I have a MacBook Pro with the M5 and want to connect two external monitors. What sort of docking station or dongle do I need for this? They're just boring office monitors with HDMI connections, so nothing fancy needed.
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: MacBook
Re: “And hey, don't get fooled into trying to use BOTH HDMI ports on the dock, as my understanding is that the MacBook Pro, at least the 2021 M1 Max model, can only support one additional external monitor per USB-C port.”
Macs do not support DisplayPort MST. So a Mac that supports multiple monitors can drive one over a plain USB-C connection / dock, or up to two over a Thunderbolt dock. (A Thunderbolt connection can carry two encapsulated DisplayPort sessions.)
You should have one HDMI port on a newer MacBook Pro. Then, get a USB-C HDMI Dongle; there is an Apple option available. I actually use a "j5create 10G | 4K60" portable dock that also offers a built-in USB-C port, giving you back the port it took up, along with the additional HDMI port, as well as standard USB ports and memory card readers. It also has a 1 G Ethernet port, which isn't great if you have a screaming fiber connection, but it's nice for travel. It was only around $80.
And hey, don't get fooled into trying to use BOTH HDMI ports on the dock, as my understanding is that the MacBook Pro, at least the 2021 M1 Max model, can only support one additional external monitor per USB-C port. I assume it works for a Windows-based system.
The Mac does not support two displays on one USB-C cable out of the Mac.
if you want One-cable connection, that limits you almost exclusively to a Thunderbolt docking station.
[The exception is ONE USB-C dock that I know of that connects to TWO USB-C connectors on the left side of certain models of MacBook Pro. That seems a bit awkward for frequent plug and go operation.]
Use caution when shopping. Some Docks support their second display using DisplayLink, a 'trick' that create a mostly software "fake" display. There are many drawbacks.
I use this for my second external. I have one built-in HDMI, so I run three.
USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter - Apple
<< And it’s a lot cheaper than some of the docks. >>
DisplayLink technology creates a "fake" display buffer in RAM, sends the data out over a slower interface to a stunt box with DisplayLink custom chips that put that data back onto a "legacy" interface. It is not a true "accelerated" display, and it can suffer from lagging. Just adding the DisplayLink Driver is not adequate to get a picture -- you need a DisplayLink "stunt-box" or a Dock that includes DisplayLink chips.
NB>> j5create has created their own versions.
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It may be acceptable for a second display showing slow-to-change data such as computer program listings, stock quotes, or spreadsheets, but NOT for full motion Video, not for Video editing, and absolutely not for gaming. Mouse-tracking on that display can lag, and can make you feel queasy.
In a pinch, it may even play Internet videos (as one user put it) “without too many dropped frames".
If you are only doing program listings spreadsheets, stock quotes, and other slow to change data, DisplayLink can work for you, but requires you to make some strong compromises.
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It is really nice to know that you can use a DisplayLink display if you MUST have an additional display for some of the types of data I mentioned. But that is NOT the same as the computer supporting a second, built-in, Hardware-accelerated display.
These displays depend on DisplayLink software, and are at the whim of Apple when they make MacOS changes. There have been cases where MacOS changes completely disabled DisplayLink software, and it took some time for them to recover.
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I think the Big Surprise for a lot of Hub/Dock buyers is that they thought they were getting a "real" display, but actually got a DisplayLink "fake" Display. If you got what you expected in every case, I would not use such pejorative terms to describe DisplayLink.
You just need one USB-C / Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter. The M5 MacBook Pro already has 1 HDMI port, so you can connect a display directly to that without any adapters or docks.
The Mac demands nothing.
What you are referring to is the limit for the Thunderbolt signal for 4K or higher resolutions. This being HDMI, it has a much larger limit. 10 Feet is the the recommended limit.
It should work fine and is from a known brand.
Also, it's just an example. Does not need to be that specific cable.
Alternatively, you can get an adapter and any reasonable length HDMI cable you want then.
I can not recommend THAT cable.
That cable has 6 feet of cord on the USB side, before the adapter in the distal end.
The Mac demands no more than ONE meter, three feet of USB cable before the adapter, while the HDMI portion AFTER the adapter has no firm limits, because HDMI operates at higher Voltages.
<< This being HDMI, it has a much larger limit. 10 Feet is the the recommended limit. >>
Based on the illustration in that ad, there is 6 feet of USB cable (which I maintain is more than should be used for display applications) and 0 feet of HDMI cable. The HDMI adapter is at the far (from the computer) end.
Thanks for the responses to date. Just to clarify, I'm in and out of my office frequently throughout the day and am looking for something that gives quick "docking station" type of capability. For example, with my SurfacePro, I plug one adapter into one port and it has a splitter that goes to each monitor - it takes one motion and about 2 seconds to go from mobile work to desktop capabilities with two monitors. I want something that allows for a clean desk when I'm away and super easy to plug in and get to work. thanks for the ideas.
<< And hey, don't get fooled into trying to use BOTH HDMI ports on the dock. >.
j5create does not use a licensed version of DisplayLink solutions in its Docks.
j5create have created their OWN that is equivalent to the "fake" displays created by DisplayLink devices.
”Fake” or not, if they are looking for an inexpensive hub for basic office work and not gaming, it works just fine, give the ISB-C port back, eliminates carrying standard USB and Ethernet dongles, and acts as a card reader. And it’s a lot cheaper than some of the docks. I’ve experienced zero video problems running in a three-external configuration with what I suggested.
This has worked great for me. But, as I said earlier, unless your model is different, you can only have one external display connected to a USB-C port despite this hub having two HDMI ports. Will double as a 1 gig Ethernet connection! I bought mine at BestBuy.
https://www.amazon.com/j5create-USB-Hub-USB-Ethernet/dp/B09Y8QQ8LY
How do I connect two external monitors with HDMI to a MacBook?
