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Can I connect an iMac to more than one screen?
- Thread starter uaecasher
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You can plug one external monitor of equal resolution.
If you want more than 2 monitors, like let's say you wanted to build a spaceship, then you could in theory get a third with an expensive adaptor.
Hellhammer
Moderator emeritus
Not true. It doesn't have to have the same resolution as iMac's screen.
@OP: It might be possible with this but I've heard people having problems with it
yes you can and the adapter i use wasn't expensive. both my
23"external monitors run at 1920x1080. this is what I have. http://www.diamondmm.com/BVU195.php
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RedRaven571
macrumors 65816
So, are you, in fact, building a spaceship? If so, can I have a ride (after you work out any bugs, of course)?
I run dual screen of my work 22" Dell. It has Displayport input, so I get a mini-display to display port cable and it works great. It's cool too, when I powerup the Dell to that input the iMac automatically switches to dual display mode and when I shut it off returns to single display. I only wish the monitor had a higher resolution. The sequencer in Logic Studio has fonts twice the size.
Badger^2
macrumors 68000
There are several USB options.
Newer model does 2048 X 1152.
http://eshop.macsales.com/search/DVI+/+HDMI+/+VGA+to+Video+Display+Adapter
Newer model does 2048 X 1152.
http://eshop.macsales.com/search/DVI+/+HDMI+/+VGA+to+Video+Display+Adapter
A USB display adapter? What an absolutely horrible and idiotic idea. Might work for word processing, but that's about it.
Hellhammer
Moderator emeritus
linux2mac
macrumors 65816
MacSales.com (OWC) has a new high definition USB video adatper.
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer Technology/VIDU2DVIA/
I had tried the non high definition version ( the high definition version came out a couple months after I made my purchase) but had issues with my 27" base model iMac. For one, the screens would freeze after waking up from sleep mode. I ended up sending it back after a week. I was not sure if this was a issue with the 27' iMac or the video adapter. OWC claims to have no trouble with this adapter on Mac Book Pros.
Anyways, another thing that bothered me that was not related to the product's performance was that the resolution of the 27" iMac screen is superior to my other displays. I would prefer having equal resolution across all three displays. I did not like having to re-size a window when dragging it from my 27" iMac to the secondary or third display.
-Mike
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer Technology/VIDU2DVIA/
I had tried the non high definition version ( the high definition version came out a couple months after I made my purchase) but had issues with my 27" base model iMac. For one, the screens would freeze after waking up from sleep mode. I ended up sending it back after a week. I was not sure if this was a issue with the 27' iMac or the video adapter. OWC claims to have no trouble with this adapter on Mac Book Pros.
Anyways, another thing that bothered me that was not related to the product's performance was that the resolution of the 27" iMac screen is superior to my other displays. I would prefer having equal resolution across all three displays. I did not like having to re-size a window when dragging it from my 27" iMac to the secondary or third display.
-Mike
Full of Win
macrumors 68030
No, not really. Many 'pallet based' programs, like Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Vegas, Cinema 4D...etc benefit from having an extra screen that does not have to be super fast.
Also, you can put programs that you like to monitor on the secondary(or tertiary) screen. For example, Mail and Transmission can 'live' on a the screen connected to the USB port.