Go Back   DisplayLink Forum > DisplayLink Graphics Technology > Mac Software

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 11-24-2022, 08:48 PM   #1
zappyle
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 4
Default Docking station for a MacBook M2 + 2 monitors(Ultrafine 5K and HDMI/VGA Monitor)

I have received one of the newer M2 Macbook for my job and now my set up does not work since it does not support 2 external monitors out of the box.

I have:

LG Ultrafine 5k monitor, that connects through usb-c/thunderbolt

Acer screen that connects with VGA/DP/HDMI

To connect into:

Mackbook Air with a M2 chip

Any one knows what type of docking station can make that beautiful mess work? I will need a display link one from what I can see, but unsure of one that supports USB-C as an input from a monitor.

Thanks a lot!
zappyle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-25-2022, 12:24 PM   #2
rboerner
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 416
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by zappyle View Post
I have received one of the newer M2 Macbook for my job and now my set up does not work since it does not support 2 external monitors out of the box.

I have:

LG Ultrafine 5k monitor, that connects through usb-c/thunderbolt

Acer screen that connects with VGA/DP/HDMI

To connect into:

Mackbook Air with a M2 chip

Any one knows what type of docking station can make that beautiful mess work? I will need a display link one from what I can see, but unsure of one that supports USB-C as an input from a monitor.

Thanks a lot!
I do not believe you will be able to find a dock based on DisplayLink technology that will allow you to connect both of those displays to your Mac.

To expand further, DisplayLink has a list of all the docking stations based on DisplayLink technology here --> https://www.synaptics.com/products/d...cking_stations

It does not appear that any of these products provide a USB Type-C or Thunderbolt 3 video output port that would be compatible with your LG 5K display --> https://www.lg.com/us/monitors/lg-27...hd-led-monitor

Further to this, the LG display you are using has a maximum resolution of 5120x2880. According to the information provided by DisplayLink here --> https://support.displaylink.com/know...lution-support that resolution is not supported by their technology via a single video output port.

With that said, one way to connect both displays to your Mac would be to connect the LG display directly to one of your Mac's Thunderbolt/USB4 ports.

You could then connect a USB adapter based on DisplayLink technology to one of the downstream USB Type-C ports built-in to the LG display. You could then connect the Acer display to the USB adapter.

This combination will have the LG display being driven by the native video output capabilities of your Mac, and the Acer display being driven by the DisplayLink adapter. As an added bonus, the LG display will also charge your Mac.
rboerner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-27-2022, 05:40 PM   #3
zappyle
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 4
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rboerner View Post
I do not believe you will be able to find a dock based on DisplayLink technology that will allow you to connect both of those displays to your Mac.

To expand further, DisplayLink has a list of all the docking stations based on DisplayLink technology here --> https://www.synaptics.com/products/d...cking_stations

It does not appear that any of these products provide a USB Type-C or Thunderbolt 3 video output port that would be compatible with your LG 5K display --> https://www.lg.com/us/monitors/lg-27...hd-led-monitor

Further to this, the LG display you are using has a maximum resolution of 5120x2880. According to the information provided by DisplayLink here --> https://support.displaylink.com/know...lution-support that resolution is not supported by their technology via a single video output port.

With that said, one way to connect both displays to your Mac would be to connect the LG display directly to one of your Mac's Thunderbolt/USB4 ports.

You could then connect a USB adapter based on DisplayLink technology to one of the downstream USB Type-C ports built-in to the LG display. You could then connect the Acer display to the USB adapter.

This combination will have the LG display being driven by the native video output capabilities of your Mac, and the Acer display being driven by the DisplayLink adapter. As an added bonus, the LG display will also charge your Mac.
Thanks a lot for the reply.

I can find an adapter with a vga/DVI on one end, and a USB A on the other.

I can now the only thing I need to find is a USB-A to USB-C cable or converter. Correct?
zappyle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-28-2022, 12:26 PM   #4
rboerner
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 416
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by zappyle View Post
Thanks a lot for the reply.

I can find an adapter with a vga/DVI on one end, and a USB A on the other.

I can now the only thing I need to find is a USB-A to USB-C cable or converter. Correct?
Can you please provide a direct web link to the USB video adapter you are considering purchasing?

That will allow me to review its specifications.
rboerner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-28-2022, 01:02 PM   #5
zappyle
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 4
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rboerner View Post
Can you please provide a direct web link to the USB video adapter you are considering purchasing?

That will allow me to review its specifications.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B07XYT...K6Y9EEQB&psc=1

What specs should I be looking for in the adapter?
zappyle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2022, 12:05 PM   #6
rboerner
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 416
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by zappyle View Post
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B07XYT...K6Y9EEQB&psc=1

What specs should I be looking for in the adapter?
Previously you said:

"I can find an adapter with a vga/DVI on one end, and a USB A on the other."

That is the device I would like more information about.
rboerner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2022, 01:38 PM   #7
zappyle
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 4
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rboerner View Post
Previously you said:

"I can find an adapter with a vga/DVI on one end, and a USB A on the other."

That is the device I would like more information about.
This is the one Plugable Adaptateur graphique vidéo USB 2.0 vers VGA pour plusieurs écrans jusqu'à 1920 x 1080, prend en charge Windows 11,10, 8.1, 7, XP et Mac https://a.co/d/hxJow4j
zappyle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2022, 12:24 PM   #8
rboerner
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 416
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by zappyle View Post
This is the one Plugable Adaptateur graphique vidéo USB 2.0 vers VGA pour plusieurs écrans jusqu'à 1920 x 1080, prend en charge Windows 11,10, 8.1, 7, XP et Mac https://a.co/d/hxJow4j
Thank you for getting back with the additional information.

The Plugable USB video adapter you linked is based on DisplayLink technology, however that model only provides a VGA video output which may be limiting in the future.

In addition, I have no personal experience with the USB Type-A to USB Type-C adapter you linked to previously so I cannot speak to its quality or performance.

In my opinion, a Plugable UGA-165 adapter --> https://plugable.com/products/uga-165 in combination with a Plugable Type-A to Type-C adapter known as the USBC-AF3 --> https://plugable.com/products/usbc-af3 would be a better alternative.

The UGA-165 is a better alternative because it has a built-in DVI video output that can also be converted to VGA or HDMI as needed by using the included adapters. This provides flexibility, and the DVI or HDMI options will provide a slightly better image quality than a VGA connection (since the video signal will be digital).

Using the UGA-165 in combination with the USBC-AF3 will allow you to use two products from the same manufacturer, so they should work together properly.
rboerner is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 11:19 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.