Connecting three external monitors to Macbook Pro 2019 with Dell WD22 dock

jesu1411 wrote:

Thank you. From what I understand the workaround for the above hardware limitation is to use DisplayLink software and a dock supporting this technology. It appears the Dell WD22 does not support DisplayLink.

Your 16" MacBook Pro should be able to drive three 2560x1440 pixel monitors using only first-class, supported, hardware video outputs.

Not all attached to the same hub or dock, but if you were using something like one of the OWC docks which split Thunderbolt chains, you might be able to hang two displays (and most of your other docking equipment) off one of your MBP's USB-C (Thunderbolt) ports, and the third display off of a second MBP port.

Then you wouldn't need to worry about any of the possible drawbacks associated with DIsplayLink and similar workarounds.

jesu1411 wrote:

[Servant of Cats wrote:] Not all attached to the same hub or dock, but if you were using something like one of the OWC docks which split Thunderbolt chains, you might be able to hang two displays (and most of your other docking equipment) off one of your MBP's USB-C (Thunderbolt) ports, and the third display off of a second MBP port.

> I have got this to work as a temporary fix, but I want to plug as few cables as possible whenever I want to use my laptop with my home set up. I also have a power cable and keyboard to plug in.

I could be wrong, but I do not believe that you can directly drive three displays off one of the USB-C (TB) ports, using first-class hardware video outputs. I believe that a Thunderbolt connection can normally carry up to two DisplayPort sessions, sufficient for two displays with resolutions of 4K or less, or one 5K display.

Here's a Thunderbolt dock with

• The ability to drive two monitors with resolutions of 4K or less
• The ability to provide up to 96 watts of charging power
• Four USB-A ports (Three 10 Gbps ports, one USB 2.0 port)
• A SD card slot
• A Gigabit Ethernet port
• An audio output jack

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-thunderbolt-dock

That would take care of two of your displays, your keyboard, and your power cable, with ports to spare. So you'd have a total of two docking cables:

• The Thunderbolt cable leading to this dock
• The USB-C (DisplayPort) to DisplayPort adapter cable leading to your third monitor

The MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) - Technical Specifications (UK) say that the machine has four USB-C (TB3) ports and that it supports

• Up to two displays with 6016‑by‑3384 resolution at 60Hz at over a billion colors
• Up to four displays with 4096‑by‑2304 resolution at 60Hz at over a billion colors

Some Thunderbolt hubs and docks have the ability to split a Thunderbolt chain into several chains (still limited to a total of six devices, including the hub).

For instance: https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-thunderbolt-hub

OWC claims that if you attach this hub to your Mac, you can attach two USB-C (DisplayPort) monitors which have resolutions of up to 4K to it. These downstream monitors do not need to speak Thunderbolt.

There may be other Thunderbolt hubs and docks that allow splitting a Thunderbolt chain and hooking up two plain USB-C (DisplayPort) monitors.

Try connecting USB-C direct without dock or dongles, might work.

In order to support up to TWO hardware-accelerated displays on One port out of your Mac, the Port, the Cable, and the first device (Dock or Display) must be genuine ThunderBolt.

Other computer makers may support different configurations.

<<. From what I understand the workaround for the above hardware limitation is to use DisplayLink software and a dock supporting this technology. >>

The work-around is to stop relying on that awful Dell dock.