3 Monitors On 2012 Mac Mini

[jakesaunders27]

Hi,
Looking at my options for a Mac Mini in the studio, definitely want 2 thunderbolt displays one for logic session window and one for my mix window but they will be daisy chained together on one thunderbolt port, can i then use the hdmi to run a older dell ultrasharp for my BPM clock in my live room? would this work? can the mini drive 3 monitors?

Cheers

 

[paulrbeers]

Hi,
Looking at my options for a Mac Mini in the studio, definitely want 2 thunderbolt displays one for logic session window and one for my mix window but they will be daisy chained together on one thunderbolt port, can i then use the hdmi to run a older dell ultrasharp for my BPM clock in my live room? would this work? can the mini drive 3 monitors?

Cheers

My understanding is only the 2011 Mid-mini with the 6630M could run 3 monitors. The only way you can add a third is to use a USB to VGA/DVI/etc. connection. These aren't ideal, but the only way to push a third display.

 

[martinX]

This might do the trick:
http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/products/gxm/th2go/displayport/

 

[dbroncos78087]

This might do the trick:
http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/products/gxm/th2go/displayport/

That costs about $300 (Amazon). I think a USB dongle would be cheaper but there might be a lag. I can't remember the brand but they use the DisplayLink drivers.

http://www.displaylink.com/support/downloads.php

I have one at work but I can't remember the brand as I just found it in a box. A guy at work has 5 monitors using them.

 

[jakesaunders27]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for the replies, so the only way to do it is using one of those adaptors then, I can't do it how I said above?

Cheers

 

[paulrbeers]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for the replies, so the only way to do it is using one of those adaptors then, I can't do it how I said above?

Cheers

Correct either using a USB adapter or the matrix adapter. You can not use 3 monitors the way you hoped

 

[dbroncos78087]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for the replies, so the only way to do it is using one of those adaptors then, I can't do it how I said above?

Cheers

I've been told you can daisy chain TB but when I got mine I didn't shell out the cash so I don't really know. I think without the adapter or dongle you're out of luck.

I think the adapter is more expensive but my guess is that it's probably going to be a higher quality and less lag. I only have experience with the dongle (on an OptiPlex 780) and it works well with MAYBE a few millisecond delay.

 

[sportster]

I've heard that the TB can power 2 TB Displays on the Mac Mini, could you then use the HDMI out to a 3rd display (via HDMI or DVI)?

It's not the most cost affect method, with the TB Displays costing around 1k each.

 

[michael_aos]

The Late 2012 Mini will only natively drive 2 monitors.

When you plug-in the 3rd, one of the others will go black. I've tried it. There is also an Apple technical document available with the details.

The ability to drive 3 displays is one thing I miss about my old 2006 Mac Pro 1,1.
--

 

[raniel]

The Late 2012 Mini will only natively drive 2 monitors.

When you plug-in the 3rd, one of the others will go black. I've tried it. There is also an Apple technical document available with the details.

The ability to drive 3 displays is one thing I miss about my old 2006 Mac Pro 1,1.
--

care to post the link of the apple document? Im also planning to use 3 monitors on my mini. Thanks

 

[krburrell]

care to post the link of the apple document? Im also planning to use 3 monitors on my mini. Thanks

See item 14 in the list and footnote 4
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5219

 

[dbroncos78087]

See item 14 in the list and footnote 4
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5219

There are still ways to go beyond the native. The USB dongle or one of the thunderbolt splitter/adapters (that I think someone posted in this thread).

 

[BookEmDanno]

question on possibly using 3 monitors on a 2012 core i7

My monitors
- 2 samsungs with DVI ports
- visio 42 hd tv with hdmi ports

my adapters and cables
- minidisplay (comes with the MM)
- mini display port to dvi
- iogear usb to dvi adapter
- dvi and hdmi cables

will this setup work?
1. MM thunderbolt port <-> samsung monitor dvi using the mini display dvi abd iogear adapter.
2. MM usb port <--> samsung using minidisplay adapter that came with the MM
3. MM hdmi port <--> Visio hd tv using an HDMI cable

~ Aloha! ~

 

[tuxon86]

The USB adapter could work. Your BPM meter isn't all that graphic intensive, like a 3D game or a CAD application. That adapter won't be crunching vertex calculation. It will only display a 2D screen of information.

 

[michael_aos]

Is there any advantage to a USB3 video adapter -vs- USB2?

Any known-good or known-bad examples?

 

[Acorn]

/removed

 

[mdgolom]

/removed after reading all posts.