I have the latest MacBook Pro - Can I buy two and use them in tandem as a dual monitor set? Do the monitors daisy chain?
- Asked by Ryan B from New Gloucester
- Flag as inappropriate (I have the latest MacBook Pro - Can I buy two and use them in tandem as a dual monitor set? Do the monitors daisy chain?)
2 Answers from the Community
-
Answer
You can buy 2,3, or 4 and use them in tandem. They do not daisy chain though.
The LG 4K display does not have a DisplayPort output to support daisy chaining.
The LG 4K is a USB-C display (USB-C with DisplayPort alt mode, using DisplayPort 1.2 (4 lanes), and USB 2.0).
I don't know if macOS supports DisplayPort MST (for daisy chaining displays using DisplayPort). The MacBook Pro supports DisplayPort 1.2 which can't support more than one 4K 60 Hz display anyway.
Each side of the MacBook Pro (left side and right side) can support two displays. The MacBook Pro 15 inch allows up to four 4K displays. The MacBook Pro 13 inch allows two 4K displays.
Thunderbolt 3 can support two 4K 60 Hz displays from a single port using Thunderbolt display daisy chaining, a Thunderbolt 3 to Dual DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0 adapter, or a Thunderbolt 3 dock. However, I am unaware of any Thunderbolt 3 product that has more than one USB-C port with DisplayPort alt mode (required for USB-C displays like the LG 4K).
It might be possible to use an LG 4K with DisplayPort only (no USB) by using a USB-C to DisplayPort cable, but then any functions of the display that require USB will not be usable (audio, brightness control, USB hub). Brightness control may be possible using an app that uses DDC/CI.
To get two ports supporting USB-C with DisplayPort alt mode from a single Thunderbolt 3 port (so you can use the other 3 ports for other stuff), you need the following:
1) two Sunix UPD2018 or two Delock 89582 (PCIe USB 3.1 gen 2 host controller with USB-C DisplayPort alt mode port).
2) one Thunderbolt 3 PCIe expansion box with two or more slots such as the Sonnet Echo Express SE III, or two Thunderbolt 3 PCIe expansion boxes each with one slot such as the Sonnet Echo Express SEL (Thunderbolt 3 Edition).
3) one Thunderbolt 3 to Dual DisplayPort adapter such as the one made by Sonnet (not all Thunderbolt 3 products are Mac compatible so check the manufacturer's specs).- Answered by Joseph V from Fort Langley
- Flag as inappropriate Answer 1
-
They don’t daisy chain (least not as far as I can tell) but you can use two by plugging them into two ports in the MBP.
- Answered by Jim D
- Flag as inappropriate Answer 2
Related Questions
-
Can this be daisy chained to get multiple HDMI monitors?
- Asked by David S from Gainesville
- Mar 9, 2015
- Flag as inappropriate (Can this be daisy chained to get multiple HDMI monitors?)
- Asked about: USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter
-
can you daisy chain monitors to a macbook pro?
- Asked by Kris C from Houston
- Jun 28, 2011
- Flag as inappropriate (can you daisy chain monitors to a macbook pro?)
- Asked about: Apple Thunderbolt Cable (2.0 m) - W…
-
Can these be daisy chained to support two (or more) external monitors on the MacBook?
- Asked by Adam A from Riverview
- Aug 8, 2015
- Flag as inappropriate (Can these be daisy chained to support two (or more) external monitors on the MacBook?)
- Asked about: USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter