DisplayLink Manager Updated With Native Support for M1 Macs and More

[MacRumors]

Over the weekend, the DisplayLink Manager app was updated with native support for Macs with the M1 chip, additional Retina resolutions for 4K displays, and a fix for an issue where screen tearing may occur in some high-load cases.

DisplayLink Manager provides a convenient way to enable your DisplayLink dock, adapter, or monitor on macOS. The app combines DisplayLink's latest driver with features that streamline the setup of mutliple displays with up to 4K resolution. Version 1.3 of the app can be downloaded from the DisplayLink website, and requires macOS Big Sur 11.2 or any version of macOS Catalina, according to the release notes.

DisplayLink adapters have proven popular with M1 Macs, as they allow for multiple external displays to be connected. Officially, Apple says M1 Macs only support one external display (excluding the Mac mini, which can support a second display via HDMI).

Article Link: DisplayLink Manager Updated With Native Support for M1 Macs and More

 

[MattMJB0188]

So what's the difference from before? I don't get how this update is an improvement?

 

[sub150]

Does clamshell work on Big Sur yet? That was the biggest thing about a month ago, and had a huge number of upvotes on their site enhancements list.

 

[CheesePuff]

So what's the difference from before? I don't get how this update is an improvement?

Well per the first sentence of the article... " was updated with native support for Macs with the M1 chip, additional Retina resolutions for 4K displays, and a fix for an issue where screen tearing may occur in some high-load cases."

 

[VictorTango777]

MST daisy chaining has been a feature of DisplayPort for several years now, yet Macs still do not have proper support for it. This does not appear to be a hardware issue because an Intel Mac that is booted into Windows can do MST with no problem. What is Apple's reason for continually refusing to include full support for MST in MacOS? Is it some petty attempt to "convince" people to buy Thunderbolt monitors?

 

[MattMJB0188]

Well per the first sentence of the article... " was updated with native support for Macs with the M1 chip, additional Retina resolutions for 4K displays, and a fix for an issue where screen tearing may occur in some high-load cases."

So what does this mean? One doesn't have to run the software anymore?

 

[dogslobber]

This means you can have additional external displays on your M1 computer. The x86 version of the package also worked great so not sure of the difference.

 

[Lemon Olive]

An entire app dedicated to being a workaround for inexplicable limits on external displays for M1 Macs.

 

[jonnysods]

An entire app dedicated to being a workaround for inexplicable limits on external displays for M1 Macs.

This and only providing two ports was why I returned my M1 MBP.

 

[Lemon Olive]

Everything Apple does indicates that they don't want users using external displays.

- They've refused to produce any for years save for a ridiculous $6k entry.
- They disabled Target Display Mode so people can't use high quality Mac displays as external displays anymore.
- They allowed M1 Macs to be gimped and did not prioritize multi display support.

 

[Lestdog]

Apple has totally dropped the ball on display support for m1 macs. I still can’t get 60hz on my benq 4K monitor.

If I were Intel, this is what I would be laughing at... "we at intel have cpu's that can actually make your monitor work"

 

[dogslobber]

I installed the display manager M1 app and from what I see it runs YouTube videos full screen with no dropped frames or lag on my 1920x1200 display. It also uses little CPU power compared to the Intel Mini. It is very impressive but I think the drivers are all Apple implementation work and display link simply provides an interface to those for the client.

 

[urbanmacUser]

MST daisy chaining has been a feature of DisplayPort for several years now, yet Macs still do not have proper support for it. This does not appear to be a hardware issue because an Intel Mac that is booted into Windows can do MST with no problem. What is Apple's reason for continually refusing to include full support for MST in MacOS? Is it some petty attempt to "convince" people to buy Thunderbolt monitors?

I've had several Enterprise support tickets over the years on MST and they still refuse to support it. Very annoying.

An entire app dedicated to being a workaround for inexplicable limits on external displays for M1 Macs.

Not really DisplayLink has been around for years. DisplayLink app and docks are really a single cable to the desk solution for hot desks in Enterprise environments. A single cable from a DL dock to a Mac will not only allow multiple screens but also power the Mac and also provide Ethernet.

 

[Charlie_Croker]

This and only providing two ports was why I returned my M1 MBP.

