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Comment by shwouchk | Hacker News Reader

I recently got this one (see sibling comment to parent) and am quite happy with it:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0CMT7WMVM

Note that as all docks it requires displaylink software on mac to use more than one screen, and the software is a bit buggy - needs to be restarted every couple of times i reconnect to the dock for the displays to work right. TBH this is the first dock i experience this with but then again os and software updates, and ive seen weird flaky behavior before, just not specifically this.

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Not all docks need DisplayLink. Thunderbolt-powered ones like this [0] or this [1] can support multiple displays for Macbook Pros without it, so if you want to avoid having to use DisplayLink, they're solid picks. The one thing you need to watch out for is that if you go with the second one, there are no HDMI ports, so you need a USB-C to HDMI converter, which in my experience can be flaky at higher refresh rates. If on the other hand your monitors support DisplayPort, then USB-C to DisplayPort is native, doesn't need a converter (just an adapter), and works better.

1: https://plugable.com/products/tbt4-ud5

2: https://www.caldigit.com/thunderbolt-4-element-hub/

From the first link

> On Mac systems, dual display is only supported on M1 Pro/Max, M2 Pro/Max, M3 Pro/Max, and M4/Pro/Max systems

So if you're still on an OG M1 it won't work for you.

Base M2 or M3 won't work either; a Thunderbolt dock cannot work around a lack of display pipes on the SoC. The M4 is the first base M-series chip that supports two external displays in addition to the internal display, hence the slightly different phrasing in your quote for the M4 generation.

Aside from my justified negative opinions about caldigit, i was referring to docks that offer 3+ (simultaneous) screen outputs (eg not one with 2 hdmi+2dp that can use either set but not all 4 together).

That requires DP.

> docks that offer 3+ (simultaneous) screen outputs ... requires DP

Still incorrect.

What you actually have to use is two thunderbolt ports on the MacBook. Then you can power not just two but four 6K screens, as each TB port can push 2 externals (in addition to built-in screen).

So this iVANKY dock is native TB quad screen, for example:

https://www.amazon.com/FusionDock-Thunderbolt-Monitor-Dockin...

Im sorry, despite their marketing, this is a 2 output dock. Offering TB passthrough doesnt count, just like we wouldnt call regular usb hubs "multiple display docks" if some manufacturer came out with usb screens (whih im sure exist already for lowres output).

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