Dual Monitors On a Mac Mini?

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Natively the mini does not support dual displays since it only has one video port. However, dual displays can be connected via a third-party device - the Matrox DualHead2Go is the only such item that I am aware of.

http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/gxm/products/dh2go/home.php

That device would in theory allow the mini to drive two displays where one mirrors the other, but not to display different content on each screen. Each display would also have to be the set to the same resolution - or at least be capable of the same resolution. Certainly useful in a number of situations.

Of course it's not clear if the OP only needs mirroring rather than spanning, so this is just to point out the limitation of this device to those who may be looking for a potential dual display solution.

I have a MAC Mini and too wanted to connect two screens to it. What adaptor is better the dualhead2go or the geffen DVI splitter?

I want to have one screen display email while I work on the other screen. I know that the there are settings to make the screen stretch between both screens, is there a setting to make each screen "independent" instead of stretched? Sometimes with stretch warnings,etc... will open in the middle of the screen and with dual screens this means it will show up split between the two.
I read that the Gefen makes it possible to have one priamary monitor and then a secondary, I believe this is what I am looking for.

Thanks

I have the same question: can one use two monitors with a Mac mini (Duo 1.83, OS 10.4.8) I want to have different information on two displays, and spanning might be OK. I have two dispays capable of 1680x1050 resolution, if that matters.

The question was already answered above. DualHead2Go.

I examined the DualHead2go and learned that it will support two monitors with a Mac Mini, BUT the supported resolution is only 1024x768. That resolution compared to 1680x1050 (which I currently am using) is awful. Using the DualHead2go with a Mac Mini and high resolution digital monitors is not a solution. It appears the solution is a really big monitor.

Thanks for the research. I did not know about that DH2G limitation with the mini. I'll think twice before I recommend it again as a solution for those wanting to run two monitors on a mini. I wonder if the same would apply to a MacBook?

Message was edited by: BSteely

As I understand it, it's a limitation of the DualHead2Go device, so that 2x 1280x1024 limit applies to other systems, not just in use with a Mac mini.

That is, of course, the 'anaolg edition'. There is also a digital edition ( http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/gxm/products/dh2go/digital/home.php) which gives a 2x 1920x1200 limit.

And there are also triple head2go devices too, with consequent larger spanning capabilities.

I wonder about that? Remember that the way a DH2G works is that it presents itself to the host (Mac) as a giant, single monitor and then the DH2G manages the splitting of the video to two displays. So in the example you give of 2x 1920x1200, the mini would think a 3840 x 1200 monitor has been plugged into it. I don't think the GMA 950 graphics chip inside the mini would be too happy about that.

In retrospect you're right. The maximum obtainable resolution of 2x 1024x768 given by the prior poster when the dualhead2go is used with the mini is obviously a reflection of the mini's maximum resolution of 2048x1536 not the Matrox device's maximum. The various Matrox units clearly do have limits, but they are broader than many systems can go.

It's sad that according to Matrox's site: "Systems equipped with Intel GMA 950 are limited to 2048x768 (2x 1024x768) on DualHead2Go and are not supported by TripleHead2Go."

...but they also note that G4 Mac Mini's can achieve this: 2560x1024
(2x 1280x1024).

Did the older G4 Mac Mini really have a better graphics chip than the Intel Mac Mini?

My 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Mac Mini is hooked up to one old 17-inch Studio Display and I've now got an extra 17-inch Studio Display. I'd love to hook them both up using the Matrox box but I can't sacrifice my 1280x1024 resolution to do so. It'd be nice if someone created a DVI box. I don't understand why Matrox's box relies on VGA fittings.

Message was edited by: doubleplusgood

DualHead2Go is not a good solution for the mac mini, as I have just found out to my expense. At least not if you want to run two 20" cinema displays. The Matrox man informed me that those displays do not natively support 2x(1024x768), and I can confirm this.

You can get 1024x768 on a single display (which is horrible anyway), but when you connect up the 2nd display using the DH2G only the 1st display will work, and it will have reverted to its original resolution - impossible to change back.

Save your money!