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1 Thunderbolt Port w/ 2 External Monitors

K

KELLES

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 9, 2014
13
0
Hello everyone, i am currently using os x mavericks with one external monitor connected to my 21.5 inch Mac through the Thunderbolt port using the monoprice Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter.

Everything runs smoothly, couldn't be happier but now i want to add another monitor to my mac, therefore i will have 2 external monitors in total. however is it possible to run two monitors through one thunderbolt port?

Thank you
 
KELLES said:
...
Everything runs smoothly, couldn't be happier but now i want to add another monitor to my mac, therefore i will have 2 external monitors in total. however is it possible to run two monitors through one thunderbolt port?

Thank you
Click to expand...
If your iMac supports 3 displays your other display would have to be an Apple Thunderbolt Display. If the $1000 is more than you want to spend, then any further research doesn't matter.
 
No i do not want to spend $1000 for a 3rd display. So thats the only way to have 2 external monitors?

Actually i am aware about the USB/DVI adapter solution but people reported a laggy monitor when using this configuration, for that reason i am looking fro something better
 
KELLES said:
No i do not want to spend $1000 for a 3rd display. So thats the only way to have 2 external monitors?
Click to expand...
Well another choice might be a Thunderbolt dock that has a HDMI port on it. I'm not sure if there are any issues going Mac->Thunderbolt Dock w/HDMI port->mDP/HDMI adapter.
 
Yeah the dock Thats another expensive solution.

So there is not any device with Thunderbolt to 2 HDMI sockets?

Or maybe if i use thunderbolt to HDMI>HDMI to 2 HDMI sockets...
 
The only way to run three displays off any iMac, short of using a USB-video adapter, is if one is a Thunderbolt display (iMac -> TBD -> Display Port monitor).

I do not know if the Thunderbolt docks like the Matrox DS1 with HDVI or DVI can be used to connect one monitor, then have a 2nd Display Port monitor connected to it via the outbound TB port. A quick email to their sales or tech support people may answer that question.
 
xraydoc said:
The only way to run three displays off any iMac, short of using a USB-video adapter, is if one is a Thunderbolt display (iMac -> TBD -> Display Port monitor).

I do not know if the Thunderbolt docks like the Matrox DS1 with HDVI or DVI can be used to connect one monitor, then have a 2nd Display Port monitor connected to it via the outbound TB port. A quick email to their sales or tech support people may answer that question.
Click to expand...

I didn't think you could add a thunderbolt display to a thunderbolt display on the iMac. I always thought they had to go to a dedicated port on the iMac itself. Know this for sure?
 
xraydoc said:
I believe it can be done with a TB device between the monitors.
Click to expand...

I've heard that as well but also heard it does not work by Apple people. I'd like to hook up 3 thunderbolts to a new iMac but don't want to be the guinea pig.
 
macpro2000 said:
I've heard that as well but also heard it does not work by Apple people. I'd like to hook up 3 thunderbolts to a new iMac but don't want to be the guinea pig.
Click to expand...

The iMac definitely won't support 4 monitors (internal + 3 TBD like you mentioned), but I believe it will support two external. I could be wrong, but I think that's correct.
 
Ok thanks, that's what needed to know. However crazy how my Mac Pro can support 4 combining a 256mb and a 512mb card, but a 4gb iMac can only do 3.
 
macpro2000 said:
Ok thanks, that's what needed to know. However crazy how my Mac Pro can support 4 combining a 256mb and a 512mb card, but a 4gb iMac can only do 3.
Click to expand...

Your iMac has one mobile-class GPU which has a limit to how many displays it can support. The Mac Pro you describe has two separate desktop GPU cards which each appear to support two displays. Add another card and you could add another two (or more) displays.

The downside to the iMac is that it's not designed with internal expansion. The upside is a smaller, cooler, quieter machine with an integrated display.

Honestly, in my humble opinion, once one starts requiring 3 or more displays, the iMac is no longer the right computer choice.

If your iMac has a thunderbolt port, you can consider an external PCI expansion slot and video card. Fairly expensive and you may not get the performance you're looking for, but better (performance-wise) than a USB to video adapter. But expensive and the money would likely have been better used towards a Mac Pro and not upgrading an iMac beyond its intended use.
 
xraydoc said:
Your iMac has one mobile-class GPU which has a limit to how many displays it can support. The Mac Pro you describe has two separate desktop GPU cards which each appear to support two displays. Add another card and you could add another two (or more) displays.

The downside to the iMac is that it's not designed with internal expansion. The upside is a smaller, cooler, quieter machine with an integrated display.

Honestly, in my humble opinion, once one starts requiring 3 or more displays, the iMac is no longer the right computer choice.

If your iMac has a thunderbolt port, you can consider an external PCI expansion slot and video card. Fairly expensive and you may not get the performance you're looking for, but better (performance-wise) than a USB to video adapter. But expensive and the money would likely have been better used towards a Mac Pro and not upgrading an iMac beyond its intended use.
Click to expand...

Nicely put. I get it.
 
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