There are only two ports but each has its now dedicated bus, on the 4 port Macs, each port shares its bus. OWC explain it here https://eshop.macsales.com/blog/68484-thunderbolt-on-the-m1-mac-mini/

If you use a TB3 Dock, its irrelevant, I'm using a Caldigit TB3+ on my 16" MBP (with a 10GBe TB3 adapter connected to the TB3 Out on the Dock), the other ports are redundant.

My M1 Mac mini is connected to a spare Caldigit USB C Pro/TB3 Dock and the second port is used for a 10Gbe adapter, the Caldigit dock also drives the second display with no issues.

 

[Charlie_Croker]

Apple has totally dropped the ball on display support for m1 macs. I still can’t get 60hz on my benq 4K monitor.

If I were Intel, this is what I would be laughing at... "we at intel have cpu's that can actually make your monitor work"

Strange, I'm using a BenQ PD3200U (Designer range 10 bit display) 4K with no issues with an M1 Mac mini ? (Using a Caldigit Dock and Display port @60Hz ), how are you connecting the display? if its via the HDMI, try a USB C/TB3 to DP adapter.
I'm also driving a 24" (Designer) display on the HDMI port (2560x1440).

 

[m1m1m1m1]

Warning for anyone thinking this is a reason to purchase... This update does NOT provide retina resolution support for my Philips 4K monitor or rotation support.

 

[Wordman]

Everything Apple does indicates that they don't want users using external displays.

- They've refused to produce any for years save for a ridiculous $6k entry.
- They disabled Target Display Mode so people can't use high quality Mac displays as external displays anymore.
- They allowed M1 Macs to be gimped and did not prioritize multi display support.

I agree. Though there are rumblings of a lower-priced monitor from Apple. Goodness knows when we'll see that though. Common sense would be at the same time as an iMac, which is rumoured to be October.

 

[petterihiisila]

I've been trumpeting the M1+DisplayLink combo a few times, might as well do it once more. In short, it's fantastic. Coming from an MBP16 + eGPU combo, it's so much more responsive overall. Completely silent. Nothing to eject, just pop the M1 off when done. Three ext monitors connected via one TB3 cable that includes power. One more TB3 port (and bus) free for other peripherals. Performs just as fast as a "real" GPU for my graphics/design-related workflows. Clamshell works fine. The native M1 app is just icing on the cake.

Trade-offs, which I consider minor compared to the upsides, are:

1. Log in with Apple Watch doesn't work when ext monitors are active (due to screen recording API being active); it works when undocked in laptop mode.
2. NightShift/Flux doesn't work on DisplayLink monitors, only on the primary 5k TB3 monitor that is direct-connected, and also works as a USB-C hub for DisplayLink daisy-chaining, for 2 more WQHD monitors.
3. Can't think of #3.

I sold my 1-year old setup second hand and got enough money to get the M1, the dock, AirPods Max, and still had money left over. It's been 13 years since I had a Mac setup that worked as well as the current one does. That was a well-equipped "cheesegrater" Mac Pro with a 32" Cinema Display.

 

[entropys]

I would just like Apple to do a MST driver. Enough with demanding thunderbolt monitors. There just aren’t many, and they cost too much, and thunderbolt to add an extra monitor makes no sense in an enterprise environment. Please allow multi display use over DP.

Like every other computer company.

 

[mith81]

Apple has totally dropped the ball on display support for m1 macs. I still can’t get 60hz on my benq 4K monitor.

If I were Intel, this is what I would be laughing at... "we at intel have cpu's that can actually make your monitor work"

Almost a 100% sure you have a cable or adapter issue.

I have a 49" ultra wide Samsung screen running at 120Hz without issues. Make sure the adapter you are using is at least DP 1.2 (1.3 at least for 120Hz). Also make sure that the display port cable itself supports at least DP1.2. A display port 1.2 cable is backwards compatible but a DP 1.0 might not support the transfer rates needed for DP1.2+.

If you are using HDMI, you need at least an HDMI 2.0 adapter and an HDMI 2.0 cable (again, there are differences between HDMI cables for different revisions).

Also keep in mind that if you connect the adapter to an USB-C hub, depending on the hub, it might not have the bandwidth needed specially if you are using HDMI (USB-C tops at 10Gb/s and for 4k, 60Hz you need at least 14.93Gb/s - 8bit color - and 35.83 Gb/s for 120Hz). If the USB-C hub doesn't has 4 lanes for video you will be out of luck and even if it has 4 lanes of video it will drop the USB connection to USB 2.0 and only works using DP, not HDMI (I am not a 100% sure about this to be honest, but I think HDMI will not work).

