How can I connect two monitors on M1 devices then ?

@@syambangkok M1 devices only support a single external monitor via a Thunderbolt connection, it's a limitation of the processor itself. The only workaround is to use a DisplayLink adapter, which can add software driven external monitors. There are some limitations and drawbacks to this method, so we do not support or recommend them, but they are compatible with our docks.

@@CalDigitHQ the new M1 max do.

@@jaludwick Yes, that's correct. These comments were made before the M1 Pro and Max chips were announced. Devices with M1 Pro or Max chips are both compatible with dual monitors.

​@@CalDigitHQ I have an M1 Pro and sometimes the displays just don't turn on, all other ports from CalDigit work, but not displays. I need to disconnect and connect back until it works and sometimes the MacBook crashes during the process. Do you have some indication on how to make it work consistently?

We're more than happy to help! Thank you for the positive comment!

Thanks for your suggestion! The disclaimer is mentioned on both the Apple store and Amazon, but you are absolutely right that it could be more clear on our website. I'll speak with our webmaster to get it added on the relevant product pages. Thank you for your input!

Yes you can. The longest active cord we offer is 2 meters.

We offer our own collection of active adapters, which were made to connect with our docks. Please visit www.caldigit.com/adapters/ if you are interested :)

Hello Leon, We have no expertise in adapters that provide higher refresh rates than 60Hz. We've seen adapters that can only reach 4k30 and others that can reach 4k60. It's possible this is what was referenced in your reading. The TS3 Plus is locked at 4k 60hz maximum specification due to bandwidth constraints and you will not be able to go higher than this. Best Regards, CalDigit

​@@CalDigitHQthank you for your reply. I have received TS3 today, and I have connected it to my 3840 x1600 monitor(not 4k, so maybe this is why it works) and it works fine in 120hz 10bit. The only issue I have is when I turn on HDR mode I see purple fringing on the text, but that was also mentioned by Linus. However, when I connect directly to my laptop with DP cable there is no fringing in HRD mode.

@@leonbirgers We're glad to hear everything is working for the most part! The TS3 Plus utilizes DisplayPort 1.2 and does not support HDR. HDR support was added to DisplayPort 1.4, so this may be where that fringing is coming from.

1. Yes, colors should match between DP and TB3 connection. 2. I am pretty sure 1440p 144hz is supported and I am positive that 1440p 120hz is supported. 3. Yes, you can put your computer in clamshell mode. Requirements for this are 1 monitor, a power source, mouse and keyboard all connected to the MacBook.

Hello and thank you for reaching out. The HDMI specification doesn't matter, but if the cable is poorly shielded, interference may cause it not to work. If you have another HDMI cable, we recommend trying with it to see if the behavior improves. Beyond this, our support team would be more than happy to help diagnose the behavior. You can reach them one of the following ways: Email: Support@CalDigit.com Livechat: www.caldigit.com/support/ Please let us know if there's anything else we can do for you. Best regards and stay healthy, Dalton from CalDigit

The TS3 Plus is capable of dual extended monitors, yes.

No. The current M1 Apple computers only support 1 external monitor over Thunderbolt 3. You can only get up to 2 extended monitors on the Mac Mini, 1 over Thunderbolt 3 and the other over HDMI.

An Active cable only matters if you are trying to convert the DP port to HDMI, VGA, or DVI. If you intend to connect from the DP port to a DP monitor with a direct DP cable, you are good to go! Also, if you want to use the Thunderbolt 3 port for a second monitor, an Active adapter does not matter.

@@CalDigitHQ Hello ! Do you think that a cable : DP - Thunderbolt 2 (connected to the screen) might work ?

@@clzmful We would need to know more about your setup to know definitively. Thunderbolt 2 and MiniDP are the same port type, so if it's a MiniDP port, yes, you can convert DP to MiniDP and it will work. I haven't personally handled a Thunderbolt 2 monitor, but you might have better luck going TB3 to TB2 through the secondary TB3 port. In any case, our support team would know best here. You can contact them in one of the following ways: Email: Support@CalDigit.com Phone: (714) 572-9889 Livechat: caldigit.com/support/

CalDigit hello ! Thanks for your answer. I just bought a DP to DP cable to link with a benq monitor (on mac btw) I’ll receive the HUB tomorrow. Thanks you very much !

The dock/dual screening works fine with my windows 10 dell laptop.

Hello, The source of this behavior isn't quite clear from the setup you've described. Would it be possible to test with a DisplayPort monitor and cable instead of the adapter? This way we could rule out the adapter/cable. I also recommend you reach out to our support team. They're available via email at support@CalDigit.com. They will be able to provide additional troubleshooting for you.

