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ApplePie22

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 17, 2011
62
1
currently have a 27" imac flanked by two 27" Dell (S2721HSX) monitors. Unfortunately I can no longer get office updates, so I ordered a mac Mini, hoping to add a third Dell monitor. Currently I'm running DP to Thunderbolt 2, looks like on the Mac Mini I can run three Dell monitors, via DP to USB-C/Thunderbolt 4, is that correct? Any other options I'm not aware of? I know in the past HDMI, VGI, etc. were not compatible, but the S2721HSX is discontinued, so need to make sure I buy something compatible. I sure wish I could use my iMac simply as a monitor, why did Apple block this?
 
Currently I'm running DP to Thunderbolt 2, looks like on the Mac Mini I can run three Dell monitors, via DP to USB-C/Thunderbolt 4, is that correct?
Yes, that's correct; although you are naming your cables backwards, so pay attention to that when looking for some. Typically, we'd say "USB-C to DP", as the signal is coming from USB-C (computer end) and sent/converted to DP (monitor end). Not all cables are bi-directional. A "DP to USB-C" cable and a "USB-C to DP" cable may not be interchangeable even though they both have the same type of ends.

Any other options I'm not aware of?
If you get a Thunderbolt monitor, you can potentially daisy-chain one of your existing monitors to it using a USB-C to DP cable, freeing up one of the Thunderbolt ports on the Mac. Make sure it has a downstream Thunderbolt port on the monitor.

Another option would be to get a Thunderbolt dock to plug two of your monitors into to free up a port on the Mac, but that is something you can do later down the road if needed. Be wary of USB-C hubs/docks that say they can do dual monitors; they generally do not work with Macs...it needs to be Thunderbolt.
 
currently have a 27" imac flanked by two 27" Dell (S2721HSX) monitors. Unfortunately I can no longer get office updates, so I ordered a mac Mini, hoping to add a third Dell monitor. Currently I'm running DP to Thunderbolt 2
You mean you have an old iMac with Thunderbolt 1 or Thunderbolt 2 ports and you are currently using Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cables to connect two Dell S2721HSX displays.

looks like on the Mac Mini I can run three Dell monitors, via DP to USB-C/Thunderbolt 4, is that correct?
Yes, that's what the technical specs say.
https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/specs/

Any other options I'm not aware of? I know in the past HDMI, VGI, etc. were not compatible, but the S2721HSX is discontinued, so need to make sure I buy something compatible. I sure wish I could use my iMac simply as a monitor, why did Apple block this?
You can connect two displays to a single Thunderbolt port using a Thunderbolt hub or dock or adapter.
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TB3ADP2DPT

Use whatever cable is necessary to connect a display to the Mac or the USB-C/Thunderbolt hub/dock/adapter.
  • Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort. You already have these.
  • DisplayPort to DisplayPort. Maybe the displays you have came with this kind of cable?
  • USB-C to DisplayPort. For connecting to USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode compatible ports, including Thunderbolt 3/4/5 ports.
  • HDMI to DisplayPort. Avoid this unless you've run out of DisplayPort or USB-C ports.
 
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Thank you. I found this monitor, appears MacOS compatible, it has DP in/out, does that mean I can chain one monitor into this, and this into Mac Mini? then plug third monitor into Mac Mini?

 
You mean you have an old iMac with Thunderbolt 1 or Thunderbolt 2 ports and you are currently using Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cables to connect two Dell S2721HSX displays.


Yes, that's what the technical specs say.
https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/specs/


You can connect two displays to a single Thunderbolt port using a Thunderbolt hub or dock or adapter.
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC...x7Rz8_1alA_bZSHMsYePtsNayMPNiC87tea-t-9kuUvTa

Use whatever cable is necessary to connect a display to the Mac or the USB-C/Thunderbolt hub/dock/adapter.
  • Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort. You already have these.
  • DisplayPort to DisplayPort. Maybe the displays you have came with this kind of cable?
  • USB-C to DisplayPort. For connecting to USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode compatible ports, including Thunderbolt 3/4/5 ports.
  • HDMI to DisplayPort. Avoid this unless you've run out of DisplayPort or USB-C ports.
thanks, your second link is going to skimresources?
 
Thank you. I found this monitor, appears MacOS compatible, it has DP in/out, does that mean I can chain one monitor into this, and this into Mac Mini? then plug third monitor into Mac Mini?

actually, this would probably be the better choice, forgot my iMac has camera/speakers/mic built-in...

 
Thank you. I found this monitor, appears MacOS compatible, it has DP in/out, does that mean I can chain one monitor into this, and this into Mac Mini? then plug third monitor into Mac Mini?

macOS doesn't support chaining displays using DisplayPort MST.

For macOS, to connect a display to another display requires the first display to be a Thunderbolt display with a second downstream Thunderbolt port. The first display is like a Thunderbolt dock with a display connected to it.

thanks, your second link is going to skimresources?
I don't know what skimresources is. The link should be eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TB3ADP2DPT which is the product page for a Thunderbolt 3 to Dual DisplayPort Adapter which is less expensive than a full Thunderbolt 3/4 dock/hub.
They have an alternative product page at:
https://www.owc.com/solutions/thunderbolt-dual-displayport-adapter
You can find other similar products:
https://www.thunderbolttechnology.n...s_value_many_to_one=All&field_company_nid=All
 
Thank you. I found this monitor, appears MacOS compatible, it has DP in/out, does that mean I can chain one monitor into this, and this into Mac Mini? then plug third monitor into Mac Mini?

actually, this would probably be the better choice, forgot my iMac has camera/speakers/mic built-in...

No, neither of these support daisy-chaining with a Mac. Macs don't support multi-stream transport (MST), which is what daisy-chaining from a DP port uses. Macs can only daisy-chain from another Thunderbolt port.

Currently, the U2724DE is the only 27" 1440p monitor Dell has that supports daisy-chaining with a Mac. There will be a 27" 4K version coming out in a couple months (U2725QE), but that won't have a built-in camera/speakers either.
 
I replaced an Intel iMac with an M4 Mac mini. I then bought two Asus VG27AQ3A Gaming monitors. The main one is plugged into the HDMI port The second monitor is plugged into A Belkin multiport adaptor with HDMI and into a back Thunderbolt port. Both work well but if I put the macMini to sleep, the second monitor does not come up with the correct settings. If I just let the MacMini sleep on its own, both monitors come up with the setting they had going into sleep.
 
I replaced an Intel iMac with an M4 Mac mini. I then bought two Asus VG27AQ3A Gaming monitors. The main one is plugged into the HDMI port The second monitor is plugged into A Belkin multiport adaptor with HDMI and into a back Thunderbolt port. Both work well but if I put the macMini to sleep, the second monitor does not come up with the correct settings. If I just let the MacMini sleep on its own, both monitors come up with the setting they had going into sleep.
I suspect that when I don't put the system to sleep, the displays just turn off after 10 minutes but the system keeps the monitors settings. Now I would like to know how to keep the settings on the second monitor when I put the system to sleep. If I put the system to sleep I have to turn the second monitor off then on to access the settings in the System Settings > Display screen
 
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