USB / Display hub to support two external monitors?

Hi,


First time Mac user here. I'm looking for a USB hub to support two external monitors, usb-c power delivery and six usb devices. My current hub (an Amazon £55 job) allows one external monitor which is then mirrored to the other. Have worked around this for now with a separate HDMI cable directly into the Macbook, which works - although as the same monitor is still plugged into the hub for my work laptop it seems to get confused sometimes.


Understand that the hub is the likely cause - any suggestions on what I should be looking for, or which models will work?

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 14.3

Posted on Mar 6, 2024 5:16 AM

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Posted on Jul 15, 2024 3:41 AM

To answer my own question, I needed the following:


  • CalDigit TS3 Plus
  • Generic 4 into 1 USB hub for extra ports
  • Decent (video quality) usb-c cable for monitor 1.
  • ACTIVE DVI to DisplayPort adapter for the second monitor. (A simple converter cable doesn't work).


Was a bit fiddly to get set up, but after upgrading the firmware on the Caldigit it works well.


Could have gone with the CalDigit TS4, but the 3 plus does everything I need, cheaper and potentially more stable.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 15, 2024 3:41 AM in response to Fiddlestiques

To answer my own question, I needed the following:


  • CalDigit TS3 Plus
  • Generic 4 into 1 USB hub for extra ports
  • Decent (video quality) usb-c cable for monitor 1.
  • ACTIVE DVI to DisplayPort adapter for the second monitor. (A simple converter cable doesn't work).


Was a bit fiddly to get set up, but after upgrading the firmware on the Caldigit it works well.


Could have gone with the CalDigit TS4, but the 3 plus does everything I need, cheaper and potentially more stable.

Mar 6, 2024 5:52 AM in response to Fiddlestiques

Fiddlestiques wrote:

hi
It's a new Macbook Pro M3 / Mac OS 14.3

Here are the specifications for the M3 MacBook Pro:

Buy 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 - Apple

Please note that this model supports one external monitor.

"M3 brings serious speed and capability to blaze through

everyday activities, multitask across apps and video calls, and handle

elaborate content in pro apps and games

  • Run multiple apps, speed through thousands of photos
  • Effortlessly edit 4K video
  • Configure with up to 24GB unified memory
  • Supports one external display"



Mar 6, 2024 5:34 AM in response to Fiddlestiques

Fiddlestiques wrote:

Hi,

First time Mac user here. I'm looking for a USB hub to support two external monitors, usb-c power delivery and six usb devices. My current hub (an Amazon £55 job) allows one external monitor which is then mirrored to the other. Have worked around this for now with a separate HDMI cable directly into the Macbook, which works - although as the same monitor is still plugged into the hub for my work laptop it seems to get confused sometimes.

Understand that the hub is the likely cause - any suggestions on what I should be looking for, or which models will work?

Please tell us the model Mac you have. Some Macs support only one external monitor while others support multiple external monitors.

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USB / Display hub to support two external monitors?

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