I'd love to understand that better. It's more powerful than a stack of 2018 MBP 13", which runs 2 4K monitors off one bus no sweat.
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DisplayLink Manager Updated With Native Support for M1 Macs and More
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The M1 is based on the A14 iPad Pro SoC which was never designed to handle more than 2 displays: one for the iPad itself and one external. The upcoming M1X/M2 should hopefully rectify that shortcoming.
It's a hack. It isn't native display performance at all, and that should be enough for most people to just write it off.
Since it runs 4k60fps just fine, I guess you are referring to the hit on latency. Or is there anything else, besides lack of rotation support on m1?
Makes me wonder how big of a difference does it have when latency is concerned. I certainly can feel it, but it's less perceivable than what I get from a bluetooth mouse. Does not bother me (and I am bothered by the lag of bluetooth mice). I doubt "most users" with their workflows not being latency sensitive would notice.
Btw, DL is something that has been used for at least a decade in the enterprise environment. It's a legitimate product, not a hack. I didn't even realize I've been using it for close to a decade on DELL docking stations my boring dell laptops used all those years to connect to multi display setups. It's just fine for office work, browsing the internet, watching videos etc., which is what most people use their laptops for.
I think this is what was going through the M1 design teams' collective mind. What percentage of our low-end user base needs more than a single external monitor that can't be serviced by DisplayLink? Probably not enough to justify the time and expense to redesign the GPU to accommodate more than 2 displays.
Almost any DisplayLink conversation is frustrating due to the similarity with DisplayPort and the resultant confusion. You don't know if the comment author is aware of the difference.
The biggest thing to realize is that DisplayLink drivers emulate a display adapter (hence why a native M1 port should perform better), and then talk to a display containing a hardware "client" chip over USB. You can see how it would be difficult to get the same performance as real (dedicated or embedded) display adapter.
DisplayPort, on the other hand, is an interface between display adapters and displays. People that have problems with 4k using something (adapter or hub) connected between the USB-C port and the display need to look at what they are using for that connection. In my experience Thunderbolt 3 three connections seem to work better than USB, and they cost more.
The biggest thing to realize is that DisplayLink drivers emulate a display adapter (hence why a native M1 port should perform better), and then talk to a display containing a hardware "client" chip over USB. You can see how it would be difficult to get the same performance as real (dedicated or embedded) display adapter.
DisplayPort, on the other hand, is an interface between display adapters and displays. People that have problems with 4k using something (adapter or hub) connected between the USB-C port and the display need to look at what they are using for that connection. In my experience Thunderbolt 3 three connections seem to work better than USB, and they cost more.
I'm referring to the fact that it is an emulator and not a replacement for a native adapter.
Every DisplayLink thread has at least one participant making a fuss about how and why it "can't work". We may have had this exchange before.
Yes, "it's an emulator" is sort of true, but the "not a replacement" part of that sentence is an opinion. Let's not conflate those two.
Here's another perspective: I've replaced a native MBP16+eGPU with M1+DisplayLink and there is no perceivable difference in desktop/video performance on DisplayLink'ed monitors. None. I've actually tested both configurations myself using an otherwise identical setup. Have you? ☃️
Not getting the same performance does not matter to the users, though, does it? What matters is user-perceivable performance. I normally need to think hard to recall which monitors I have plugged via DisplayLink, and which are running natively through the TB3 connections.
As others have said, suggesting that something performs poorly only because it's "emulated" is not a logical conclusion. Plenty of abstraction layers in today's software and hardware world, and none of this matters as long as the end result is satisfactory to the user.
I'd love to add a 3rd display to my M1 Mini. I've read about DisplayLink but have never used it.
Can anyone answer any questions/issues when it comes to not just the display's performance itself, but instead -- How does the M1 handle however many DisplayLink processes in the background, running 100% of the time?
With these "entry" models (I think they do more, but just to stick to some kind of metric), we're obviously limited when it comes to both CPU, GPU and overall memory.
Does the DisplayLink software/processes eat up CPU or memory?
For me at least, this would be the deciding factor. Anyone with experience here? Thanks!
Can anyone answer any questions/issues when it comes to not just the display's performance itself, but instead -- How does the M1 handle however many DisplayLink processes in the background, running 100% of the time?
With these "entry" models (I think they do more, but just to stick to some kind of metric), we're obviously limited when it comes to both CPU, GPU and overall memory.
Does the DisplayLink software/processes eat up CPU or memory?
For me at least, this would be the deciding factor. Anyone with experience here? Thanks!
Thanks. I have seen videos like that, more the better though.
I guess I'm more thinking of if you have some other apps running in the background that take up a decent amount of your CPU and memory, which works great on my M1. But then if I were to add a 3rd display using DisplayLink, how much extra CPU/memory would it jump up to? A noticeable amount?
I realize there are a ton of variables here. I was just hoping some DL users that run some reasonably demanding apps and daily use most of the M1's power, how much extra overhead the new M1 optimized DisplayLink background processes use or if they start to crush when under pressure (and performance degrades overall with the display? Or with the entire Mac just slowing down).
Also, after using your M1 with DL running all day long -- Does it slowly creep up with using system resources? Again, mainly just interested in excessive (relative) CPU resources being used up or slowly building up like some processes do.
