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Level 1

9 points

Two DVI monitors on new MacPro - workaround?

According to this support article, the new Mac Pro (2013) will support a maximum of two DVI monitors.

Can someone confirm that this is the case if ONLY using passive mDP/DVI adapters like Apple's?

If one uses active adapters, does one get access to more DVI monitors?

I currently use an active adapter with my circa-2006 (w/Radeon 5770) to attain more monitors than would be possible than just by using passive adapters.

There's an interesting but dated explanation here on the difference between the two types of adapters.

-- bp

Mac Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)

Posted on Dec 21, 2013 10:03 AM

22 replies

zzyzyman Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 28, 2014 12:19 PM in response to jpellizzi

In your configuration, one monitor can be direct HDMI, one can be DVI via a vanilla (passive) Apple adpater. All other adapters must be of the active type.

Suggested configuration:

40" TV (HDMI) --> HDMI cable --> Mac Pro

24" Dell Monitor (HDMI) --> HDMI cable --> Adapter 1 --> Mac Pro

24" Acer monitor (DVI) --> DVI cable --> Adapter 2 --> Mac Pro

Adapter 1: Accell B086B-007B-2 -- Active Adapter, HDMI-mDP, $30

Adapter 2: Accell B087B-006B -- Active Adapter, DVI-mDP, $30

Adapter 2 can be the vanilla Apple DVI-mDP $30 adapter, but for the same price, why not make it an active one? I can especially vouch for it, as I'm using it now on my MacPro 2013.

Bonus: Put these three monitors on different TB busses.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5918

Feb 28, 2014 12:29 PM in response to zzyzyman

Thanks so much man, so the Dell would need to be an active adapter also, Active Minidisplay to HDMI, but the DVI one doesn't have to be.

So basically the Mac Pro treats HDMI and DVI as the same type of output.

I already own a minidisplay to HDMI (passive) adapter, and an HDMI to DVI (passive) - I guess I can't use them though, right?

Feb 28, 2014 12:38 PM in response to jpellizzi

I already own a minidisplay to HDMI (passive) adapter, and an HDMI to DVI (passive) - I guess I can't use them though, right?

The built-in HDMI output (if you choose to use it) counts as One non-ACTIVE converter.

HDMI (1080p or less)<--> DVI (under 1920 wide) is just a re-wiring -- there is no conversion.

zzyzyman Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 28, 2014 12:41 PM in response to jpellizzi

You can use your passive mDP to HDMI adapter in place of adapter 1 -- but then adapter 2 (and any new monitors) must be active.

Mar 4, 2014 7:23 PM in response to jpellizzi

I currently use 4 dvi displays on a 6 core D500 nMP. 2 with apple dvi-d adapters and 2 with active dvi adapters. Works fine

May 4, 2015 11:33 AM in response to zzyzyman

I called the Apple Support because I thought mine was busted!

They emailed me a link which tells me I'm limited to 2 DVI's etc etc. I worked around the problem with my Elgato Thunderbolt Dock which I had to extend my previous MBP so I now have 3 DVI Monitors but will need to buy the £85 Dual Link 'Active' DVI and USB adapter to have another 1 or 3 monitors.

Considering I opted in for the D700 graphics card I thought it could handle it but I guess I'm wrong.

The fact is that most other manufacturers would just make the graphics card work to support as many monitors as possible without additional costs. I love Apple's products but sometimes I think I'll be better off with a custom build PC and an IT technician to fix all its problems!

May 4, 2015 11:55 AM in response to TheBornAgainJonesy

That Mac Pro dark cylinder supports up to six state-of-the-art DisplayPort displays.

If you insist on using what card manufacturers are now calling "legacy" displays, you may be limited to fewer unless you use ACTIVE adapters. If you want to run a DVI display wider than 1920 wide, that requires the very expensive Dual-Link DVI adapter. All of this is covered in comments above.

"When you have any non-ThunderBolt, non-DisplayPort [incl Mini DisplayPort] devices, at most two of those are supported using "any-old-adapter". To run more requires an ACTIVE adapter.

Apple's ACTIVE Adapter is an industrial-strength Dual-Link DVI-capable adapter that works in every situation. It is an expensive solution, but it always works.

For displays under 1920 wide, which only require Single-link DVI, you can use a less-expensive ACTIVE Single-Link adapter such as those made by Accell or Startech, about US$30. For conversion to HDMI at 1080p or less, MonoPrice sells a comparable ACTIVE adapter at around the same price point."

Two DVI monitors on new MacPro - workaround?