devices connected to it.

I am returning it and purchasing this one from Caldigit instead, which I should have gotten to begin with.

 

[karansaraf]

You don't really mention performance or specs of the displays so it's unclear what your needs actually are.

I am running (2) LG UltraFine 4K displays @ 60Hz. Most Thunderbolt hubs advertise the ability to do (2) 4K displays @60, or (1) 5k - 8K display. Thunderbolt, not USB-C.

I purchased this one from OWC, and it is absolute piece of junk that doesn't work. Most of the time the ports just don't even work, and the Mac doesn't recognize devices connected to it.

I am returning it and purchasing this one from Caldigit instead, which I should have gotten to begin with.

Ah yeah sorry I've edited the original post now to reflect that they would be two 4K 60Hz displays.

 

[karansaraf]

You don't really mention performance or specs of the displays so it's unclear what your needs actually are.

I am running (2) LG UltraFine 4K displays @ 60Hz. Most Thunderbolt hubs advertise the ability to do (2) 4K displays @60, or (1) 5k - 8K display. Thunderbolt, not USB-C.

I purchased this one from OWC, and it is absolute piece of junk that doesn't work. Most of the time the ports just don't even work, and the Mac doesn't recognize devices connected to it.

I am returning it and purchasing this one from Caldigit instead, which I should have gotten to begin with.

Also, is it device dependent, or can you typically get away with one thunderbolt connection from MBP to the hub with multiple outputs to the monitors?

 

[Pro Apple Silicon]

Also, is it device dependent, or can you typically get away with one thunderbolt connection from MBP to the hub with multiple outputs to the monitors?

The whole idea is using 1 thunderbolt connection from the Mac, with everything connected to the hub. Otherwise why get a hub? I'm only spending $300 on a hub because I don't want to connect/disconnect 3 cables every time I move to/from my desk.