Please ensure that you are using an "Active DisplayPort to HDMI" adapter or cable to connect your second monitor. This sounds like the most likely culprit of your DisplayPort not working.

Unfortunately, that proposed setup will not work to the best of our knowledge. For now, only dual monitor connection is supported! :)

Make sure you are plugging in to the Thunderbolt 3 port on the TS3 Plus. The 10Gbps USB-C port is data only and will not provide video. Beyond this, please ensure your TS3 Plus is on the latest firmware version, 44.1 This version increased compatibility for all USB-C monitors. Our support team would be more than happy to help diagnose and troubleshoot this situation further. You can reach them via email at: Support@CalDigit.com

Hey Harry, I recommend you reach out to our support team. They can help guide you through our troubleshooting procedure and offer further advice. You can reach them via email at Support@CalDigit.com. Best regards and stay healthy, Dalton from CalDigit

Hello Samuel, All of that sounds very do-able. I haven't done the math on an ultrawide 1440p monitor, but a standard 1440p monitor can reach 120Hz, so 75W should be attainable. The 1080p ultrawide will work no problem, and the USB-C to HDMI adapter is the perfect way to go!

Yes, the TS3 Plus can support dual 4k extended displays on a MacBook Pro 16".

It shouldn't! The only scenario that it would do this is if you were using other high-bandwidth devices, like an external SSD, and it was saturating the rest of your data. Even then, audio is prioritized over pretty much everything but monitors, so this could only happen if your audio devices were on an audio interface or some other USB device.

There's not a main monitor in the way you refer to. As the behavior you are experiencing is not normal, I highly recommend you reach out to our support team for troubleshooting support. You can reach them via email at Support@CalDigit.com Best regards and stay healthy, Dalton from CalDigit

@@CalDigitHQ thx u very much

Hello Collin. As long as the Bootcamp partition is recent enough to include Thunderbolt 3 drivers, the TS3 and TS3 Plus should be compatible.

@@CalDigitHQ Thank you!

The best answer I can give you is maybe. Dual 2560x1440 would be supported at 120hz, and maybe even 144hz, but I don't have a reference for an ultrawide 1440p120hz monitor in this context.

In order to convert from DP to HDMI, DVI, or anything else on the TS3 Plus, the adapter must be "Active", meaning that the adapter itself will make the conversion from DisplayPort to whatever plug on the monitor you're using. We would also recommend to avoid using multiple adapters when possible, as that can cause a failure point in and of itself. If you are not using the TS3 Plus' secondary Thunderbolt port, it may be simpler and more cost-effective to grab a USB-C to DVI cable instead of working this out on the DisplayPort.

Hey Garrett, Our support team can help you get your monitors working properly. You can reach them via email at Support@CalDigit.com

Yes, it should provide dual extended monitors. It's possible that docks you've tested with in the past are USB-C based, which cannot usually provide dual monitors on macOS.

The only dock of ours that would currently be possible with is our Element Hub, which offers 3 Thunderbolt ports, enough for all the devices you've listed.

Hello, It's possible that the Lenovo T480's Thunderbolt 3 PCIe BUS is only a 2x connection, which will only allow 1 display to function at a time. This would be a hardware limitation on the Lenovo computer itself. If you have MST enabled monitors, you could daisy chain the monitors themselves in order to get 2 extended displays, but currently macOS does not support MST in this way, so on the Mac computer, you will get two mirrored displays instead. Best Regards, CalDigit

Thanks for reaching out! Sounds like just about everything should work. I am positive that the 3440x1440 monitor can work at 120hz, but we have had some reports from users getting up to 144hz on similar monitors. Also, it should charge a Razer laptop. As a note, you may need to download and install the Thunderbolt 3 drivers and software from Razer's website as they do not always come installed on Razer laptops. Thunderbolt 3 devices may not work properly without drivers and software installed.

@@CalDigitHQ I appreciate the quick reply! Thank you, that made me more confident with your product. Gonna purchase soon!

That resolution should be supported at 60hz (4k has a higher pixel density and 4k60hz works). Here's a couple things to try: Set your monitor's DP version to 1.2 if you have the option to. The TS3 Plus uses DP 1.2 and sometimes a different version can cause some weird behavior. It's also worth trying a different DisplayPort cable if possible. Beyond this, our support team would be more than happy to help! Here's how you can reach them: Email: Support@CalDigit.com Livechat: caldigit.com/support/

@@CalDigitHQ I'm very much obliged to you! After I reset the monitor to DP1.2 just now, everything is very good! Thank you for not only developing such a good product, but also a very good service ＾＾

@@user-rb5zg9xn2i Thank you for the kind words! I'm very happy to hear it was as simple as changing the monitor settings! Have a great weekend!

