2018 Macbook Pro 13 inch: Displaylink Setup or USB-C setup

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.

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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".

If you are only doing program listing and stock quotes and other slow to change data, DisplayLink can work for you, but requires you to make some strong compromises.

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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.

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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.

The amount of CPU and GPU power to use either DisplayLink or Directly-connected Hardware-accelerated displays is remarkably small for the kind of work you do (not Full-motion Video). Refreshing a hardware-accelerated display is far too fast to do 'by hand' with the processor, so there is a rasterizer/display-generator Automation that fetches a screen full of data automatically. The CPU only has to intervene to set it up again for the next screenful.

If you are seeing slowness, especially the beachball, it could be due to other factors.

The power source is not an issue. The Mac is said to use the BEST source available, but practically speaking, it usually sticks with the FIRST source available.

Hi FrozenYoghurt,

Welcome to Apple Support Communities. We understand you need assistance in making the right decision for your upcoming purchase of a MacBook. Our recommendation is to contact the sales support team at Apple, as they can assist you. Here's the link to contact them for assistance: Contacting Apple

Kind regards.