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New 14" M1 Pro External Monitors

J

jaburgeson

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 15, 2011
17
6
Hi All and Apologies if this has been asked, but since these are starting to get in to peoples hands.

Can we run 2 displays from 1 ThunderBolt port on the new M1 Pro MacBook Pros?

Thanks!
 
Following. Also curious to see what happens on the Pro with 3 displays plugged in to whichever ports.
 
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Yes please someone test this! I’m assuming the limit for 2 displays on the base is a hard limit regardless of resolution or which ports are used. I have 3 displays (none are even 4K though, one is only 1080p) and it feels silly to upgrade all the way to the M1 Max just so I don’t lose my current desk setup that works on my way less powerful 2017 intel MBP.
 
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Saturn1217 said:
Yes please someone test this! I’m assuming the limit for 2 displays on the base is a hard limit regardless of resolution or which ports are used. I have 3 displays (none are even 4K though, one is only 1080p) and it feels silly to upgrade all the way to the M1 Max just so I don’t lose my current desk setup that works on my way less powerful 2017 intel MBP.
Click to expand...

I'm in the same exact boat here. I'm assuming it's a hard limit as well. Don't need a Max (or 32GB!), but definitely need more than two external monitor support.
 
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Definitely watching this. I goofed ordering my MacBook Air last year, not realizing the M1 only supported a single external monitor. If the M1 Pro can handle three (hell, if it can handle two), I might try to grab a 14" and sell this one
 
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i have the 16 pro- it is a little hard to figure out right now.
I have one 4k monitor plugged in and that works great. When i plug a second monitor in with the HDMI its work as well. BUT- it doest seem to work when that HDMI is plugged in to a splitter. I use the computer to project to multiple projector in a classroom. It is recognizing the projector it's plugged into, but its giving no signal. The splitter works well with my M1 Air... no problem. Not sure what to do yet/
 
To answer the OP- I have also plugged in two monitors through a cal digit hub, no problem. I haven't tried a third monitor. However- the splitter mentioned above messes it up..
 
I also don't know the answer, will need for someone to test this out. I know daisy-chaining was always a key feature of Thunderbolt 3 (and now 4, which is just 3 with guaranteed 40gbps bandwidth).

So I would think the answer is yes. But may depend on:
- What resolution / refresh rate do each of the monitors run? It's possible if the combined bandwidth required from the 2 monitors exceeds 40gb/s, then you wouldn't be able to and would have to plug into separate TB4 ports
- If combined bandwidth of both monitors is less than bandwidth of single TB4 port, does one of the monitors have multiple TB3/TB4 ports in order for you to daisy-chain? If not, you probably need a TB3/TB4 dock in order to connect both monitors (and the dock connects to the MBP with 1 TB3/TB4 cable).

Someone smarter than I might be able to opine here. I remember a previous thread somewhere that said you couldn't daisy-chain 2 of the 32" Pro Display XDRs at full 6K@60hz from 1 TB3 port.
 
Please see below. I have a thunderbolt dock plugged into one TB port with two HDMI plugged into it and it drives both monitors.

Base 14” model

c927ff521d55d6748a33abf3f5b7a036.jpg
 
Last edited:
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Some people believe that 2 tb plus 1 hdmi should work... or with a hub...
It would be really weird the opposite...
There must be a way...
@adgoodma have you tried that way?
 
scoobysnax said:
Please see below. I have a thunderbolt dock plugged into one TB port with two HDMI plugged into it and it drives both monitors.

Base 14” model

c927ff521d55d6748a33abf3f5b7a036.jpg
Click to expand...
can you use a third external display if you were to close the laptop's screen though ???
 
77034235-1226-4399-887E-EB584979692C.jpeg
Ok so have been following this thread as the only reason I was considering the m1 max is the advertised two monitor limit of the m1 pro. I was hoping that you would be able to daisy chain 2 4K monitors using TB on the pro as well as using a third 4K on the opposite side port. Unfortunately it doesn’t work as shown in the picture third monitor is blank whatever I do with the thunderbolt cables, using 3 LG Ultrafine 4K 23.7” models. So looks like definitely limited to 2 external monitors on the M1 Pro whatever the resolution of the monitors.
 
