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Macbook Pro + TB Display + Another Vendor For 2nd Monitor

Handsome Bacon

Handsome Bacon

macrumors regular
Original poster
Apr 10, 2012
178
112
Location: Location!
I'm having no luck getting this to work.

Currently using a mid 2012 MBP with the newest TB display. I have an extra Samsung 27" 1920 x 1080 monitor with HDMI input. I have tried the following: Mini Display port HDMI adapter > HDMI cable > Samsung. No luck, my MBP doesn't detect the Samsung. Is there another way to do this? Maybe a straight MDP to HDMU cable (skip the adapter altogether)?

Not going to ruin my day if I cannot do this, but wouldn't mind putting that 2nd monitor to use. Thanks!
 
Handsome Bacon said:
I'm having no luck getting this to work.

Currently using a mid 2012 MBP with the newest TB display. I have an extra Samsung 27" 1920 x 1080 monitor with HDMI input. I have tried the following: Mini Display port HDMI adapter > HDMI cable > Samsung. No luck, my MBP doesn't detect the Samsung. Is there another way to do this? Maybe a straight MDP to HDMU cable (skip the adapter altogether)?

Not going to ruin my day if I cannot do this, but wouldn't mind putting that 2nd monitor to use. Thanks!
Click to expand...

According to this http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5219#18 you cannot attach a mini display port device to a Thunderbolt Display -

20. Can I connect a Mini DisplayPort display to my Apple Thunderbolt Display for computers that support using more than one display?

Mini DisplayPort displays will not function if connected to the Thunderbolt port of an Apple Thunderbolt Display. Displays connected via Mini DisplayPort video adapter or cable to the Thunderbolt port of an Apple Thunderbolt Display will not work.
 
Handsome Bacon said:
I'm having no luck getting this to work.

Currently using a mid 2012 MBP with the newest TB display. I have an extra Samsung 27" 1920 x 1080 monitor with HDMI input. I have tried the following: Mini Display port HDMI adapter > HDMI cable > Samsung. No luck, my MBP doesn't detect the Samsung. Is there another way to do this? Maybe a straight MDP to HDMU cable (skip the adapter altogether)?

Not going to ruin my day if I cannot do this, but wouldn't mind putting that 2nd monitor to use. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Go MBP -> THundebolt display -> other TB -> other display

The other TB just needs to be another thunderbolt device with two ports (in and out). You can't hook another monitor directly to the TBD, but if you add say a desktop hard drive with TB you can hook the monitor to that.
 
paulrbeers said:
Go MBP -> THundebolt display -> other TB -> other display

The other TB just needs to be another thunderbolt device with two ports (in and out). You can't hook another monitor directly to the TBD, but if you add say a desktop hard drive with TB you can hook the monitor to that.
Click to expand...

That is actually how many people got Cinema Displays to work in a chain with newer Thunderbolt Displays.
 
paulrbeers said:
True?
Click to expand...

Yes. You can daisy chain Thunderbolt displays. However, that depends on the GPUs. Some computer can daisy chain two, while some can only drive one.

One cannot simply hook a Cinema Display to the back of a Thunderbolt Display and get it to work to my knowledge. One must always use a hard drive or a Thunderbolt Dock to put both into use.

You could go Mac --> Thunderbolt Dock --> Port 1 --> Thunderbolt Display, Port 2 --> Cinema Display.

Or you can go Mac --> Thunderbolt Display --> Thunderbolt Hard Drive or other device --> Cinema Display.
 
Altemose said:
Yes. You can daisy chain Thunderbolt displays. However, that depends on the GPUs. Some computer can daisy chain two, while some can only drive one.

One cannot simply hook a Cinema Display to the back of a Thunderbolt Display and get it to work to my knowledge. One must always use a hard drive or a Thunderbolt Dock to put both into use.

You could go Mac --> Thunderbolt Dock --> Port 1 --> Thunderbolt Display, Port 2 --> Cinema Display.

Or you can go Mac --> Thunderbolt Display --> Thunderbolt Hard Drive or other device --> Cinema Display.
Click to expand...

Well considering all you are saying is exactly what I already posted AND this thread is about a 2012 MBP, then the GPU is not an issue.
 
Altemose said:
You could go Mac --> Thunderbolt Dock --> Port 1 --> Thunderbolt Display, Port 2 --> Cinema Display.
Click to expand...

That won't work. Thunderbolt docks only have one input & one output. You could, however, do:

Mac --> Thunderbolt Display --> Thunderbolt dock --> Cinema Display
 
Altemose said:
If the Thunderbolt Dock has two or more Thunderbolt ports it would work. This also depends on the dock manufacturer.
Click to expand...

Thunderbolt doesn't work that way. It's a chain, it can't be "hubbed". A device can have one input, and zero or one outputs - not two or more.
 
You can also connect the TB display to one TB port on your MBP, and connect the Samsumg and mini display port adapter to the second TB port on your MBP. This is what I do, and it works fine.
 
mgipe said:
You can also connect the TB display to one TB port on your MBP, and connect the Samsumg and mini display port adapter to the second TB port on your MBP. This is what I do, and it works fine.
Click to expand...

Given the question I'm assuming non-Retina MacBook Pro, so only one TB port
 
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