Daisy chain two display port monitors (Dell U2913WM) to new Mac mini Thunderbolt?

I guess you found out by now that it does not work.

The problem is not the hardware not supporting it. It's macOS lacking the support for the daisy chain feature. As soon as you boot to windows in bootcamp it works. The macOS team needs to add the support for daisy chaining displayport in order to make this work.

The only thing we can do is send feedback to apple in the hope they will fix it.

As suggested by Robin on stackexchange.

Not sure if there was ever a solution to this thread, but I found a workaround that has me running on two Dell U2913WM's; I ordered a USB 3.0 to HDMI adapter off of Amazon (link below). I am able to run at full 2560 x 1080 resolution on HDMI.

I just installed the drivers, rebooted, and it auto recognized. Hope this helps if this is still an issue for you, or anyone else!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BPEV1XK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UT F8&psc=1

I'm not sure whether the issue is solved yet, but I planned to buy two of the Dell U2717D and asked

Dell for daisy-chaining. Their hint:

http://www.dell.com/support/article/ed/en/edbsdt1/SLN295251/how-to-configure-u24 15-monitor-daisy-chaining-on-intel-hd-gr…

Even the U24... should work. The trick is to enable the DP 1.2 support in the screen linked directly to

the GPU and disable it in the last guy in the chain. I've read the entire thread, but still don't know whether

somebody tried this...

I nevertheless hope it helps.

Just bought the latest Mcbook pro 13" fully loaded, and discovered that I can't Daisy Chain my 2 monitors...

I just can't believe that almost any PC in the world can do it and $2,300 laptop can't, and it's been like this for all the McBook Air models I had before.

Hello, I believe DaisyChaining only eorks for extended display if Thunderbolt, not MDP, though the ports are otherwise compatible.

HDMI port on the Mini is limited to1920*1080, or maybe 1920*1200, not quit sure.

Might look into some TB device that has a TB Hub in it, also not sure.

It is possible to daisy-chain two Apple Mini displayport monitors off a Thunderbolt interface or Mini displayport interface. This is because the Apple display has a mini displayport socket for connecting to (daisy chaining to) the second display.

According to http://www.dell.com/ed/business/p/dell-u2913wm/pd the Dell screen also has a second Displayport socket for daisy chaining. So in theory you could do the following.

Connect first screen to Mac via a Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt cable (backwards compatible with mini Displayport). Connect second screen to first screen via a Mini displayport (mini) to Displayport (non mini) cable.

The HDMI port is limited to a maximum resolution of 1920x1200

picaron77 wrote:

I purchased the thunderbolt cable, and the thunderbolt out on the mini into the mini display port input on the first monitor does not work. It says there is nothing plugged in, so I am wondering if it is really backwards compatible.

I believe you are using the wrong cable. Try it with a a Mini-DP to Mini-DP cable - not thunderbolt. I am looking to do the exact same thing as you with 2x Dell U2713H. I just ordered the first one and these new models have both Mini-DP + DP in and a DP out and support DP 1.2 MST (daisy chaining). From what I've read, TB is only DP 1.1a backwards compatabile so I think it will only support 1 monitor in the end 😟

Hopefully I'm wrong. Try the other cable and report back!

--mgb

So re-reading this thread, I now realize you did exactly what I wanted to do but your issue was having a cloned vs. extended desktop. Oops!

I believe your "nothing plugged in" issue is the cable. I'm not sure that TB cables are backwards compatible with DP - I think it's only the ports. Do you see multiple monitors in "System Preferences > Displays" if you hook the monitors up like you described in your OP?

My Dell U2713H arrived today and it works like a charm with the supplied Mini-DP to DP cable. The built-in display on my 13" mid 2009 MBP still works if not in clamshell mode, although I will mostly use mine in my HengeDock. In the OSD of the monitor, you can access "Display Settings > Display Info" and it will show you the DP capability. Mine is only DP 1.1a and I believe to run 2 of these at full resolution you will need the bandwidth in DP 1.2 which includes MST (daisy-chaining). This could be your problem.

Can you access the same menu in your OSD and report back what your DP compatability is?

Thanks!

mgb

Update: I did some more research

So it appears Thunderbolt is slated to only receive DP 1.2 compatability sometime this year. This is according to Intel's TB roadmap. I'm afraid this means you're out of luck unless TB is upgradeable. I just hope Apple includes it in the next MBP refresh.

PS: I bet your DP compatability also shows 1.1a in the OSD

I have the same exact issue as you; two U2913WM. I spent the money on these monitors trusting it would daisychain as expected but all I get is mirroring. I Bought the TB cable but had the same "nothing plugged in" issue. I went ahead and got a mini DP to mini DP cable but got the same mirroring issue. I researched alittle about the cable and learned it is not 1.2 capable. I dont know if the cables that comes with it are 1.2 capable so I ordered the "Accell B143B-003J UltraAV Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort 1.2". Also be sure to configure the settings on the monitor when you press menu > other settings > enable 1.2.

Ill post an update if it works with the accells.

I have a 13" MBP mid 2009 and I'm using the Dell supplied Mini-DP to DP cable. If I enable DP 1.2 compatability (Menu > Display Settings > DisplayPort 1.2 > Enable), everything works fine and under Display Info (same menu), the DP Capability shows: DP 1.2.

Now I'm not sure if that means my MBP is DP 1.2 capable (or a combination of the monitor/cable is) but everything works fine if DP 1.2 is enabled. For sure, my old MBP will not be able to push 2x 2560x1440, but I would totally upgrade to a non-retina MBP (before they're gone for good) and add another one of these monitors ... iff i knew it would work 🙂

Let us know how you manage!

I too am trying to daisy-chain two Dell monitors to a 2012 MB Pro Retina 13". I bought the Accell MDP to DP 1.2 cable to connect the first monitor to the MBP, but on the Dell U2412M monitor I can find no way to output the signal to the second monitor. I assume that the DVI input is for input only. Has anyone had

success with daisy-chaining?

@Herbie_K - The U2412M is missing the DP output - daisy chaining will only work if the 2 monitors are connected via DP.

I have the U2713H which does have the DP output but my 2009 MBP can't drive 2 of these monitors. I'm hoping someone can confirm that daisy chaining works so I can order another one of these!

@mgbb0wman - That was what I thought, thanks for the information. The next move will be to find a monitor with DP in and out. The Dell U2412 can be the end of the chain.