So please try connecting the adapter directly to the machine (if you are not doing that) and check if you have the proper cables and adapters.

 

[Lestdog]

Strange, I'm using a BenQ PD3200U (Designer range 10 bit display) 4K with no issues with an M1 Mac mini ? (Using a Caldigit Dock and Display port @60Hz ), how are you connecting the display? if its via the HDMI, try a USB C/TB3 to DP adapter.
I'm also driving a 24" (Designer) display on the HDMI port (2560x1440).

So I'm on a PD2720U, I've tried USB-C to HDMI, I've tried UCB-C to Thunderbolt via a thunderbolt cable. I haven't tried the DisplayPort yet. No displayport attempt yet.. so I suppose I have to buy yet another adapter and keep trying until I get it right?

 

[patsfan83]

I've been trumpeting the M1+DisplayLink combo a few times, might as well do it once more. In short, it's fantastic. Coming from an MBP16 + eGPU combo, it's so much more responsive overall. Completely silent. Nothing to eject, just pop the M1 off when done. Three ext monitors connected via one TB3 cable that includes power. One more TB3 port (and bus) free for other peripherals. Performs just as fast as a "real" GPU for my graphics/design-related workflows. Clamshell works fine. The native M1 app is just icing on the cake.

Trade-offs, which I consider minor compared to the upsides, are:

1. Log in with Apple Watch doesn't work when ext monitors are active (due to screen recording API being active); it works when undocked in laptop mode.
2. NightShift/Flux doesn't work on DisplayLink monitors, only on the primary 5k TB3 monitor that is direct-connected, and also works as a USB-C hub for DisplayLink daisy-chaining, for 2 more WQHD monitors.
3. Can't think of #3.

I sold my 1-year old setup second hand and got enough money to get the M1, the dock, AirPods Max, and still had money left over. It's been 13 years since I had a Mac setup that worked as well as the current one does. That was a well-equipped "cheesegrater" Mac Pro with a 32" Cinema Display.

I've been pretty satisfied with a Luna USB-C driving my 2011 iMac 27" iMac as my primary display. Connected via thunderbolt bridge, almost no latency and I imagine 99% of users wouldn't notice the difference. HDMI->DVI powering my 20" Cinema Display from my cheese grater days as well.

I created a dummy log in for the iMac that auto-logins and launches the Luna app. It's also not on the internet so it runs silent and cool. I essentially use the iMac as a legacy hub and can network mount any firewire drives, etc.

Only quirks are the display won't sleep, occasionally I'll have to re-plug it in coming out of the Lock Screen. Luna isn't really optimized for thunderbolt so it takes a couple minutes for the bandwidth to get cranking.

 

[patsfan83]

There are only two ports but each has its now dedicated bus, on the 4 port Macs, each port shares its bus. OWC explain it here https://eshop.macsales.com/blog/68484-thunderbolt-on-the-m1-mac-mini/

If you use a TB3 Dock, its irrelevant, I'm using a Caldigit TB3+ on my 16" MBP (with a 10GBe TB3 adapter connected to the TB3 Out on the Dock), the other ports are redundant.

My M1 Mac mini is connected to a spare Caldigit USB C Pro/TB3 Dock and the second port is used for a 10Gbe adapter, the Caldigit dock also drives the second display with no issues.

I think the complaints are that you only drive 1 monitor off of either of the USB-C ports, and 1 off the HDMI. It's confusing because you would think both USB-C ports with dedicated bus should be able to drive a display.

 

[flopticalcube]

I think the complaints are that you only drive 1 monitor off of either of the USB-C ports, and 1 off the HDMI. It's confusing because you would think both USB-C ports with dedicated bus should be able to drive a display.

GPU limitations.

 

[Ryan0751]

DisplayLink is working OK for me, with one annoying issue this update still doesn't fix. I have dual 4K LG 32" monitors. One connected directly to the M1 MBP (via a TB3 CalDigit dock), and the second via DisplayLink.

Honestly, the performance is much better than I expected.

The problem is that the only HiDPI (Retina) resolution supported is either the full 3180x2160 4K (way too small for me) or 1080p (way too big). I usually use a "looks like" 3008x1692 retina resolution on these displays.

Unfortunately this update doesn't improve the resolution options for this setup.