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Can I actually DUAL SCREEN (2 monitors) my 2011 macbook pro?

clutchm3

clutchm3

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 9, 2011
563
92
Hey guys so I recently purchased my 2011 17" macbook pro and have it connected to one of my external monitors with one of these Mini DisplayPort to HDMI cables (Example = http://www.amazon.com/Mini-DisplayP...A4FG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1317937030&sr=8-3)

But the thing is that is only to one monitor since the MBP only has one port for it. Is there a way to setup two external monitors with the MBP? Is there some cable? Please help me out here:confused:
 
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clutchm3 said:
Hey guys so I recently purchased my 2011 17" macbook pro and have it connected to one of my external monitors with one of these Mini DisplayPort to HDMI cables (Example = http://www.amazon.com/Mini-DisplayP...A4FG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1317937030&sr=8-3)

But the thing is that is only to one monitor since the MBP only has one port for it. Is there a way to setup two external monitors with the MBP? Is there some cable? Please help me out here:confused:
Click to expand...

This is the best option that I know of:

http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/products/gxm/
 
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Actually Displayport as of Spec 1.2 supports daisy chaining. You'd still need a Display with DP input and output port as the first in the chain.
I am not sure if the Displayport that they implemented along with Thunderbolt already supports that feature. Daisy chaining Thunderbolt should definitely work but displays which support it are aside from Apple's own still non existent.
Wikipedia says it is only DP 1.1a implemented but that doesn't have to mean there is no DP daisy chaining. Might just mean the bandwidth isn't at DP 1.2 level. I don't know if anybody tried yet.
There'd be fairly good and not as expensive displays from DELL which offer DP.

No matter what there would be a limit as to what kind of resolutions and refresh rates you can run. Daisy chained they share the bandwidth and two 27" screens won't run at default 60hz anymore.
 
timex88, don't let this die

timex88, don't let this die, how is the speed on that multimonitor setup with your sewell minideck? they claim 1080p video on a 1920x1080 monitor with that thing, so i'm assuming it has none of the lag other usb to hdmi/dvi/vga adapters seem to have.

thoughts?
 
Thoughts ? All USB video adapters are dog slow.

The Matrox Dualhead2Go/Triplehead2Go is the fastest way to plug multiple monitors to a single, aside from Daisy Chaining DP 1.2 compliant equipment or ThunderBolt.
 
I got a Deltaco DVI to USB adapter not too long ago. I think it works really well. I only keep email, spotify and twitter on that monitor but it plays video just fine too. I think it supports up to 1920 x 1080.

Only downside is that Mission control is not as smooth on all monitors as it is without the adaptor. No big deal for me since I don't need to use Mission Control when I can see everything anyways.

It was really easy to install too. Just plug it in, download the driver and you're good to go.

But maybe they only have those here in Europe, I don't know actually.
 
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