Level 1

18 points

How do I connect six monitors to Studio Max?

M2 Studio Max

6 monitors are all 23 inch 1920x1080

3 have HDMI and DVI option

3 have only DVI.

Dock or splitter recommendations?

I understand Studio max only support 5. These 6 monitors have always worked fine using my my older systemes that are now “obsolete.”

I spent the extra $400 to get 64GB of memory to ensure no lag when running these old HD monitrs.

I spent the extra $600 to get 2TB SSD for FCP editing but would like a few ports avail for extra storage.

I need 6 monitors but am I strange for not switching these 23” HD’s for same size 4Ks?

Thank you in advance. I broke the bank to buy this cpu and Im afraid of buying a cheap adapter that might create a bottle neck in efficiency.

Mac Studio (2023)

Posted on Jul 16, 2023 4:06 PM

Top-ranking reply

Servant of Cats

Level 7

33,587 points

Posted on Jul 19, 2023 6:05 PM

If you're not worried about keeping any ports open on your Mac now, you don't need any of these hubs or docks.

Back to your likely setup:

One USB-C to single-link DVI cable attached to each of your back-panel USB-C ports. Four cables total, to drive four monitors.
One { HDMI monitor or DVI monitor + HDMI-to-DVI adapter } attached to your back-panel HDMI port.
One DisplayLink-equipped hub/dock/adapter attached to one of your front-panel USB-C (USB) ports. One monitor attached to it, using an adapter, if necessary. This monitor will receive a second-class video signal, and its mere existence might cause DRM-infested programs to refuse to play DRMed video on any monitor. You would need a driver on your computer, and that would raise a possibility that future versions of macOS might break the driver.

The Sonnett DisplayLink adapter is $89.99 and the OWC one is $119.00.

Sonnett Technologies – DisplayLink Dual HDMI Adapter for M1/M2 Macs

Other World Computing – USB-C Dual HDMI 4K Display Adapter with DisplayLink

There are cheaper ones on Amazon – some of which use DisplayLink, others of which use competing technologies. For instance, here's one for $74.99 with two HDMI outputs (one limited to roughly single-link DVI resolution).

Amazon Marketplace – j5create USB-C to Dual HDMI Multi-Monitor Adapter with USB Type-A convertor | 4K + 2K |

Another that's $39.95 but that only has one video output, that tops out at 1920x1080 @ 60 Hz.

https://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Adapter-Universal-Graphics-Windows/dp/B09R45WGHY

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36 replies

Jul 25, 2023 8:02 PM in response to KidVid

KidVid wrote:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1722622-REG/approved_micro_dos_cdl_12p_01b_apm_usb_c_display_link_12_port.html

Note that the Approved in that product's name is part of the third-party vendor's name: Approved Micro. It does not mean that the product is approved or endorsed by Apple.

Note that this is not a Thunderbolt dock. Plug it into the rear panel of your Mac Studio, and it will use a TB port, but it will not give you any in return. You might want to plug it into the front panel, instead.

The "3.0 / 3.1 / 3.2 Gen 1" probably means that the downstream USB-C and USB-A ports support speeds of "up to 5 Gbps" (USB 3.0) speed, but no higher. In the USB 3 naming scheme,

USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 = USB 3.2 Gen 1 = USB 3.2 = USB 3.1 Gen 1 = USB 3.0

Whenever you don't see a number for the generation or number of lanes, 1 is usually implicit.

KidVid Author

Level 1

18 points

Jul 26, 2023 2:08 PM in response to Servant of Cats

Studio Max arrived today!

Following Grants suggestion to not dawdle and get all these components

ordered to test everything out within Apple 14 day window to make sure I don’t need

to exchange for Ultra that allows up to 8 monitors.

Following SoC’s advice I decided against the expensive

DisplayLink doc for a much cheaper one. B&H

recommended “Playable” brand for DisplayLink dock. I don’t gain back any TB’s but I get 4 USB

2.0 for keyboard, printer, multi card reader and (2) USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A

ports.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1715095-REG/plugable_ud_39c_plugable_laptop_docking_station.html/overview

I knew I needed a TB enclosure so I can use all the 3.5

drives from my cheesegrader. This VERY

expensive OWC model uses ThunderBolt 3 and gives me 2 TB ports in the back of

the enclosure PLUS a DisplayPort for one of my 6 monitors. This DisplayPort will free up a port on my

computer!

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1635299-REG/owc_owctb3ivkit000_thunderbay_4_0tb_4_drive.html/reviews

These items arrive in 2 days. Id love to hear feedback on these expensive

decisions.

Thank you.

den.thed

Level 10

90,496 points

Jul 16, 2023 4:40 PM in response to KidVid

USB-C to HDMI adapters and USB-C to DVI adapters will work fine for connecting them to the Mac Studio.

see > Connect a display to Mac Studio - Apple Support

den.thed

Level 10

90,496 points

Jul 16, 2023 8:09 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Agreed! The article that I posted clearly say’s 5, same as the spec’s.

KidVid Author

Level 1

18 points

Jul 16, 2023 8:19 PM in response to den.thed

I hear you. Yes, Apple would prefer we not connect that extra 6th monitor to Studio Max...

But is it possible?

Maybe a hub?

Anybody know?

Jul 21, 2023 5:57 PM in response to Servant of Cats

so sorry, I stand corrected.

I threw those numbers together WAY too fast without checking them carefully.

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How do I connect six monitors to Studio Max?