Will Thunderbolt allow multiple external displays?

The news about Thunderbolt mentions the ability to "daisy chain" up to 6 devices to the port.

Have there been any details released about the potential of driving multiple external monitors with Thunderbolt?

I have two 24" monitors that I'd like to use instead of the laptop display, but the Mini-Displayport only allows for a single external monitor (and yes, I've tried using both Dell's Multi Monitor Hub and Matrox's DualHead2Go devices with no luck).

Mac Pro Quad 3.0Ghz, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Feb 24, 2011 11:17 AM

43 replies

eddified

Level 1

0 points

Feb 26, 2011 11:20 AM in response to dlunt21

@dlunt21, the product you noted (at http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-BVU195-Display-Adapter-included/dp/B002GHBW4S/ref= sr11?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1298584261&sr=8-1 )

... does it have any issues with auto graphics switching on the newer macbook pros? I've read that the drivers have some issues with auto graphics switching and that you have to turn off auto graphics switching. 😟

Message was edited by: eddified

Feb 26, 2011 5:00 PM in response to Robbie Sinclair1

What about Diamond or IOGEAR USB to DVI device - that would work since it is separate from the Thunderbolt or other built in external monitor port. Sure not as elegant and apparently only for 32 bit 10.6 at the moment.

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Feb 26, 2011 8:06 PM in response to Robbie Sinclair1

Have there been any details released about the potential of driving multiple external monitors with Thunderbolt?

DisplayPort has been capable of that trick since version 1.2 independent of Thunderbolt. But I haven't seen any monitors with DP loop through ports on them.

bradhs

Level 1

9 points

Mar 7, 2011 9:10 PM in response to BSteely

I personally have a ThinkPad T410s and while plugged into the docking station using the internal laptop video card I'm able to drive two monitors, one at 2560x1600 and another at 1920x1200 with no issues at all.

I was looking at replacing the ThinkPad with a MacBook Pro but it doesn't look like the MacBook Pro is capable of natively driving two external monitors. Unfortunate since technicially it most likely can do it.

RA_Iowa

Level 1

0 points

Mar 29, 2011 9:34 AM in response to bradhs

This is mostly an FYI for everyone, I have a Mac Book Pro 2011 model that I have had for maybe 2 weeks. I have used a Dell Latitude e65xx for years (have about 14 dells at home) and have had three monitors hooked to the Latitude Docking Station. I bought the Mac Book Pro for multiple reasons and just totally assumed that it supported outputting to multiple displays.

I used the following products to make this work for my Mac Book Pro:
Dell Multi-Monitor Hub Adapter
Manufacturer Part# : 3KN79
Dell Part# : 330-9118

In addition since that uses a Display Port I had to also get a Mini-DisplayPort to DisplayPort Adapter. I used one I found from B&H.com
B&H # GEAMDDMfr # ADA-MDP-2-DPF

Using this setup I was able to get all three displays working. The only issue I have with it is that it is basically 1 LARGE monitor. The resolution I am currently using is 3840x1024. Not the best setup in the world but it could work for you. I am going to be trying something else using USB to DVI connections and then the Mini-DisplayPort to HDMI. If I get that working the way that I hope to, I will let you all know how that is setup.

Hope that this helps someone!

Message was edited by: RA_Iowa

cavisto

Level 1

0 points

Mar 29, 2011 9:44 PM in response to RA_Iowa

Wondering if the above set up with the dell hub is experiencing any delay on 1080 video playback running 3840x1024- spread out across 3 monitors. I do the above with a MBP -8600m and a matrox TH2go. but I have delay at 3840x1024.. but my MBP is a couple years old.

bradhs

Level 1

9 points

Apr 20, 2011 6:21 PM in response to Robbie Sinclair1

bump ... Anyone have a good update if there's a way to do this? Won't switch to a MBP unless I can keep my 30" and 24" external LCD's. 2560x1600 and 1920x1200

lvekua

Level 1

4 points

May 19, 2011 11:23 PM in response to Robbie Sinclair1

May 4, 2011 - Matrox Graphics Inc. today announced that the Matrox DualHead2Go DP Edition and TripleHead2Go DP Edition are now compatible with the latest Apple® MacBook® Pro notebooks featuring the new Thunderbolt™ port.

Original Post

Jul 8, 2011 9:39 PM in response to lvekua

Just received a 2011 21.5" iMac today with a 27" studio monitor. When I went to System Profiler there a 4 display connectors listed even though I have only 1 TB port. What do you think?

Jul 16, 2011 7:51 AM in response to jsrousseau

in response to the comment about the matrox triplehead2go displayport (DP) edition having 'jittery mouse movement every 3 seconds' on a macbook pro, here is my solution:

find and delete AppleUpstreamUserClient.kext

this fixed it for me, and made my triplehead2go DP edition actually usable.

Jul 20, 2011 10:41 PM in response to Robbie Sinclair1

I am running a 2011 MacBook Pro with a Matrox dual head display port, I can run 2 monitors at 1920 x 1200 on each, they still act as 1 monitor however, meaning that all windows tend to pop up over the monitor join (a little annoying!).

The point is, you can have dual external screens on the new MacBook Pro, but it needs to be the display port version only, the screens can be dvi, hdmi or display port, but connection into the Matrox must be DP!

I have not experienced any visual jitter at all, so maybe this is only a triple head problem!

Jul 21, 2011 6:51 AM in response to Mathew Cook

If you look at the apple website this morning good news is finally here!!!

Expand the capabilities of your MacBook Pro.

Connect two Thunderbolt Displays to a 15- or 17-inch MacBook Pro or to an iMac and put an extra 7 million pixels to work. To make a desktop workstation out of your MacBook Pro, just daisy-chain additional Thunderbolt devices, including high-performance storage and video and audio capture devices, through the display.

ruffin

Level 1

14 points

Jul 21, 2011 2:15 PM in response to Jeff Tomascak

@Tomascak -- Well, good news iff you have $1000 for a top of the line monitor. For those of us in Hannspree-land, you're still stuck with a monitor that swallows your TB>>>DVI signal.

We need a hydra-headed TB out cable. I found a decent but somewhat old review of some EVGA USB>>>VGA hardware, which still looks like the best route out for poorer Mac users for now.

Jul 25, 2011 12:06 PM in response to ruffin

i dont think its just about being poor ruffin it is also about choice.

the new thunderbolt diplay is cool but it is an extremely expensive thunderbolt hub

i think it would be cool if apple (or anyone else for that matter) hurried up and made a hub

the new display is a hub so.............

why not just the hub on its own minus the display ?

the display has

Three powered USB 2.0 ports
FireWire 800 port
Gigabit Ethernet port
Thunderbolt port

why not just release this as a hub?

i personally would also like to see a few different options for different types of use.

for example:

a monitor hub : with two or three mini display ports

a hard drive hub : with two or three firewire 800 ports

a mixture of the two : with two mini display ports and one firewire 800

why not?

Jul 25, 2011 12:11 PM in response to domusfitz

also i do not want a 27 inch screen ! it is just too big ! i would consider buying this thunderbolt hub screen if it was 21-24 inch and half the price !

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Will Thunderbolt allow multiple external displays?