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User profile for user: pitchfork
pitchfork Author
User level: Level 1
24 points

Macbook Pro M1 with 2 x Cinema Displays?

I use the Macbook Pro M1 Max Silicon, just fine with the older Cinema Display 27'' (Black border) screen.


This works well, and I use an Apple adaptor from the USB-C to the square Mini-Display Port on the screen to use both the M1 Max laptop screen and the 27" Cinema Display.


The older 27" Cinema Display is crystal clear being run from the M1.


However I am thinking of getting a 2nd Cinema Display 27" identical as they are cheap to use as a 3rd screen.

So 2 x Cinema's and the Laptop open to create 3 screens.


I'm sure when these M1's were launched, there was a way of using 2 extra screens with just using one USB-C port? Or was this using the built in HDMI port? (I haven't used this yet as CD has no HDMI)


Can anyone tell me the best way of using 2 extra screens, and the laptop open using a single USB-C port?

This Macbook only has 3 USB-C's so don't want to take up more ports, and not lose any screen quality?

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 14.6

Posted on Aug 30, 2024 12:35 AM

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3 replies
User profile for user: Servant of Cats
Servant of Cats
User level: Level 6
17,128 points

Sep 1, 2024 12:58 PM in response to pitchfork

If these are Thunderbolt Displays, you can

  • Use one Apple Thunderbolt 3-to-2 adapters, and daisy-chain the second Thunderbolt Display off the first. This requires at least one of the Thunderbolt Displays to have a "hydra" cable that is good – not bad, or "flaky".
  • Use two Apple Thunderbolt 3-to-2 adapters, one for each display. This will take up two of your Mac's TB ports, unless you have one of the Thunderbolt docks or hubs that can split one Thunderbolt chain into several. Then it will take up two of the Thunderbolt dock or hub's downstream Thunderbolt ports.


The Apple Thunderbolt 3-to-2 adapter does not support Mini DisplayPort displays and adapters. If you plug those into its TB2 side, you will not get a signal. Use third-party USB-C to (Mini) DisplayPort adapters or adapter cables; or docks with dedicated DisplayPort ports; for those.


If you have two DisplayPort or Mini DisplayPort displays, and you want to connect both of them using a single Thunderbolt port on the Mac, you can do that using some Thunderbolt docks and hubs. If you just want video outputs, there are these:

Other World Computing – OWC Thunderbolt Dual DisplayPort Adapter

SonnetTech – Thunderbolt to Dual 4K DisplayPort Adapter (order page here)

These adapters rely on Thunderbolt to provide a wide "data highway" to carry two video signals.


If your Cinema Display has a "captive" Mini DisplayPort cable, you would also need a couple of these:

Amazon Marketplace - Cable Matters DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort Adapter, 6 Inches (DisplayPort Male to Mini DisplayPort Female Adapter Cable, DP to Mini DP), Compatible with Apple Cinema Display via Mini DisplayPort

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User profile for user: Servant of Cats
Servant of Cats
User level: Level 6
17,128 points

Aug 31, 2024 10:31 PM in response to pitchfork

If you have a Thunderbolt Display (model A1407) connected via an Apple Thunderbolt 3-to-2 adapter, and its two-headed "hydra" cable is in working order, you could daisy-chain a second Thunderbolt Display to the Thunderbolt daisy-chaining port on the first display.


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You cannot connect two Cinema Displays, that take (Mini) DisplayPort input, using USB-C (DisplayPort). Macs do not support DisplayPort MST daisy-chaining, and Cinema Displays don't have DisplayPort daisy-chaining ports.


You can connect a Thunderbolt dock or hub to one of the USB-C (Thunderbolt) ports on your M1 Max MacBook Pro and then plug two Cinema Displays into the dock or hub. If you go this way, avoid hubs and docks that have HDMI ports in favor of those that let you plug in your own USB-C adapters, and/or that have DisplayPort ports.

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Macbook Pro M1 with 2 x Cinema Displays?

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