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Macs With M3 Chip Still Officially Support Only a Single External Display
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So can I buy something like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CS8D3KF2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and either connect both of my 4K monitors to it, or connect one monitor straight into the M3 iMac and then the other one using that adaptor thing?
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That's what I did (a similar problem). Then I downloaded Display Link and it works fine.
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Yes. We have multiple colleagues at work with a MacBook Air M2 with a DisplayLink-based setup where they have two external displays (one via DisplayLink) in addition to the internal.
It's not ideal, but it does work.
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Sweet! I figured it should work and that way I will have 3 monitors. Ideally it would have been nice to just plug them straight into the iMac like I had to do with my Macbook Pro or my assistant's iMac, but the display link should work just fine. Now the hard part is waiting for my custom built iMac to arrive in about 1.5-2 weeks.
Side question, do you notice any lagginess when using dual 4K monitors? My plan is to use both of my 27 inch 4K monitors and then have the iMac display as the main one.
Side question, do you notice any lagginess when using dual 4K monitors? My plan is to use both of my 27 inch 4K monitors and then have the iMac display as the main one.
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Ah ok. I run both of my 4K 27 inch monitors at 3008x1692. Any higher and I will need a magnifying glass lol.
My new iMac came in 4 days early! I set up the Displayport and so far no issues with having both of my 4K 27 inch monitors. The way I have it set up is I have one monitor connected directly into my iMac into one of the Thunderbolt ports and the Displayport is plugged into the other Thunderbolt port, and I am using a HDMI wire to connect the monirot to the Displayport.
@makris0000 - I just got a new iMac - same issue - have 2 USB 4 Thunderbolt ports and 2 USB Type3 - bought a Belkin connect Thunderbolt core hub before reading this topic here. I'm unable to get this to work: downloaded DisplayLink, turned on screen recording, using type C thunderbolt to Belkin, out of belkin have type C to HDMI, other iMac thunderbolt port running type C to HDMI converter and HDMI to HDMI (monitor) that works fine.
Curious if you could share your precise setup - brand/model of hub, cables plugged into where on each end, connection types, etc... Thank you!
You need a device that supports DisplayLink. It's not just software. You need some sort of hub like the Pluggable one linked above.
Thanks! I’m an accountant doing my own tech support. Apple Store said Belkin works with iMac. Belkin support said I needed DisplayLink……… Thanks again. Amazing how much b.s. support efforts there are by manufacturers. Appreciate your time and help! Back to Amazon …….
I've been using a setup like that for the past year with my MBA M1 clamshell'd. Lenovo Thinkpad Hybrid Dock (Display link version) and two 1080p monitors.
I do web dev / stuff and occasional video editing - it works for my purposes perfectly.
However I don't know if I would want to be running 4k monitors. Even at 1080p displaylink will use ALOT of CPU when there is alot of motion on both screens, for example if you run a YouTube video on both monitors it will eat up to 50% of the CPU!
Normal use case though, viewing web pages etc ... generally around 5-10%
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I got the Plugable USB C to HDMI adapter back in March and it's been working very well so far! No issues with having both external monitors running with the iMac display. I have one of the monitors plugged into the iMac directly and the other is plugged into the Plugable adapter. I am debating if I want to get a 3rd external monitor but that may be overkill because I have two 27 inch monitors and then the 24 inch iMac.