16" MBP - 2x Thunderbolt Displays + Pro Display XDR?

[straightMacin]

Hello everyone,

Sorry if this has been asked before or if this isn't the right place for the post.

I had a quick question regarding the capabilities of the new 16" MBP. I currently run 2x Thunderbolt Displays on a 2012 rMBP and am looking to upgrade (my rMBP is so terribly slow, I can hardly even browse the internet or even Finder!). I'm wondering if the new 16" MBP can handle these two monitors as well as the Pro Display XDR at full 6k resolution?

I saw another thread where someone was having issues with 3 displays on their machine so I wanted to check if anyone has run the above configuration successfully?

Thanks in advance, I appreciate any help that is given.

-straightMacin

 

[Glockworkorange]

Hello everyone,

Sorry if this has been asked before or if this isn't the right place for the post.

I had a quick question regarding the capabilities of the new 16" MBP. I currently run 2x Thunderbolt Displays on a 2012 rMBP and am looking to upgrade (my rMBP is so terribly slow, I can hardly even browse the internet or even Finder!). I'm wondering if the new 16" MBP can handle these two monitors as well as the Pro Display XDR at full 6k resolution?

I saw another thread where someone was having issues with 3 displays on their machine so I wanted to check if anyone has run the above configuration successfully?

Thanks in advance, I appreciate any help that is given.

-straightMacin

It will run two 6K displays.

I've run two 5K TB 3 displays as well.

What are the TB displays you speak of? The original TB displays (Thunderbolt 1)?

If so, I think you should be fine to add the 6K with two of those, but I don't know the answer for sure.

 

[straightMacin]

It will run two 6K displays.

I've run two 5K TB 3 displays as well.

What are the TB displays you speak of? The original TB displays (Thunderbolt 1)?

If so, I think you should be fine to add the 6K with two of those, but I don't know the answer for sure.

Yeah, the old Thunderbolt 1 displays (27 inch).

I'm mainly wondering about cord logistics. How would I connect these three monitors to the machine? Would the XDR go straight to a USB C port, then daisy chain the TB displays and connect them to a second USB C port? Or would it be better to use some sort of dock?

 

[Glockworkorange]

Yeah, the old Thunderbolt 1 displays (27 inch).

I'm mainly wondering about cord logistics. How would I connect these three monitors to the machine? Would the XDR go straight to a USB C port, then daisy chain the TB displays and connect them to a second USB C port? Or would it be better to use some sort of dock?

You'd need at least one TB 1 to TB 3 adapter. I have one---very bulky but works fine.

I think you could daisy chain the TB 1's together while using up one TB 3 port on the Mac and then use the XDR in a separate TB 3 port leaving you with two left over.

I was just about to buy the original 27 inch TB display art night because I found some good deals, but I also had concerns re: connectivity.

I can't recall if those displays charge the laptop through thunderbolt or a MagSafe.

 

[straightMacin]

You'd need at least one TB 1 to TB 3 adapter. I have one---very bulky but works fine.

I think you could daisy chain the TB 1's together while using up one TB 3 port on the Mac and then use the XDR in a separate TB 3 port leaving you with two left over.

I was just about to buy the original 27 inch TB display art night because I found some good deals, but I also had concerns re: connectivity.

I can't recall if those displays charge the laptop through thunderbolt or a MagSafe.

They charge via Magsafe.

The TB displays have been awesome. The resolution isn't the best, but the work fine for my workflow. Adding the XDR will definitely enhance my setup though.

Will pushing that many pixels slow the machine in any way? I'm looking for the smoothest experience as possible.

 

[jaytv111]

Yeah, the old Thunderbolt 1 displays (27 inch).

I'm mainly wondering about cord logistics. How would I connect these three monitors to the machine? Would the XDR go straight to a USB C port, then daisy chain the TB displays and connect them to a second USB C port? Or would it be better to use some sort of dock?

Since the displays are Thunderbolt you're limited to using Thunderbolt ports only. You can't for instance use a dock with Displayport to connect the older displays through Displayport. If you had the earlier Apple display (LED Cinema Display) it could be used with a dock through the Displayports, but you're limited with Thunderbolt to using either the Mac's Thunderbolt ports, or a passthrough port on a dock (a dock will limit you to one passthrough port). In total, you're limited to I think 6 devices on a Thunderbolt controller, the Mac has 2 Thunderbolt controllers.

A Thunderbolt dock could be used but if you don't need the ports then it's not strictly necessary.

You could for instance plug a TB3 dock into the Mac, plug TB3 to TB2 adapter into the passthrough TB3 port, then Apple TB display to the adapter, then the other display into the first TB display, then the XDR can be plugged into an opposite side port on the Mac for the most bandwidth reserved for the XDR display.

 

[frou]

I currently run 2x Thunderbolt Displays on a 2012 rMBP and am looking to upgrade (my rMBP is so terribly slow, I can hardly even browse the internet or even Finder!).

If it used to be fine, then I bet dusting out the fans and replacing the thermal paste would give a surprising boost.

 

[Glockworkorange]

They charge via Magsafe.

The TB displays have been awesome. The resolution isn't the best, but the work fine for my workflow. Adding the XDR will definitely enhance my setup though.

Will pushing that many pixels slow the machine in any way? I'm looking for the smoothest experience as possible.

Shouldn't be an issue. The 16 inch can push two 6K displays PLUS its own retina display. It should be fine with one 6K and 2 1080p or whatever those TB 1 displays are resolution-wise.