Hey D R, Sounds like you got it right! Make sure you plug in the USB-C cable into the secondary Thunderbolt 3 port on the TS3 Plus, the Thunderbolt 3 ports are the only USB-C style ports with monitor support. The TS3 Plus will be able to charge your computer. It's worth checking the firmware when you get the device to make sure you are on the latest firmware version (44.1), as this version supports elevated charging designed specifically for 16" MacBook Pros. Guide to check firmware version: www.caldigit.com/checking-your-firmware-version/

Try performing an NVRAM reset on your computer and maybe an SMC reset too. These systems are partially responsible for monitor display, so resetting and clearing them can sometimes correct the behavior. If that doesn't work, our support team would be happy to take a look at your case! Email, call, or livechat with them on our website: www.caldigit.com/support

You can connect 1 via a USB-C to DisplayPort adapter, and the other through the downstream thunderbolt 3 port :)

@@CalDigitHQ will this dual usb c work with the M1 Mac Mini?

@@srorr The TS3 Plus supports video through only one USB-C/ Thunderbolt port. The other video has to use the DisplayPort. Beyond this, M1 devices only support 1 external monitor via Thunderbolt connection. In order to use a second monitor with your M1 Mac Mini, you will have to plug one monitor into the HDMI port on the computer, and the other monitor will connect via Thunderbolt.

I've heard that there's some unexpected behavior with using clamshell mode on Monterey right now, which may be affecting how monitors operate. It's something Apple should address in a future software update, so keep up to date on macOS! Our support team may have some troubleshooting for you to try in regards to this behavior anyways. Here are some ways to get in touch: Email: Support@CalDigit.com Livechat: caldigit.com/support/

@@CalDigitHQ I have the answer here on this issue. When plugging an Apple M1 or M1-Max Macbook or Macbook Pro 2021 running Monterey into the TS3+, for clamshell mode to work, you must adjust the display settings after the laptop is closed. This happens if the default settings aren't correct (in my case, my monitor was 30hz and the default was 60hz). This may seem impossible (as your external monitor will be dark, and your laptop monitor closed), but it can be done from another Mac if you have one available. Here is how you do it: 1. Go to System Preferences, check Remote Management, and take note of the IP address. 2. Click < in System Preferences, and click on Battery. Under Power Adapter, check the box to prevent the Mac from automatically sleeping when the display is off. 3. From another Mac on the same LAN, open any Finder window, and hit Command-K. A window will pop up asking for a URL. Type vnc://x.x.x.x (where the x's are your IP noted earlier). 4. From the remote desktop window, select System Preferences, Display Preferences, and adjust to make the external monitor work, and primary. That's it! It will now work when closed.

No. The TS3 Plus only works over Thunderbolt 3. However, our USB-C Pro Dock, USB-C HDMI Dock, and Element Hub all can work with both USB-C and Thunderbolt. They're a good choice for users with mixed input specifications!

@@CalDigitHQ What would be the disadvantage of using the USB-C Pro dock versus the TS3+ when connecting to a thunderbolt laptop?

@@JustinBaiThechickennuggetman The only big disadvantage is the difference in amount of peripherals. Because the TS3 Plus is made with Thunderbolt in mind, it can include more ports than the other offerings like our Pro Dock. Notably, on our mixed devices you are looking at two different bandwidths depending on the host device. Thunderbolt users can still take advantage of the full 40Gbps, but USB-C computers will be locked to 10Gbps across the entire dock, which is why on USB-C, the Pro Dock can only support dual 1080p60hz monitors, while on TB3 the same dock supports dual 4k60hz monitors.

Yes that is correct! The setup you mentioned (3 screens in total) definitely works with our dock :)

Hey Harry, That sounds very strange, but my best guess is that your Thunderbolt software is holding up the computer. Our support team would be more than happy to take a look. Here's their contact info: Email: Support@CalDigit.com Phone: (714) 572-9889 Livechat: caldigit.com/support/

Looks like the 2018 iPad Pro is USB-C only. The TS3 Plus requires a Thunderbolt connection in order to work, so will not work here. Our newer TS4 is compatible with USB-C and would work here. I believe newer iPad Pros are also Thunderbolt enabled and would work with the TS3 Plus.

