M2 Mac Mini with OWC Dual HDMI Thunderbolt Dock

[OldMike]

I currently have a 2018 Mac Mini hooked up to a KVM via this OWC Thunderbolt Mini Dock:

OWC Thunderbolt mini Dock

The 5-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 port expansion solution that connects two 4K displays, two USB devices, and a Gigabit Ethernet network via one integrated cable.

eshop.macsales.com

Knowing that the M2 Mini's external display capabilities have improved over the M1 Mini, I was surprised to read the following note on the OWC product page:

Apple silicon M1 and M2 Macs can only support one external display up to 4K @ 60Hz. Apple silicon M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M1 Ultra Macs fully support dual displays up to 4K @ 60Hz.

I'm wondering what is the technical difference between the M2 and M1 Pro based Macs, that would prevent the regular M2 from supporting two external 4K displays @ 60Hz via this Thunderbolt dock.

I was under the impression that the M2 base Mini could support two 4K displays @ 60Hz over Thunderbolt, and that this should work with this thunderbolt dock, regardless of the interface the dock provides to the monitors.

If this dock had two displayports, instead of two HDMI ports - would that possibly work on the base M2 Mini?

Since OWC suggests that this is not supported, I'm wondering what other 'surprises' in regards to external display support the base M2 might hold.

I was planning on possibly picking up a base M2 with 16GB RAM, but think I might hold off because of this.

Thanks for any info.

 

[Bigwaff]

How many displays can be connected to Mac mini - Apple Support

The number of external displays that you can use at the same time depends on your Mac model and the resolution and refresh rate of each display.

support.apple.com

 

[OldMike]

How many displays can be connected to Mac mini - Apple Support

The number of external displays that you can use at the same time depends on your Mac model and the resolution and refresh rate of each display.

support.apple.com

And that is what I don't understand. On that page, for the base M2, it specifically states:

Two external displays​

Supports two external displays in any one of these configurations:

• One display up to 6K at 60Hz over Thunderbolt, and one display up to 5K at 60Hz over Thunderbolt
• One display up to 6K at 60Hz over Thunderbolt, and one display up to 4K at 60Hz over HDMI

So I would think the base M2 Mini should be able to support two external 4K @ 60Hz monitors over the OWC Thunderbolt dock, since the M1/M2 Pro chips work.

I've read elsewhere on the forum of people saying the M2 Mini supports dual displays over one Thunderbolt port.

 

[wideEyedPupil]

must be an OWC Dock issue… OWC tend to ship before they think. I had an OWC dock that I paid a lot for that had no shielding and when my iPhone was close to it, it freaked some of the signal processing, I forget what exactly but it annoying enough that it stopped me being able to use the Mac, had to move phone away from the OWC dock.

 

[wideEyedPupil]

must be an OWC Dock issue… OWC tend to ship before they think. I had an OWC dock that I paid a lot for that had no shielding and when my iPhone was close to it, it freaked some of the signal processing, I forget what exactly but it annoying enough that it stopped me being able to use the Mac, had to move phone away from the OWC dock.

and by the time I worked out it must be the dock that was doing it, OWC said oh we stopped warranting that issue, but confirmed it was a lack of shielding that was causing it.

 

[wideEyedPupil]

from the OWC website page of that mini Dock:

1. Dual display support, including available resolution and refresh rates, is dependent on host hardware and drivers. Apple silicon M1 and M2 Macs can only support one external display up to 4K @ 60Hz. Apple silicon M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M1 Ultra Macs fully support dual displays up to 4K @ 60Hz.

so I don't understand your comment, no difference between M1 and M2 then. it's the refresh rate, turn one down to 30 Hz or similar and no problems. Presumably M2 Pro Macs will support dual displays at 60 Hz. The M2 Pro Macs have additional TB buses to handle the throughput. M1 and M2 basic only have the single TB3/4 controller/bus.