dual external displays with 21.5-inch iMac (2011)

[doumiao]

I looked many places but still have no satisfy answers yet.

Since the graphic capacity of high end 21.5-inch iMac is just same as that of the standard 27 inch iMac for the models of 2011, here my question is how to connect two external displays (not mirror way) through the single thunderbolt port on 21.5 inch iMac. The two external displays are 24" (1080p) identical, with both DVI and VGA ports.

Anyone has succeeded such connections on 21.5-inch iMac? and what's the best solution on this at the moment?

 

[doumiao]

I was also wondering if apple or other companies are (or will) making thunderbolt adapters/cables for such purpose?

 

[crimton]

+1 on this. I would like to be able to do this too.

 

[visim91]

Hey guys, good question. Here's an answer.

In the case of two additional monitors you must use the Daisy-chain method.
So you will need the two additional monitors to either have mini-displayports or thunderbolt ports in order to connect all three in the following order: iMac -> monitor#1 -> monitor#2

This is the only way to equip your iMac with a dual monitor set-up.
There is no way to Daisy-chain VGA/DVI monitors.
There is no adapter that splits one thunderbolt port into two.

 

[Demosthenes X]

Hey guys, good question. Here's an answer.

In the case of two additional monitors you must use the Daisy-chain method.
So you will need the two additional monitors to either have mini-displayports or thunderbolt ports in order to connect all three in the following order: iMac -> monitor#1 -> monitor#2

This is the only way to equip your iMac with a dual monitor set-up.
There is no way to Daisy-chain VGA/DVI monitors.
There is no adapter that splits one thunderbolt port into two.

Or:

USB monitor adapter.

Thunderbolt to DVI converter and a Matrox DualHead2Go.

Thunderbolt to HDMI converter and an HDMI splitter.