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ojk7 said:
View attachment 1881274Ok so have been following this thread as the only reason I was considering the m1 max is the advertised two monitor limit of the m1 pro. I was hoping that you would be able to daisy chain 2 4K monitors using TB on the pro as well as using a third 4K on the opposite side port. Unfortunately it doesn’t work as shown in the picture third monitor is blank whatever I do with the thunderbolt cables, using 3 LG Ultrafine 4K 23.7” models. So looks like definitely limited to 2 external monitors on the M1 Pro whatever the resolution of the monitors.
Click to expand...
Have you tried 2 tb plus one hdmi?
 
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Welp, here's hoping the boss will swing for the M1 Max! lol. Once you go three displays, it's hard to go back.
 
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Well... at this point perhaps some company will come up with some sort of hub that changes 2 x 6K into 3 x 4K or something like that.
Or someone else will find some workaround via software.
This thing is really weird.
Thanks anyway.
 
HI!!!

It is clear... it is posible 2 displays from 1 ThunderBolt port on the new M1 Pro MacBook Pros.
This configuration is specifically only supported by ThunderBolt 3/4 hubs or USB-C hubs as well?
From what I have been able to read only ThunderBolt 3/4 hubs support two monitors in extended desktop mode.

Can you confirm this?
 
Netsurfer said:
Well... at this point perhaps some company will come up with some sort of hub that changes 2 x 6K into 3 x 4K or something like that.
Or someone else will find some workaround via software.
This thing is really weird.
Thanks anyway.
Click to expand...
Assuming the M1 Pro/Max behaves similarly to the M1, you can already get around this using DisplayLink adaptors (USB 3.0 to 2x 4K60.) I have two 4K60 displays connected to my M1 MBA right now via DisplayLink and I believe I saw a video where someone did six. That said... it's not "free," and uses up noticeably more CPU/RAM (and maybe GPU) than natively connected displays depending on what's happening on the DisplayLink connected screens. If not a lot is happening on screen and or you're not pushing the machine that hard it's barely noticeable but, on the M1 MBA at least, it can cause significant slowdown particularly if memory pressure is yellow or you're pushing the CPU.

I was... less than impressed when I found out the M1 "Pro" was hard limited to 2 (native) external displays regardless of the resolution. It's a really frustrating limitation of Apple Silicon that needs to be addressed with the "M2," and really should've been addressed with the M1 Pro... (or, you know, Apple could just give us eGPU support back... but then that M1 Max would be a pretty tough upsell)
 
Malus120 said:
Assuming the M1 Pro/Max behaves similarly to the M1, you can already get around this using DisplayLink adaptors (USB 3.0 to 2x 4K60.) I have two 4K60 displays connected to my M1 MBA right now via DisplayLink and I believe I saw a video where someone did six. That said... it's not "free," and uses up noticeably more CPU/RAM (and maybe GPU) than natively connected displays depending on what's happening on the DisplayLink connected screens. If not a lot is happening on screen and or you're not pushing the machine that hard it's barely noticeable but, on the M1 MBA at least, it can cause significant slowdown particularly if memory pressure is yellow or you're pushing the CPU.

I was... less than impressed when I found out the M1 "Pro" was hard limited to 2 (native) external displays regardless of the resolution. It's a really frustrating limitation of Apple Silicon that needs to be addressed with the "M2," and really should've been addressed with the M1 Pro... (or, you know, Apple could just give us eGPU support back... but then that M1 Max would be a pretty tough upsell)
Click to expand...
Agree with you except the last part:
“Apple could just give us eGPU support back... but then that M1 Max would be a pretty tough upsell)”
An eGPU will definitely not make the M1 Max a tough sell.
 
haruhiko said:
Agree with you except the last part:
“Apple could just give us eGPU support back... but then that M1 Max would be a pretty tough upsell)”
An eGPU will definitely not make the M1 Max a tough sell.
Click to expand...
Perhaps I should've been more specific on that part or perhaps we just disagree.
Let me rephrase that "Would've made it a more difficult upsell for a non unsubstantial percentage of MBP buyers."
To be clear, I do think the M1 Max is great for what it is, and being able to take that much power with you wherever you go is amazing, and certainly something I think a lot of people do/will value.

However, if eGPU support was there and IF the GPU market wasn't... totally ****ed... I feel like the $500~$700 upsell on the M1 Max when all your getting is a faster GPU (and "Afterburner like" ASICs)... when the M1 Pro GPU is already probably fast enough for most creative professionals needs on the go, a lot of people might opt to get a 6800-6900XT in an upgradable enclosure.
But hey, the GPU market's ****ed and the MBP doesn't support eGPU so who knows.
 
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