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I am curious. Does anyone know how adding an eGPU to an intel mac mini impacts Final Cut Pro performance? I am trying to decide between an intel and M1 mini.
 
You'd be surprised. I am currently using a Mac mini M1 with my Apple XDR display and it works great. I am sure some people will scuff at the idea of running a $6000 display with a $1000 computer but with the M1 it works amazingly well. Similarly, not everyone will benefit from a multi display setup but it is nice that the capability is there.



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I'd only scuff at the idea that the monitor stand costs as much as the computer. ;)
 
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Compilers?

Push and let the build server handle compiling, running tests, etc... it seems infrequent that I want to compile locally - certainly no reason to run six compiles at the same time locally...
Not saying this is the other user's use case, but compiler developers may have several builds running at once (locally, if budgets don't allow for offloading to servers). I've been in this scenario many times while collecting benchmarks for peer reviewed journal submissions.
 


It is possible to run up to six external displays from the M1 Mac mini, and five external displays from the M1 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, with the aid of DisplayPort adapters, according to YouTuber Ruslan Tulupov. This far exceeds Apple's specified limits on external displays with the M1 Macs.

new-mac-mini-logicpro-screen.jpg


Apple's host of new M1 Macs are not capable of supporting as many external displays as their Intel-based predecessors by default. The previous Intel-based MacBook Air could run one external 6K or 5K display or up to two external 4K displays, and the previous Intel-based MacBook Pro could run one external 5K display or up to two external 4K displays. The 2018 Intel-based Mac mini could run up to three 4K displays, or one 5K and one 4K display.

Apple says that the M1 MacBook Air and M1 MacBook Pro can run one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz. The M1 Mac mini can run one display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz connected via Thunderbolt and one display with up to 4K resolution at 60Hz connected via HDMI 2.0. This means that each new M1 Mac can run one less display than the model it replaced.

However, Tulupov has discovered that it is possible to run as many as six external displays from the M1 Mac mini, and five external displays from the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, using a workaround. This is achieved using DisplayPort adapters and DisplayLink software to drive the additional displays. When the M1 Mac's ports have been filled, DisplayPort adapters have to be connected via an external dock to provide more ports.



Tulupov used a mix of external displays, ranging from 4K to 1080p, as the Mac's Thunderbolt ports do not have the bandwidth to simultaneously run six 4K displays at full resolution. Users would therefore still have to be selective about their external display setup when it comes to resolutions.

In testing, running full-resolution videos across the various displays at the same time as rendering in Final Cut Pro, Tulupov found performance to be "awesome," with very few frames being dropped. When closing and opening the MacBook Air, the displays behaved as expected, and the setup seems to be more than adequate for daily use.

Tulupov noted that he did not test this setup with Sidecar for the iPad, but it may still be possible to run Sidecar in addition to the external displays for even more screen space.

In a separate video, Tulupov explained how to go about connecting additional external displays to an M1 Mac using a DisplayPort adapter. The process simply involves installing DisplayLink drivers, which are already Big Sur-compatible, and connecting the adapter via USB-C.

The workaround solution may offer a lifeline to users who were disappointed at the M1 Mac's limited external display capabilities.

Article Link: M1 Macs Able to Run Up to Six External Displays Using DisplayLink
so its not possible to add a additional display with a generic usb-c hub which has an hdmi out?

I use one with my current mbp, the monitor gets input from the hubs port without problems
 
This Big Sur version is different as the Framebuffer driver code is written and supported by Apple. Display Link doesn't install a kernel driver anymore but merely drives the FB from non-kernel memory. It's very stable.
That's nice, but I'm still wary of anything not Apple-supported. Seems Apple would've done this themselves if it worked equally well.
 
When I used to work in the office (yea, I'm that old), we had 4 displays (1 for email and skype, 2 for coding, 1 for reference). I could have certainly used more monitors for more references, instructions, 6 compilers. I think I can utilize up to 6 monitors for productivity. More than that, it won't really benefit my productivity.
Now I'm home, I use two ultra-wide monitors (34 and 35inches) and one standard 27inch. That's equivalent to 5 monitors for me.
Why do you benefit from having a monitor for each compiler? Personally 3 is my max for software engineering. One for coding, one for running the code or doing other stuff in the shell, and one for chat and such.

The only cases I've seen of people using many monitors is for... monitoring. They've got dashboards up for whatever systems they have to keep an eye on.
 
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My issue with DisplayLink is you need to enable screen recording. Which is ok, But it means you can not use Apple Watch to wake your mac.
 
I'd only scuff at the idea that the monitor stand costs as much as the computer. ;)
You should also scuff at the idea that a car can cost more than your house or a door frame can cost more than your average car.

Those people who has the need for the pro display XDR will not bat an eye for that stand. It's just there because Apple can make it. Real pros already have their favorite vesa mount on their desk already.

Honestly with current 2020 line up of M1, Apple offers very good value for people who rely on Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro and other Mac/iOS Applications such as coders.



Me wondering what would someone do with 5-6 external displays...

My issue with DisplayLink is you need to enable screen recording. Which is ok, But it means you can not use Apple Watch to wake your mac.
Well I wonder the same thing. Those new M1 macs are for sure entry-level Mac for people who need ultra portable laptop that can last a bit longer and do a little bit more than they used to be capable of. The real show will be the M1X or the M2 with more thunderbolt bus and a whole lot more connections.
 
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You'd be surprised. I am currently using a Mac mini M1 with my Apple XDR display and it works great. I am sure some people will scuff at the idea of running a $6000 display with a $1000 computer but with the M1 it works amazingly well. Similarly, not everyone will benefit from a multi display setup but it is nice that the capability is there.



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When Chris Farley was on SNL, he was dating one of Lorne Michaels assistants. She dumped him, and while he was commiserating with Chris Rock and David Spade in their office, they gently broke the news she did it to date someone else.

Chris drew himself up and declared to his buddies, “Whoever this guy is, he might be better looking than me but I can guarantee he’s not as funny, he’s not as rich and he ain’t as famous as me!”

David Spade winced and said, “Oohh, Oh for three.” It was Steve Martin.

Executer is our Steve Martin.
 
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The one who discovers an entry level computer with pro-level performance at half the price of what they’re used to paying.
Indeed.

Say Bob is starting a new job *next week*. What does he get? Last year's Intel laptop whose days are numbered, or an ARM laptop with the same performance and ongoing support?

Moreover, say Bob's new company is cheap and makes him pay for it himself. Think about it.

One reason they started at the low end is to shake out the new architecture and software on less-demanding casual users. Another, related reason is that casual users are more likely to get one as a holiday gift.
 
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Another option that would be hardware accelerated is to get an ultra wide monitor and just use a single display. They do cost more but its a way to have the same screen space as two monitors plus it doesn't have the gap in the middle.

As far as I can tell, there isn't one with >1440 vertical pixels. It's the same space as two *pre-4k* monitors. I'm not inclined to spend that much money for something that isn't an upgrade.
 
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