two external monitors - usb3 or minidisplayport?

[shearer3000]

hi
I'm after some advice please.

I'm using my 13" rMBP as a windows development machine under bootcamp.

My intended configuration is:

- 2x external monitors @ 1080hd resolution
- external windows keyboard and mouse (usb)
- external harddrive (for 100GB+ sql dbs) (usb3 or thunderbolt)
- ethernet to usb3 adapter.

My limitation is ports available to serve all these devices, so:

my question is which option is best:
1) a usb3 hub for the keyboard mouse and harddrive with the external monitors connected to the two minidisplay ports via DVI adapters
or
2) two monitors connected via usb3 hub with mouse and keyboard, leaving the harddrive to connect via a thunderbolt port.

I also need to fit the ethernet adapter in somewhere too

thanks in advance for advice.

 

[Zeov]

Heres what i think you should do.

1. Get an HDMI cable and a full HD monitor you can connect it to, theres an HDMI port on the MBPR as well.

2. Get a Mini Display -> Hdmi Adapter and connect the other monitor to that.

3. Get a Thunderbolt -> Gigabit Ethernet for Wired connection.

4. Get a Random Powered USB 3.0 Hub for your Keyboard, mouse and HDD.

 

[trigonometry]

hi
I'm after some advice please.

I'm using my 13" rMBP as a windows development machine under bootcamp.

My intended configuration is:

- 2x external monitors @ 1080hd resolution
- external windows keyboard and mouse (usb)
- external harddrive (for 100GB+ sql dbs) (usb3 or thunderbolt)
- ethernet to usb3 adapter.

My limitation is ports available to serve all these devices, so:

my question is which option is best:
1) a usb3 hub for the keyboard mouse and harddrive with the external monitors connected to the two minidisplay ports via DVI adapters
or
2) two monitors connected via usb3 hub with mouse and keyboard, leaving the harddrive to connect via a thunderbolt port.

I also need to fit the ethernet adapter in somewhere too

thanks in advance for advice.

I think you're trying to do too much. Or you purchased the wrong machine for your needs.

 

[ColdCase]

4. Get a Random Powered USB 3.0 Hub for your Keyboard, mouse and HDD.

Not sure how random USB 3.0 hubs work under boot camp, but there have been several reports of compatibility issues under OS 10.8.3 when trying to use them with HDs. The Belkin 4 port is one without compatibility issues.

 

[Mr MM]

I would go for a simpler approach

get either the matrox DS1 or the belkin thunderbolt express dock
- ethernet
- keyboard and mouse
- HDD via thunderbolt

get a 1080p display that supports mDP or DP, and get another that supports HDMI

The only annoying part is to connect the 3 cables (HDMI and 2x thunderbolt) each time

 

[Stetrain]

I would go for a simpler approach

get either the matrox DS1 or the belkin thunderbolt express dock
- ethernet
- keyboard and mouse
- HDD via thunderbolt

get a 1080p display that supports mDP or DP, and get another that supports HDMI

The only annoying part is to connect the 3 cables (HDMI and 2x thunderbolt) each time

Both of those docks have a video output. The Thunderbolt daisy chain port in the case of the Belkin and an HDMI port in the case of the Matrox.

So you would only need to plug in to 2 Thunderbolt ports or 1 Thunderbolt and 1 HDMI to connect everything.

 

[Mr MM]

Both of those docks have a video output. The Thunderbolt daisy chain port in the case of the Belkin and an HDMI port in the case of the Matrox.

So you would only need to plug in to 2 Thunderbolt ports or 1 Thunderbolt and 1 HDMI to connect everything.

you are right off course

 

[Asuriyan]

I'm still cringing at the very thought of running a display on USB.

I had a user a while ago who just had to have a 4th display, and rather than put a better GPU in his workstation we just stuck a USB dongle on it. The color reproduction was noticeably off and the screen lagged at least half a second behind the other 3 displays at all times. It was horrendous.

 

[Freyqq]

hi
I'm after some advice please.

I'm using my 13" rMBP as a windows development machine under bootcamp.

My intended configuration is:

- 2x external monitors @ 1080hd resolution
- external windows keyboard and mouse (usb)
- external harddrive (for 100GB+ sql dbs) (usb3 or thunderbolt)
- ethernet to usb3 adapter.

My limitation is ports available to serve all these devices, so:

my question is which option is best:
1) a usb3 hub for the keyboard mouse and harddrive with the external monitors connected to the two minidisplay ports via DVI adapters
or
2) two monitors connected via usb3 hub with mouse and keyboard, leaving the harddrive to connect via a thunderbolt port.

I also need to fit the ethernet adapter in somewhere too

thanks in advance for advice.

#1 is the best solution by far

 

[shearer3000]

thanks everyone. essentially went with option #1, but with HDMI instead of DVI.