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Triple Monitor Setup

Which looks better

  • iMac + 2x Thunderbolt

    Votes: 21 48.8%

  • Mac Pro + 3x Thunderbolt

    Votes: 22 51.2%
  • Total voters
    43
B

badman89

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 24, 2011
212
0
Check out this triple monitor set up. I want this so bad! My question:

iMac (27") + 2x Thunderbolt Display (27")

OR

Mac Mini + 3x Thunderbolt Display (27")

Basically I need to know if I can put a thunderbolt display on either side of the iMac and it will all line up properly (unlike in the picture with the Dell displays).
 
Last edited:
badman89 said:
Check out this triple monitor set up. I want this so bad! My question:

iMac (27") + 2x Thunderbolt Display (27")

OR

Mac Pro + 3x Thunderbolt Display (27")

Basically I need to know if I can put a thunderbolt display on either side of the iMac and it will all line up properly (unlike in the picture with the Dell displays).
Click to expand...

The iMac won't line up properly with the thunderbolt display. I think this was a bad idea on Apple's part.
 
2012 27" has two Thunderbolt/mDP ports. The Dells used are U3011 (30" 2560x1600). You can use the Dell U2711 (27" 2560x1440 like the 2012 27" iMac).
 
it is a real shame that the imac does not properly line up with the thunderbolt displays .. just makes it look weird. I want to run a triple monitor setup as well but it just doesnt look right doing it with the iMac:(
 
Sorry, I meant mac mini, not mac pro.

Is it possible to connect three displays to the mac mini? Would I be able to watch a movie spanning all three?
 
here is my setup... only one TB display and a samsung display/TV on the other side (I'd like another TB, but just can't justify another grand!)

looking into options to raise the TB and samsung to make them level with the iMac, but it's ok for now

one of the best parts of this thin iMac, even though it's just the edges, is that the edge of the TB display fits right behind it at the angle I'm using, cutting the amount of bezel between displays in half :)
 

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  • imac-2012-19.jpg
    imac-2012-19.jpg
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My desk is messy atm or I'd take a picture.

But I have 2 - 27" iMacs (2012/2011) w/ a 27" thunderbolt display hooked to the 2012 iMac.


I use a free program called Synergy, so I only use 1 keyboard and mouse. My mouse moves over to my bootcamp machine just like the dual screen, its rather amazing, seamless and fluid everything flows. I just can't drag anything over the the Windows machine of course.

You would never know I am running Windows on 1 screen if you didn't see the little Start Icon and quickbar on the bottom. Quite impressed how it looks and works.

I wasn't really aware till recently that you could move so seamlessly between two different computers and OS's. But in the end this works out perfectly for me as I do need Windows/Parallels for work stuff.

I was going to originally get another thunderbolt display and sell the 2011, but for me this is absolutely a perfect set up.

Also, triple monitor backgrounds are so fun, and look so cool too. :)
 
mchoffa said:
here is my setup... only one TB display and a samsung display/TV on the other side (I'd like another TB, but just can't justify another grand!)

looking into options to raise the TB and samsung to make them level with the iMac, but it's ok for now

one of the best parts of this thin iMac, even though it's just the edges, is that the edge of the TB display fits right behind it at the angle I'm using, cutting the amount of bezel between displays in half :)
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for your response. However, your picture is rather disappointing to me - as it shows that the Thunderbold Display and iMac display are misaligned!

When you say that you're trying to raise the TB what exactly do you mean? Is the height adjustable? Or are you just thinking of putting something below the base?
 
badman89 said:
Check out this triple monitor set up. I want this so bad! My question:

iMac (27") + 2x Thunderbolt Display (27")

OR

Mac Mini + 3x Thunderbolt Display (27")

Basically I need to know if I can put a thunderbolt display on either side of the iMac and it will all line up properly (unlike in the picture with the Dell displays).
Click to expand...

