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User profile for user: altjxx
altjxx Author
User level: Level 1
14 points

Does my macbook support two, three, or four monitors at 1080p?

Right now I have two AOC 27" monitors that are 1080p. I'm trying to figure out if the laptop supports a third one, but the technical specifications don't really make much sense to me:


According to https://support.apple.com/kb/SP756?locale=en_US:


Video Support
Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at millions of colors and:
Up to two displays with 5120-by-2880 resolution at 60Hz at over a billion colors
Up to four displays with 4096-by-2304 resolution at 60Hz at millions of colors
Up to four displays with 3840-by-2160 resolution at 60Hz at over a billion colors


Ok so what does this mean for 1080p monitors?

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jun 22, 2020 8:49 AM

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User profile for user: Grant Bennet-Alder
Grant Bennet-Alder
User level: Level 10
133,333 points

Posted on Jun 22, 2020 9:45 AM

1080p displays are: 1920 by 1080p


so it can support up to FOUR at that resolution, HOWEVER:


Macs have been using DisplayPort family as their primary display interface for a decade or more. DisplayPort uses lower Voltages and sends less traffic to the display because it drops the "heartbeat-refresh" required to keep CRT displays alive.


When you try to connect beyond TWO HDMI or DVI displays, one of the three will drop out (at random). You need to connect some using DisplayPort (if available) or use an ACTIVE adapter that has signal re-drivers to boost the 3 Volts of DisplayPort up to the Higher Voltages required by HDMI.


Also, the data rates required may cause your MacBook Pro to get quite hot, and the fans may come on the remove the excess heat. This could be loud. DisplayPort family displays tend to run somewhat cooler.

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User profile for user: Grant Bennet-Alder
Grant Bennet-Alder
User level: Level 10
133,333 points

Jun 22, 2020 9:45 AM in response to altjxx

1080p displays are: 1920 by 1080p


so it can support up to FOUR at that resolution, HOWEVER:


Macs have been using DisplayPort family as their primary display interface for a decade or more. DisplayPort uses lower Voltages and sends less traffic to the display because it drops the "heartbeat-refresh" required to keep CRT displays alive.


When you try to connect beyond TWO HDMI or DVI displays, one of the three will drop out (at random). You need to connect some using DisplayPort (if available) or use an ACTIVE adapter that has signal re-drivers to boost the 3 Volts of DisplayPort up to the Higher Voltages required by HDMI.


Also, the data rates required may cause your MacBook Pro to get quite hot, and the fans may come on the remove the excess heat. This could be loud. DisplayPort family displays tend to run somewhat cooler.

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Does my macbook support two, three, or four monitors at 1080p?

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