Q: Dual/Multiple Monitor Set-up on MacBook Pro
Hi All!
I am new to the community, so please forgive me for asking this question if it has already been answered. I searched through multiple threads but couldn't find my exact questions answer.
I have a Early 2013 MacBook Pro and am looking at getting, at minimum, a dual-monitor setup for my system. It is the 15" Retina model w/2.4 GHz Intel quad core i7, 16GB DDR3 RAM and NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M w/1GB (and Intel HD Graphics 4000). I also have the latest OSX El Capitan version.
Recently, I was given two slightly older 19" HP monitors w/ maximum resolution of 1280x1024 with only a VGA connection. Getting excited, I purchased a Belkin dongle splitter that went from my Mini Displayport / Thunderbolt port to the splitter 'box' that had two VGA connectors. Upon plugging both monitors in and supplying power to the dongle my image appeared on both monitors! However, it was only mirroring the screen not extending my display across the two external monitors as I had wanted.
I started doing some research online on how to fix this, and came across many different articles that explained I needed to go into the "Display" section within my System Preferences. Upon doing that, and unchecking the 'mirror' option - both monitors went blank and displayed like shown in the image attached. I couldn't figure out what was going on and upon trying to change the resolution on my MacBook Pro, I was given no resolution. When I would go back to mirroring mode, the displays would come back to life but basically acted like two external monitors displaying what was on my 15" MBP screen. So in a sense, I had three screens doing the same thing.
Now, I am looking to purchase two 22" Dell Monitors that support a slightly higher resolution and also have DVI ports instead of VGA. It also looks like they have a Mini Display port as well as the VGA! But before jumping in to buy them, I am compelled to ask - what happened to me the last time?
Is the MBP model that I have just not able to extend the display to two external monitors? Or was it something to do with the maximum resolution or the VGA connector?
Also, overall, is there an easier way of going about this whole dual-monitor setup? Or maybe a monitor I should invest in to make the process easier?
Thank you very much for any and all help you may be able to provide me!
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Early 2013), OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)
Posted on Sep 2, 2016 3:14 PM