3 x Thunderbolt Displays... 3 x 2560x1440.. 11,059,200 pixels... driven by an Intel HD 4000 integrated GPU?

I'll be honest, I have ZERO experience with that arrangement but it sure sounds like a bad idea if you can even get 3 displays to work. I thought the limit was 2 but again, I'm not sure.
 
badman89 said:
Thank you so much for your response. However, your picture is rather disappointing to me - as it shows that the Thunderbold Display and iMac display are misaligned!

When you say that you're trying to raise the TB what exactly do you mean? Is the height adjustable? Or are you just thinking of putting something below the base?
Click to expand...

putting something below the base... see this thread:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1242827/

the OP has a stand for his that looks like what I might get. perfect spot to slide the iPad under too
 
aligning the imac with tb displays

ok guys heres what you do, I have the same setup, 2 tb displays and a 2011 imac, (waiting on my new 27 now, which apparently isnt vesa compatable) and for the longest time i looked into options for aligning the three...and heres what i came up with, I bought 3 independent mounting arms (erogtech 7500 hd to be exact) vesa mounted all three and it works awesome.

What your going to have to do if you got the new iMac is use two mounting arms for the two outside tb displays and use them to raise them up to align with the imac which you'll just leave on its stand. Well this is what ill do anyway..or if your not running some type of eyefinity setup,and you dont want to spend the money just leave it alone, they look fine next to eachother, it really doesn't matter as each screen is independent anyway... hope this helps
 
Problem solved

I use 2 of these with my thunderbolt displays to align them with the imac

http://www.twelvesouth.com/products/hirise_imac/
 
or you could use the 12 south high rise absolutely. Its definately the cheapest way to go aside from propping something underneath it...I personally just didnt like the way it looked at all..I like the imac stand the way it is originally..imho
 
mchoffa said:
here is my setup... only one TB display and a samsung display/TV on the other side (I'd like another TB, but just can't justify another grand!)

looking into options to raise the TB and samsung to make them level with the iMac, but it's ok for now

one of the best parts of this thin iMac, even though it's just the edges, is that the edge of the TB display fits right behind it at the angle I'm using, cutting the amount of bezel between displays in half :)
Click to expand...

How did you connect the TB to the imac? Can you use the existing built in cable from the TB to the imac or you have purchase a standalone cable?
 
Am i the only one who has thought of buying a 27" imac for the main unit & 2 further (even older) imac's for target display mode for the 2 other screens?

granted isn't a cheap option but would look even.

would mean they all look the same and are all the same height and resolution.

Ste0803
 
Outrigger said:
How did you connect the TB to the imac? Can you use the existing built in cable from the TB to the imac or you have purchase a standalone cable?
Click to expand...

the TB cable on the TB display is plugged into one TB port on the iMac and an MDP to HDMI adapter is plugged into the other. For some reason I couldn't daisy chain iMac > TB display > HDMI, the HDMI display just didn't show anything
 
Why not buy two thunderbolt displays with new iMac and then pickup two VESA mount kit and two floating arm VESA stands. That would be a nice setup. You could line it up just right and the two side monitors would look like they are floating. You would be looking at about 2500 out the door
 
I don't believe Mac Mini can do 3 thunderbolt displays. You can max run two of the thunderbolt port. A third would need some sort of hdmi to mini display port adapter and even then I think max it can only do 1080p natively, otherwise you have to SwitchResX and force at 40Hz. Not totally sure.

Read Here
 
Arman said:
I don't believe Mac Mini can do 3 thunderbolt displays. You can max run two of the thunderbolt port. A third would need some sort of hdmi to mini display port adapter and even then I think max it can only do 1080p natively, otherwise you have to SwitchResX and force at 40Hz. Not totally sure.

Read Here
Click to expand...

I thought with thunderbolts u-buet chaining we could have 10(?) devices from the one port?
Of course, that's not saying that the Mac mini video has the grunt to run more then 2 displays, but just a comment regarding the selling speal about thunderbolt.
 
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