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Two 4k external monitors through a docking station - Why is this seemingly effortless for Windows but basically impossible for Linux? (feddit.dk)
submitted 5 months ago by SorteKanin@feddit.dk to c/linux@lemmy.world
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I've ran into this situation multiple times at my current and previous jobs. I really want to avoid Windows and use something better, but I can't live without two external monitors.

On Windows, it "just works". I don't have to do anything.

On Linux (I tried Linux Mint today) it doesn't work. First, it only connected one of the monitors, the other one did not register. Then I switched to a different cable from the computer to the docking station and it connected both screens - however, they were locked to 30fps. I could not make them work at 60fps (and this is a major dealbreaker, I cannot live with 30fps).

This isn't really a tech support question, I'm more trying to understand what fundamentally causes this situation. Why is Linux still struggling with pretty basic functionality that Windows does with zero setup? Is it the vendor of the laptop and docking station that aren't properly supporting Linux? Or is it some other problem?

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[-] Anticorp@lemmy.world 5 points 5 months ago

My MacBook pro wouldn't work with my ultra wide resolution monitor and it took me hours to figure out how to force it to reveal the proper resolution option. It flat-out won't work with dual monitors, no M1 CPU MacBook will.

[-] GBU_28@lemm.ee 4 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Displaylink software.

Not excusing it, just saying that's what I use and it works great

Edit ideally your dock/hub has a display link chip in it.

I use this one, and now have a single USB c into my Mac

Dell 452-BCYT D6000 Universal... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071YTQBXM?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

[-] efstajas@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

That's not true, M1 Pro and Max MacBooks both support dual external monitors.

The scaling and lack of available resolution problems is very real though. If you have monitors with a slightly non-standard resolution, you basically need third party software like SwitchResX, which is pretty stupid considering Windows has no problems like this at all.

[-] Anticorp@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

The 13" MacBook Pro with the M1 processor doesn't support dual external monitors, I think it is a 2019, but I'm not positive. If you have a solution, then I'd love to hear it. I looked, and my coworkers looked, and we all came to the same conclusion that it's not supported.

[-] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

I've been using 2 4k monitors with my m1 for years now. Are you specifically referring to usb-c connected displays? I tried that (I think) and it didn't work. I use a dock that has HDMI and a USBC cable for my two monitors and it works fine for me.

[-] Anticorp@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

Kind of. USB-C to HDMI. I have a dongle for one HDMI port and that worked okay, but wouldn't give me the proper resolution, so I bought a USB-C to HDMI cable. That, with a lot of tinkering, got me the proper ultra wide resolution, but I still haven't been able to get a 2nd monitor working. Everything I read said that the M1 doesn't support dual monitors. I just checked and it's a 2020, not a 2019. My previous MacBook Pro was the 2019.

So, you're saying that you got two external monitors working with a USB-C dock?

[-] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

I just checked. My M1 MacBook Pro is a 2021 model so maybe that's why, but here's what I have working:

  • 1 4k monitor connected by USBC directly
  • 1 4k monitor connected by USBC -> mini displayport cable (I am fairly sure this one used to use HDMI via my USBC dock but apparently I changed that at some point)
[-] Anticorp@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

Okay thanks for checking. I'm pretty sure the 2020's just flat out don't work, but I'll look into it again. I've wanted a second monitor for work many times. Cheers!

[-] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

np, hope you get it working. I love my multi-monitor setup!

[-] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

I also just double checked. Both displays are running @ 60 hz

this post was submitted on 04 Jun 2024
65 points (93.3% liked)

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