MBA M3 2 Displays on 1 USB-C

[dennis089muc]

Hey all,

now that the M3 chip supports 2 external monitors, I am wondering if I can use a simple USB-C Hub to connect both monitors via a single USB-C port on the MBA?

At my office we use Dell monitors with an "unusual" configuration, meaning that Mac users have to connect both monitors with separate USB-C cables...

Thank you
Dennis

 

[JPack]

No, the constraint still exists because macOS doesn’t support MST. Most simple hubs on the market use MST to drive multiple displays.

You need a proper Thunderbolt hub or dock or a high end hub that states it supports multiple monitors for Mac.

 

[kevcube]

Hey all,

now that the M3 chip supports 2 external monitors, I am wondering if I can use a simple USB-C Hub to connect both monitors via a single USB-C port on the MBA?

At my office we use Dell monitors with an "unusual" configuration, meaning that Mac users have to connect both monitors with separate USB-C cables...

Thank you
Dennis

yeah this depends entirely on the connectivity situation of your hub. if it's usb4/thunderbolt3 then you're good. if it is cheap then no.

 

[vanc]

I have two Dell monitors in office. One U3224KB which is 6K resolution and with Thunderbolt 4, and the other one U2723QE which is 4K with USB-C (not TB).

My MBP 16" with M1 Pro can drive these two monitors with a single TB3 cable without any extra docks. The U3224KB is the main monitor, and the U2723QE is daisy chained to U3224KB with a USB-C cable.

Dell's user manual for U3224KB only shows daisy chaining with TB. But somehow, regular USB-C works fine too.

From the display information, both monitors connected to the MBP with displayport stream of 8.1Gbps with DSC.

I did notice extra CPU and memory usage with two monitors (6K + 4K), and the laptop runs a bit hotter.

I was on macOS Sonoma 14.3.1 when doing the initial connection and updated to 14.4 last week. Both versions work fine with the setup.

 

[vanc]

I have two Dell monitors in office. One U3224KB which is 6K resolution and with Thunderbolt 4, and the other one U2723QE which is 4K with USB-C (not TB).

My MBP 16" with M1 Pro can drive these two monitors with a single TB3 cable without any extra docks. The U3224KB is the main monitor, and the U2723QE is daisy chained to U3224KB with a USB-C cable.

Dell's user manual for U3224KB only shows daisy chaining with TB. But somehow, regular USB-C works fine too.

View attachment 2361492

From the display information, both monitors connected to the MBP with displayport stream of 8.1Gbps with DSC.

I did notice extra CPU and memory usage with two monitors (6K + 4K), and the laptop runs a bit hotter.

I was on macOS Sonoma 14.3.1 when doing the initial connection and updated to 14.4 last week. Both versions work fine with the setup.

I only have a M2 MBA 15" at home. It supports only single external monitor, even with lid closed. I have no access to a M3 MBA, and unsure if such a setup works.

 

[judethat]

I have an M1 MacBook for work and two Dell monitors at home and a docking station work gave to us and which connects both monitors on a single port. Works well, so the new M3 I just got for personal use should also work just as well, not tried it yet.