I bought my new macbook, and realised it's not compatible with more than 1 displays... This is absolutely uncalled for.... What are the chances for an software update that it will be possible to connect in future??
Fetching screen data is done by rasterizer/display-generator Hardware in the graphics subsystem. Once set up, data are fetched at that same interval again and again without additional intervention. The entire screen data MUST be completed within each screen refresh interval (often 1/60th second) or the screen will go partially or completely blank without the late or missing data.
The MacBook Pro M1 memory features a "unified" memory design. Everything comes from that one memory array, with one memory access logic. Many devices are competing for access to the memory access logic, and screen refresh is especially urgent. In this M1 entry-level design, there is no more additional memory bandwidth to support more than the built-in display and one external display up to 6K in size. No additional rasterizer/display-generators can work correctly, because memory bandwidth is limited.
For many higher-than-entry-level Macs, including most with Discrete Graphics chips, a faster "private" display RAM is used. This allows those systems to support additional displays, because that display RAM is fast and is mainly used for fetching display data.
Executive summary: additional Hardware-accelerated display support can NOT be added to the entry-level M1 systems.
Fetching screen data is done by rasterizer/display-generator Hardware in the graphics subsystem. Once set up, data are fetched at that same interval again and again without additional intervention. The entire screen data MUST be completed within each screen refresh interval (often 1/60th second) or the screen will go partially or completely blank without the late or missing data.
The MacBook Pro M1 memory features a "unified" memory design. Everything comes from that one memory array, with one memory access logic. Many devices are competing for access to the memory access logic, and screen refresh is especially urgent. In this M1 entry-level design, there is no more additional memory bandwidth to support more than the built-in display and one external display up to 6K in size. No additional rasterizer/display-generators can work correctly, because memory bandwidth is limited.
For many higher-than-entry-level Macs, including most with Discrete Graphics chips, a faster "private" display RAM is used. This allows those systems to support additional displays, because that display RAM is fast and is mainly used for fetching display data.
Executive summary: additional Hardware-accelerated display support can NOT be added to the entry-level M1 systems.
bramfromoldenzaal wrote:
I bought my new macbook, and realised it's not compatible with more than 1 displays... This is absolutely uncalled for.... What are the chances for an software update that it will be possible to connect in future??
I would wait and see what the next release of the SoC M2 chip will have to offer.
You have a limited 14-days for a full refund or exchange for one that suits you better.
Call Customer Support (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)
"Apple has apparently promised to fix the problem in a future update of macOS 11 Big Sur."
same situation as well... never thought it would be a problem... waiting for the update...
The M1 MacBook Pro and Air DO NOT and likely WILL NOT support a Native, second external display.
The first article you cited suggests a problem with limited resolutions shown will be fixed, likely in 11.2. That has nothing to do with multiple display support.
The second article you cited goes out of its way, several times over, to state that Native support for additional displays is NOT available on M1 Macs. Then it transitions into a commercial for Docks that use DisplayPort to create a "fake" second display using DisplayLink Technology (software AND chipset).
DisplayLink technology creates a "fake" display buffer in RAM, sends the data out over a slower interface to a stunt box with DisplayLink custom chips that put that data back onto a "legacy" interface. It is not a true "accelerated" display, and it can suffer from lagging. Just adding the DisplayLink Driver is not adequate to get a picture -- you need a DisplayLink "stunt-box" or a Dock that includes DisplayLink chips.
It may be acceptable for a second display showing slow-to-change data such as computer program listings, stock quotes, or spreadsheets, but NOT for full motion Video, not for Video editing, and absolutely not for gaming. Mouse-tracking on that display can lag, and can make you feel queasy.
In a pinch, it may even play Internet videos (as one user put it) “without too many dropped frames".
This is in stark contrast to the Apple standard for its built-in hardware-accelerated displays, which are suitable for production/display of cinema-quality video with NO dropped frames, and NO dropouts or partial-blank scan lines due to memory under-runs or other issues.
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It is really nice to know that you can use a DisplayLink display if you MUST have an additional display for some of the types of data I mentioned. But that is NOT the same as the computer supporting a second, built-in, Hardware-accelerated display.
These displays depend on DisplayLink software, and are at the whim of Apple when they make MacOS changes. There have been cases where MacOS changes completely Borked DisplayLink software, and it took some time for them to recover.
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I think the Big Surprise for a lot of Hub/Dock buyers is that they thought they were getting a "real" display, but actually got a DisplayLink "fake" Display. If you got what you expected in every case, I would not use such pejorative terms to describe DisplayLink.
Likely never for the MacBook Pro (Air/Pro)
The M1 Mac Mini currently can accommodate 2 external displays.
We are your fellow end users, not Apple That is a question for Apple.
When will the macbook with M1 chip be able to to support 2 external displays?
