Using an adapter with external monitors

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Using an adapter with external monitors

I have an iMac, 2019, 27 inch. I want to use 2 external monitors with it. Both monitors have a DP connector, so the DP end at the monitors side and the other side is an USB-A port. Because I need the USB ports on my iMac for other things, I would want to use the thunderbolt ports for both monitors. So, I have 2 options here: 1. I buy a completely new cable with DP and USB-C, or 2. I buy 2 small USB-A to thunderbolt adapters to use with the original cables. I wonder whether there would be a difference quality/resolution wise since I use the monitors to look at medical images so I cannot risk a lower quality of image there.

iMac 27″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Oct 15, 2020 11:46 AM

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Answer 1

den.thed

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Oct 15, 2020 12:09 PM in response to papagena2601

You need 2 USB-C to DisplayPort cables.

for example > https://www.amazon.com/DisplayPort-Certified-Gold-Plated-Thunderbolt-Compatible/dp/B07RY75V7Q/ref=asc_df_B07RY75V7Q/?

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Answer 2

den.thed

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Oct 15, 2020 1:11 PM in response to papagena2601

I think that there is some misunderstanding here. You need to use USB-C to DisplayPort cables for the monitors and then USB-C to USB-A adapters if you need more USB-A ports.

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Answer 3

den.thed

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Oct 16, 2020 7:53 AM in response to papagena2601

The Apple adapter from CoolBlue is USB-C to USB-A and will not work for displays. Those adapters are used to convert USB-C to USB-A and are for external drives and other standard USB-A devices.

Only the 2 small iMac Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports support displays and so you need the correct USB-C cables (or adapters and cables) to connect your displays to those 2 ports.

The reference image, is from > Take a tour of iMac - Apple Support

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Answer 4

papagena2601 Author

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Oct 15, 2020 12:27 PM in response to den.thed

Either that, or I could use 2 adapters, like this one: https://www.coolblue.be/nl/share-product/586374?utm_medium=ios-app&utm_source=referral&utm_campaign=product-share

So, I am wondering if there’s a difference. If not, adapters are usually cheaper ...

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Answer 5

papagena2601 Author

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Oct 15, 2020 1:47 PM in response to den.thed

I think there is a misunderstanding indeed. The cables I have now for the monitors are DP to USB-A, so if I want to use the thunderbolt ports I can use these, plus a USB-A to thunderbolt/usb-C adapter. Or, I buy brand new DP to thunderbolt/usb-C cables, that’s what I meant.

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Answer 6

papagena2601 Author

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Oct 16, 2020 8:06 AM in response to den.thed

Right; I see. So using the cables with the standard USB A ports (that’s the way the displays are connected to a thinclient now) and then using an adapter for let’s say a 3D mouse and connecting that to the thunderbolt wouldn’t work either.

it’s just that if possible I would prefer to use the original cables since I am sure these are fine regarding image quality.

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Answer 7

den.thed

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Oct 16, 2020 8:31 AM in response to papagena2601

What are you referring to as a thinclient?

If it is a windows computer, then it required special windows drivers to connect the displays to the standard USB-A ports.

Again, if those monitors have DisplayPort and/or HDMI input, then you will need to the appropriate USB-C to DisplayPort or USB-C to HDMI cables to connect them to the iMac.

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Answer 8

den.thed

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Oct 15, 2020 12:41 PM in response to papagena2601

Yeah' those are way over priced compared to the following adapters.

https://www.amazon.com/Syntech-Adapter-Thunderbolt-Compatible-MacBook/dp/B07CVX3516/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?

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Answer 9

papagena2601 Author

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Oct 15, 2020 1:00 PM in response to den.thed

Too bad they don’t ship to Belgium ;) . I just want to make sure there’s no difference in image quality with cable vs adapter because I use the monitors in medical diagnostics.

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Answer 10

BDAqua

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Oct 15, 2020 3:52 PM in response to den.thed

+1👍

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Answer 11

den.thed

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Oct 15, 2020 4:43 PM in response to BDAqua

🤨 Ugh my head hurts, when I think about all the different ports and cables Apple used in the last 20 years.

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Answer 12

papagena2601 Author

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Oct 16, 2020 7:02 AM in response to den.thed

Oh Ok, just for my knowledge, why wouldn’t the adaptors work?

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Answer 13

den.thed

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Oct 15, 2020 3:25 PM in response to papagena2601

papagena2601 wrote:

The cables I have now for the monitors are DP to USB-A,

Have you tried the USB-A to DisplayPort cables with the iMac?

USB-A is the old larger standard USB plug and USB-C is the newer smaller USB plug.

Pretty sure that the iMac will only support displays using the smaller USB-C to DisplayPort cables in the smaller ports.

so if I want to use the thunderbolt ports I can use these, plus a USB-A to thunderbolt/usb-C adapter. Or, I buy brand new DP to thunderbolt/usb-C cables, that’s what I meant.

No those adapters will not work to connect displays to the iMac. You will need to use USB-C/Thunderbolt to DisplayPort cables like the one I posted earlier. https://www.amazon.com/DisplayPort-Certified-Gold-Plated-Thunderbolt-Compatible/dp/B07RY75V7Q/ref=asc_df_B07RY75V7Q/?

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Answer 14

papagena2601 Author

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Oct 16, 2020 8:50 AM in response to den.thed

The thinclient is used to login to the virtual server we use at work. However, i can do that through the iMac as well and that way I would be able to use 3 screens, since using the iMac as an extra monitor isn’t possible anymore with the more recent versions. So it’s not exactly a windows computer but we do use windows at work.

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Using an adapter with external monitors

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