Connecting Two External Monitors to Laptop

rohanp16 on 23/10/2016 - 09:35

Good morning everybody,

I have a late 2008 Macbook Pro (Macbook Pro 5,1) that is running quite well with an upgrade in RAM (8GB now) and an internal SSD too. I recently brought a U2414H from the Dell outlet (beautiful monitor) and was thinking of getting another one (this time a 16:10 to mimic the native resolution of the MBP). However, I had a few questions,

1) I only have a Mini-Display Port on my laptop (used by the current external monitor) and was wondering if there are any other ports (Firewire 800 and Express Card 34 is all I have in addition to the USB ports) that I think I can use for the 2nd external monitor ? Quick google search suggested that these ports won't work.

2) If the answer to 1) is No, it seems like I can connect the monitors directly ? I've never done this before and not sure if it is possible on my old laptop (can the graphics card handle it ?), or what cables I need to do it, if it is possible.

I'd appreciate any help and advice any one can offer. Thank you ! :)

Computing

Comments

  • rh on 23/10/2016 - 10:18

    Based on Dell U2414H user guide Your monitor has a DisplayPort out connector, you can use that to chain up another monitor. You should enable DisplayPort 1.2 in monitor's on screen settings too. A related article on U2415 daisy chaining

  • CyberMurning on 23/10/2016 - 10:43

    before rocking up buying second monitor, make sure when your research said you can connect 2 monitors, the view can be extended, not just mirrorred.

    • rh on 23/10/2016 - 11:19
      +1

      It is a driver problem and the view can be mirrored not extended. Apple does not support extended displays on daisychained non-apple displayport monitors. No problem if Windows/Linux installed on macbook pro.

  • rohanp16 on 23/10/2016 - 11:52

    It seems like I can daisy chain, but it will only be mirrored and not extended ? Basically, I want to dock my MBP (screen down), use one of the external monitors as my 'main screen' and the second external monitor as my extended display.

    I am able to get a 13 inch MBA (Early 2015) from work - would that be any better at doing what I want it to do or is it an 'Apple thing' ?

    • rh on 23/10/2016 - 12:19

      It is not all about hardware, it is about Apple driver too. Apple driver supports Displayport 1.2 for Apple displays but for non-Apple displays it used to downgrade to single stream Displayport 1.1. I have seen reports that driver support has changed since 10.10.3 and extended displays are possible if the second monitor in daisy chain is MST capable too.

  • CyberMurning on 23/10/2016 - 12:20
    +1

    Another meh point of apple. Good to know thanks. Glad I don't like them.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join