Go Back   DisplayLink Forum > DisplayLink Enabled Products > What to buy?

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 06-02-2021, 02:29 AM   #1
zep
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 2
Default What dock to buy for M1 Mac?

I have an M1 MacBook Pro and need to know what dock to buy. Will any USB-C DisplayLink dock work to connect 2 external monitors?

I also have an Intel Mac and I know that in order for the two displays to be connected the dock needs to be Thunderbolt 3 instead of USB-C. Is this the case when using an M1 Mac with a DisplayLink dock as well?

I spent a few minutes looking at the docks on this website and I didn't find any that were Thunderbolt enabled, they were all USB-C.

I just need to know what I need to buy. It is a 2021 M1 MacBook Pro and I have 2 monitors. Each monitor can be connected with DP or HDMI. I need passthrough charging and at least 2 USB-A ports.

Thanks in advance for any pointers or assistance!
zep is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2021, 05:10 PM   #2
Kris H
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 1
Default Sources for M1 Compatible DisplayLink Docks

There are several websites that provide lists of compatible Docks for driving 2 or more displays, of course as you have found they require either that the Dock support DisplayLink, or that you connect a USB adapter. A USB DisplayLink adapter should allow you to continue with your current Thunderbolt docks. The USB C docks will work, I have not found a TB dock that actually has DisplayLink.

Display link also has a list of certified devices on their website. Any of these should work.

I have used the Kensington on my M1 MBP and it took a few short minutes of work, which was complicated since one of the DisplayPort connections was not fully seated despite looking and feeling as though it was. Once I seated that it all worked like a dream.

Some articles that review this include: https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/ho...1-mac-3799794/.

and

https://www.kensington.com/news/dock...le-m1-macbook/

There is also this site that has articles and recommended devices to buy that are all DisplayLink M1 supported: . This has some general comments about the various devices' pluses and minuses.

On another note, I have found that prices can vary significantly within a short time frame AND MANY ARE currently in short supply (July 2021.)

One thing to be aware of is that many of the docks will say they are Thunderbolt #...compatible, but in fact, they only support the 5 or 10 Gb/S USB protocol. Accurate but also misleading.

So far I have not been able to find a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 dock that has native support for DisplayLink. I contacted Kensington, the maker of my dock, and they said I could connect a USB DisplayLink adapter to a Thunderbolt Dock's USB port with a DisplayLink USB to HDMI or DP adapter, so long as the connection from the adapter to the monitor are the same (e.g. no DP to HDMI adapters.)

I am about to check that out since I have found some issues, as noted in earlier reviews, of slow USB external drive performance that Thunderbolt hopefully resolves.

So far the biggest issues that I have run into have been:

1: Sometimes on reboot have to power cycle the dock to get 2nd external monitor recognized.
2: Unable to cold start from a clamshell mode with BlueTooth keyboard. (Does not recognize keystrokes. This happened before the M1 though as well.)

Other known items, not an issue:

3: The drivers work by "copying" the screen to memory, this causes the Apple Watch to "sometimes" not unlock the computer

4: Since the Driver works by "copying" the HDCP is not present, so protected content will not display. You can always switch to the natively driven screen(s).

Pleasant surprises:

Since I have a 1440 monitor they both drive at 75hz, my monitors' limit.
No noticeable lag between screens and mouse/trackpad input.

That is what I have found so far in the 10-days of testing I have done.

Last edited by Kris H; 07-03-2021 at 05:15 PM. Reason: Clarity and to focus on OP key questions
Kris H is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-04-2021, 03:22 AM   #3
zep
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 2
Default Thank you for the reply!

Thank you for the reply!
zep 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 11:52 AM.


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