I would love another display, and I think would like to try DisplayLink. I know there are many products out there from many manufacturers. Does anyone have any recommendations? I don't need any other ports or extra features really, other than providing the DisplayLink (maybe even multiple?)...I already have a TB dock that provides me with extra ports and such.
Any recommendations would be great! Thanks to all!
My son runs 2 X 1080p displays on his 16GB M1 MBP doing mostly coding. Memory pressure remains low and CPU usage from DisplayLink doesn't ever go above 10%. Doesn't appear to change during the day, only wrt what is being displayed. 60fps 1080p youtube uses more CPU than editing code.
He uses the Targus DOCK180. I paid CAD$70 for it without a power supply. That cost me $4.99 at the local thrift store. The type of adapter you get will depend on the monitor you want to hook up to.
He uses the Targus DOCK180. I paid CAD$70 for it without a power supply. That cost me $4.99 at the local thrift store. The type of adapter you get will depend on the monitor you want to hook up to.
Sorry, hopefully I'm not hijacking this thread. I think I'm going to at least try a DisplayLink adapter to connect to my older Apple Cinema Display 23", which connects using a DVI connector.
Would anyone happen to know if something like the following would work for this setup?
Wavlink USB 3.0 to DVI/HDMI/VGA Universal Video Graphics Adapter with Audio Port Supports up to 6 Monitor displays, 2048x1152 External Video Card Adapter Support Windows & Chrome OS
And another that looks good, I think? Gives 2 ports if I wanted to further expand:
StarTech.com USB 3.0 to Dual DisplayPort Adapter 4K 60Hz, DisplayLink Certified, Video Converter with External Graphics Card - Mac & PC
There are so many to choose from. Some say they specifically don't work with macOS.
I'm just looking to mainly drive that monitor, which would be 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz.
From looking at so many DL products, some also list the chipset. I've been Googling, but it looks like there are a ton of variations, one offs and so on. Frustrated but hopeful.
Would anyone happen to know if something like the following would work for this setup?
Wavlink USB 3.0 to DVI/HDMI/VGA Universal Video Graphics Adapter with Audio Port Supports up to 6 Monitor displays, 2048x1152 External Video Card Adapter Support Windows & Chrome OS
And another that looks good, I think? Gives 2 ports if I wanted to further expand:
StarTech.com USB 3.0 to Dual DisplayPort Adapter 4K 60Hz, DisplayLink Certified, Video Converter with External Graphics Card - Mac & PC
There are so many to choose from. Some say they specifically don't work with macOS.
I'm just looking to mainly drive that monitor, which would be 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz.
From looking at so many DL products, some also list the chipset. I've been Googling, but it looks like there are a ton of variations, one offs and so on. Frustrated but hopeful.
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I use 2 x FHD monitors with an MBP16 and M1 Mini via DisplayLink and can't easily tell the difference between this and direct connections to the monitors (which use the dGPU on the MBP16).
Scrolling, window management, and video playback & editing are all very smooth via DisplayLink.
However, I have wondered if this would still be the case if I upgraded to 4K monitors.
I imagine that high FPS gaming would be another matter, but I haven't tested this (not a gamer!)
But DisplayLink works very well in normal use, and should definitely NOT be written off!
Plus, if you want more than one external screen on an M1 laptop, I think it's your only choice....
Very helpful, thank you. I'm using an M1 mini and have 2 displays currently using the built in HDMI and DP over Thunderbolt adapter.
But I am definitely going to try adding a 3rd monitor over DisplayLink. From what I'd heard before, it sounded like the DL drivers were horrible and would easily tank CPU or memory. So this all is great to hear that it doesn't seem to be the case.
I'm like you, I'm not a gamer and do nearly all business work and "normal" non super game-speed usage so I think DL would work well if I can find a good adapter that works. Looking around it seems that is somewhat a crapshoot with different models of DL devices that use different chipsets. I'm not sure which are good or bad.
Would you happen to know exactly which DisplayLink adapter or hub or whatever you're using? It would be super helpful to know of a specific product that has been tested and stood up to real world usage. Thank you
I'm using a Dell D6000, which I got from work. It's designed for Wintel machines, and I had to upgrade the firmware via a Windows machine, so probably not your first choice. It's also expensive for what it is.
I wonder whether any of the TB3 docks also support DisplayLink? That would be my choice if I were buying for myself.
[Update: this might be useful https://www.displaylink.com/products/universal-docking-stations ]
Yeah I'm not interested in how well it works with 1080p screens, lol. I could probably get that working over USB-A.
All that matters to me is being able to use Apple quality displays. Few of which even exist. If I can't plug in 2 LG UltraFine displays over Thunderbolt and get native performance out of both of them, the machines fall short of where they should be in 2021.
You're setting a high bar on performance
But I understand the point you are making.
What resolution are you running then 5k monitor? Which monitor do you have? I am experiencing issues with this and you appear to be satisfied.
Perhaps its the late hour here - with an M1 Mac Mini, running an adapter cable that is usb3 from the Mini to a DisplayPort on the Benq2700u monitor should allow me to have 4k@60 with this software? No need for an intermediate such as a hub with breakout DisplayPort output port? (My HDMI port on the monitor is already in use by another device and have a choice of regular or Mini DisplayPort available.)