Daisy Chain Display Port monitor to Thunderbolt Display

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Daisy Chain Display Port monitor to Thunderbolt Display

Hello. I am running on a late 2013 Macbook Pro, and have a Thunderbolt Display plugged into it via thunderbolt. We just got new monitors that have Display Port 1.2 (DP1.2) on them (the big one, not mDP). If we got an adapter for mDP to DP, will we be able to daisy chain the monitor off the Thunderbolt Display?

It would be as follows:

Macbook Pro --(thunderbolt)--> Thunderbolt Display --(mDP to DP)--> DP1.2 monitor (Lenovo T2454d)

Or, would we have to run both monitors off the laptop?

The monitors also have HDMI, however one of us has a MacBook air so no HDMI, just one Thunderbolt Port. Thanks!

Posted on Jan 29, 2016 1:38 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 30, 2016 1:24 AM in response to chosenken42

https://support.apple.com/HT204154

"Mini DisplayPort displays will not function if connected to the Thunderbolt port of an Apple Thunderbolt Display. Displays connected via Mini DisplayPort video adapter or cable to the Thunderbolt port of an Apple Thunderbolt Display will not work."

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Answer 2

Feb 3, 2016 4:07 PM in response to Malcolm J. Rayfield

No, it would totally work if he simply uses a mini display cable.

http://i.stack.imgur.com/ZK1Xk.jpg

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Answer 3

Feb 3, 2016 4:11 PM in response to chosenken42

Also, they do make hdmi to thunderbolt adapters so you arent entirely out of luck if you want to use hdmi.

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Answer 4

chosenken42 Author

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Feb 4, 2016 7:36 AM in response to chosenken42

Actually it didn't work for us. The second monitor, which has DP, when plugged into the Thunderbolt Cinema Display would not be recognized. It only worked if the display was plugged into the MacBook Pro.

MacBook Pro --> ThunderBolt Cinema Display --> Second Display (mDP to DP) : Will not work

MacBook Pro --> ThunderBolt Cinema Display

--> Second Display (mDP to DP) : Worked

The problem is my friend has a MacBook Air, so only have one Thunderbolt port, so he can't use the second monitor since it won't connect via the Thunderbolt Cinema Display. He just doesn't get to use it for now.

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Answer 5

Feb 4, 2016 8:50 PM in response to chosenken42

It will work if you connect a Thunderbolt disk drive (with two Thunderbolt ports) between the two displays.

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