2 external monitors with the new retina rMB?

[Keene1bj]

Using the adapter of course. Is it possible, and if so, has anyone used the HDMI from the adapter for one monitor and then a USB to HDMI converter via the USB port in the adapter for the second monitor?

 

[Lanny3]

Using the adapter of course. Is it possible, and if so, has anyone used the HDMI from the adapter for one monitor and then a USB to HDMI converter via the USB port in the adapter for the second monitor?

You can't run a monitor from a USB port.

 

[henry72]

You can't run a monitor from a USB port.

Umm yes you CAN
But I don't think you can run 2 though!

http://store.apple.com/us/product/M...b07f2b46e51&fs=f=12inchmacbook&fh=4098%2B44c7

 

[seong]

You can't run a monitor from a USB port.

USB C can

 

[Lanny3]

No you can't. The USB-A port is a USB 3 port. The other USB-C port is for power input from the power supply.

 

[NutsNGum]

No you can't. The USB-A port is a USB 3 port. The other USB-C port is for power input from the power supply.

You can with an adaptor but the refresh rate and quality is crappy beyond belief.

 

[Mcdevidr]

Plugable is coming out with a USB C dock that claims it will support multiple monitors.

http://plugable.com/kickstarter

 

[Lanny3]

Not with the Apple adapter. The 2nd USB- C port is for power input only. Read the specs for it. It just allows for the use of a USB 3 device and a HDMI display while charging the MacBook.

 

[Lanny3]

You can with an adaptor but the refresh rate and quality is crappy beyond belief.

Read the Specs: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204360

The USB-C port on this adapter charges your computer, but it doesn't transfer data. Use the USB-C Charge Cable and the 29W USB-C Power Adapter (included in the box with your MacBook) to charge your computer.

 

[NutsNGum]

Read the Specs: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204360

No thanks.

 

[rahulr]

Using the adapter of course. Is it possible, and if so, has anyone used the HDMI from the adapter for one monitor and then a USB to HDMI converter via the USB port in the adapter for the second monitor?

Not ideal, but you can do airplay to one monitor (via AppleTV/HDMI) and direct connect to another (HDMI/AV Adapter). I do this with my main monitor being what I work on with a TV to the side for notifications, additional workspace etc.

Again, it's not ideal and I need to reconnect to the TV when the rMB goes to sleep or I unplug it or some other interruption, but when it works, it's pretty sweet.

 

[DanielNTX]

Yes you can with a USB-C to DisplayPort cable and a MST hub or MST compatible monitors.

 

[Dayv]

You can with an adaptor but the refresh rate and quality is crappy beyond belief.

A coworker of mine used to run 4 USB 2.1 video adapters, connected to 19" monitors, off of a hub connected to one USB port on his MBP, while also running a larger monitor off of his DVI port. The extra monitors were usable for work, but if he tried to play video in them it was choppy at best. He also had to rearrange them in the display settings just about every time he reconnected to the hub, as they seemed to determine their order at random.

Further proof that just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

 

[legioxi]

A coworker of mine used to run 4 USB 2.1 video adapters, connected to 19" monitors, off of a hub connected to one USB port on his MBP, while also running a larger monitor off of his DVI port. The extra monitors were usable for work, but if he tried to play video in them it was choppy at best. He also had to rearrange them in the display settings just about every time he reconnected to the hub, as they seemed to determine their order at random.

Further proof that just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

USB 3 video adapters should fix that issue. They still won't be like a PCIe GPU but they have a lot more bandwidth to work with than USB 2 adapters.

----------

No you can't. The USB-A port is a USB 3 port. The other USB-C port is for power input from the power supply.

There are video adapters for USB-A ports using USB 2.0 and 3.0. They don't use the internal GPU of the computer. It is built into the adapter and connects as a USB video device.