Best M1 Mac mini docking station for luna display.

[oneartist]

The M1 Mac mini can not directly support a luna display plugged into a C port. Once the C port is used by the luna display you loose the external display. A docking station is required to expand C ports. I'm searching for the best Mac mini docking station that will support a luna display with an ipad Pro and still have an external monitor.

 

[joevt]

The Luna Display acts as a normal display connected to the GPU.

You can only connect one normal display to a M1 Mac's Thunderbolt ports. You can connect another display to the HDMI port of the M1 Mac mini.

What is your external display?

If you don't have the HDMI version of the Luna Display (it's not available yet and it will only be available for Windows?) and you don't have a HDMI port on your display, you can try converting HDMI to USB-C using the Club 3D CAC-1332. There's also a version of the adapter from SIIG and probably others. I don't know how well it works on M1 Macs (especially since Apple removed EDID overrides on M1 Macs).

Once you've connected two displays (one to HDMI and the other to USB-C) then the only way to add additional displays is to use a DisplayLink adapter. Display's connected to DisplayLink are not connected to the GPU so they do not perform as well (DisplayLink compresses video over USB).

 

[oneartist]

The Luna Display acts as a normal display connected to the GPU.

You can only connect one normal display to a M1 Mac's Thunderbolt ports. You can connect another display to the HDMI port of the M1 Mac mini.

What is your external display?

If you don't have the HDMI version of the Luna Display (it's not available yet and it will only be available for Windows?) and you don't have a HDMI port on your display, you can try converting HDMI to USB-C using the Club 3D CAC-1332. There's also a version of the adapter from SIIG and probably others. I don't know how well it works on M1 Macs (especially since Apple removed EDID overrides on M1 Macs).

Once you've connected two displays (one to HDMI and the other to USB-C) then the only way to add additional displays is to use a DisplayLink adapter. Display's connected to DisplayLink are not connected to the GPU so they do not perform as well (DisplayLink compresses video over USB).

My display is: Lenovo ThinkVision M14 14" 2xUSB Type-C Ports. I'm looking at a Microsoft Surface Dock 2 that has 2 front USB-C, 2 rear USB-C, two rear USB-A, 1gigabit ethernet and a 3.5mm in/out audio.

​

 

[joevt]

I'm looking at a Microsoft Surface Dock 2 that has 2 front USB-C, 2 rear USB-C, two rear USB-A, 1gigabit ethernet and a 3.5mm in/out audio.

From the specs, I believe the Microsoft Surface Dock 2 uses a two port DisplayPort 1.4 MST hub. It does not use DisplayLink. macOS (whether Intel or Apple Silicon) does not support MST for multiple displays. Therefore you can only connect one display to the dock while it is used with macOS.

 

[oneartist]

From the specs, I believe the Microsoft Surface Dock 2 uses a two port DisplayPort 1.4 MST hub. It does not use DisplayLink. macOS (whether Intel or Apple Silicon) does not support MST for multiple displays. Therefore you can only connect one display to the dock while it is used with macOS.

Thank you joevt.

From the specs, I believe the Microsoft Surface Dock 2 uses a two port DisplayPort 1.4 MST hub. It does not use DisplayLink. macOS (whether Intel or Apple Silicon) does not support MST for multiple displays. Therefore you can only connect one display to the dock while it is used with macOS.

I think this will work: OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock TB3DK14PSG. Please let me know if I'm wrong. Or, do you have any suggestions. You have been so helpful. There are several OWC, this is the one I meant.

 

[joevt]

I think this will work: OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock TB3DK14PSG. Please let me know if I'm wrong. Or, do you have any suggestions. You have been so helpful. There are several OWC, this is the one I meant.

Adding a dock does not allow connecting more displays. The limit is in the M1 Mac, not the dock.

In summary:
- One display total from USB-C of the M1 Mac (whether directly, or from a USB-C dock or a Thunderbolt dock)
- One display from HDMI of M1 Mac mini.
- Additional displays using DisplayLink. https://www.displaylink.com DisplayLink displays are not connected directly to the GPU like the above two options so they don't perform as well.

 

[joevt]

My suggestion is to try to connect a display to the HDMI port. Use a HDMI to USB-C adapter if necessary, like the CAC-1332.

 

[oneartist]

My suggestion is to try to connect a display to the HDMI port. Use a HDMI to USB-C adapter if necessary, like the CAC-1332.

You have been so helpful. At first, I thought that if I could just add more thunderbolt ports I could use the one of the C ports for my monitor. Your HDMI suggestion is the answer. I want to keep the M1 Mac mini behind the big screen and use it as part of a high end audio/video system with a music server NAS. I want to control the mini with a ipad Pro through the Luna display port. Your converter idea is all I need.