Dual External Monitor Setup Macbook

I would like to run a dual external monitor setup for my Macbook Pro. Can someone give me recommendations for connectivity for use of two HDMI connections.

MacBook Pro (2021)

Posted on Dec 14, 2023 11:01 AM

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Posted on Dec 14, 2023 3:43 PM

There were two lines of 13" 2020 MacBook Pros. Based on the CPU, it looks like you have a four-TB3-port one.


MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) - Technical Specifications


So as long as your monitors have resolutions / refresh rates of 4K @ 60 Hz, or less, you can drive two of them, using first-class hardware video output, with no need for DisplayLink, or Magic Display Technology, or similar, multiple-monitor workaround technologies.


You can plug them into separate USB-C ports on the Mac.


Or you can get a Thunderbolt dock or hub that supports attaching two non-Thunderbolt monitors. Other World Computing has several of those. The Mac won't drive daisy-chained monitors over USB-C (DisplayPort), but it can drive two 4K monitors over a Thunderbolt 3/4 connection, as Mr. Bennett-Alder points out.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 14, 2023 3:43 PM in response to MainStJoe

There were two lines of 13" 2020 MacBook Pros. Based on the CPU, it looks like you have a four-TB3-port one.


MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) - Technical Specifications


So as long as your monitors have resolutions / refresh rates of 4K @ 60 Hz, or less, you can drive two of them, using first-class hardware video output, with no need for DisplayLink, or Magic Display Technology, or similar, multiple-monitor workaround technologies.


You can plug them into separate USB-C ports on the Mac.


Or you can get a Thunderbolt dock or hub that supports attaching two non-Thunderbolt monitors. Other World Computing has several of those. The Mac won't drive daisy-chained monitors over USB-C (DisplayPort), but it can drive two 4K monitors over a Thunderbolt 3/4 connection, as Mr. Bennett-Alder points out.

Dec 14, 2023 12:14 PM in response to MainStJoe

2nd Display Support: Dual/Mirroring*. 2nd Max. Resolution: 6016x3384 (6K)*

Details:*In addition to simultaneous support of the internal display, this model supports

a single external 6K display up to 6016x3384 at 60Hz at over a billion colors,

a single external 5K display up to 5120x2880 at 60Hz at over a billion colors,

OR two external 4K displays up to 4096x2304 resolution at 60Hz via Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C).

from:

https://everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/specs/macbook-pro-core-i5-2.0-quad-core-13-2020-4-thunderbolt-3-ports-scissor-specs.html


since your model macBook pro has four thunderBolt ports, you can find places to plug them all in.


To support up to TWO external displays on one cable out of a Mac, the port, the cable, and the first device (Dock or Display) must all be genuine ThunderBolt.

Dec 14, 2023 4:00 PM in response to MainStJoe

MainStJoe wrote:

What about something like this?
TOBENONE DisplayLink Docking Station Triple Monitor with 120W Power Adapter, Triple 4K Display for MacBook Pro/Air, Thunderbolt 4/3, USB-C Windows(3X HDMI, 3X DisplayPort, 2xUSB-C, 4xUSB 3.2, SD/TF)


See the "DisplayLink"?


That means that some or all of the monitor connections on that docking station are based upon workarounds rather than on taking advantage of your Mac's first-class hardware-supported video outputs.


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Dual External Monitor Setup Macbook

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