M1 MacBooks do not support dual external monitors at all. There is a limitation in the M1 chip that only supports 1 external monitor through Thunderbolt. The TS3 Plus can support up to dual 4k 60hz monitors. HDR is not supported. Alternatively, the TS3 Plus can support a single 5k 60hz monitor through the Thunderbolt passthrough port.

@@CalDigitHQ thank you! You saved me a ton of money as I probably would have bought 2 hdr monitors..

@@jaymartinez8231 Many of our more recent docks support HDR, if it is a feature you are looking for. Our USB-C HDMI Dock, SOHO Dock, and Element Hub all have HDR support. Our future docks will also likely support it as well!

@@CalDigitHQ I bought two 4K HDR monitors with usb-c connections. Will the CalDigit USB -C Pro Dock (display ports) be able to power the dual monitors with HDR at 60hz each? Thank you!

@@jaymartinez8231 The Pro Dock only supports DisplayPort connections, and even then it's DP 1.2, so HDR would not be supported. Converting from USB-C to other standards is tricky for monitors, so I would recommend you look for a dock with USB-C monitor support. Our TS3 Plus has one USB-C video port, and our Element Hub can support multiple.

Hey Cindy, In order to use an HDMI monitor with the DisplayPort on the TS3 Plus, you have to use an "Active" adapter or cable. We generally recommend an adapter because they are easier to find and the terminology is simpler (an "active cable" can mean refer to this context and it's also mean very long cables) In our context, an "Active" cable or adapter basically does the job of converting the DisplayPort signal to HDMI (or some other video types). Sometimes, this is done in the DisplayPort itself and is called DP++. We experimented with DP++ while developing the TS3 Plus, but we found a vast improvement in video quality and fidelity without DP++, so we omitted it for the final release of the TS3 Plus. You have it right that with an adapter, you will need the adapter and an HDMI cable. We have an offering on our website, there are also other options available on Amazon. I believe both Benfei and Cablematters make Active adapters as well. If you have further questions, you can leave them here or our dedicated support team can help you via email at Support@CalDigit.com Thanks and have a great day, Dalton from CalDigit

CalDigit Thanks!!

An Active Adapter or cable advertises itself as such on the product packaging or listing. If you are not sure, you probably have a passive cable.

Hit up our support team for further troubleshooting. Here's how to reach them: Email: Support@CalDigit.com Livechat: caldigit.com/support/

Looks like the MacBook Air 2017 has Thunderbolt 2 ports, which is compatible with the TS3 Plus, but with some caveats. You will need to get an Apple Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 adapter in order to connect the devices. Additionally, charging is not supported via Thunderbolt 2, so the TS3 Plus cannot charge the computer in question. Source: support.apple.com/kb/SP753?locale=en_US

With a Thunderbolt 3 audio interface, you can only get one monitor natively on the TS3 Plus. The only workaround I can immediately think of is to use a DisplayLink adapter to get a second (software powered) monitor.

Yes! an eGPU does work with the TS3 Plus. We're actually working on a video on this topic with a bit of bench-marking included. We've been doing some testing, and for absolute best eGPU performance, you'll want to put your eGPU before the TS3 Plus in your Thunderbolt chain, however, putting it after the TS3 Plus is a perfectly fine configuration for many use-cases.

CalDigit That sounds perfect, can’t wait! It would be awesome if you had some diagrams for performance. Also if you could create a list of recommended inGPU enclosures that would be super helpful!! I am wanting to use a radeon xt 5700 with my 2016 mac book pro and the ts3!

In our limited testing, we found less than a 5% drop in performance from our eGPU when plugged in after the TS3 Plus versus before or plugged in on its own. In one case, we had better performance when plugged in after, but we thought this was anomalous. We have begun some testing of putting the TS3 Plus under load separately to gauge what will get bottlenecked under a fully usage, but our findings aren't definitive enough yet to discuss. We have a very limited amount of eGPUs in our lab to test with, as this whole area is pretty tangential to the majority of our use-cases, but any eGPU enclosure with a Thunderbolt pass-through should work with the TS3 Plus to go before. And the rest can go after the TS3 Plus and should be fine.

CalDigit thank you for this thorough explanation! In regards to the pass through any epgu enclosure with two thunderbolt 3 ports would be reccomended correct?

Apologies for the delay. Yes, dual Thunderbolt 3 ports or more typically denotes pass-through Thunderbolt 3 support.

Off the top of my head, it sounds possible that your computer's Thunderbolt 3 port operates on 2 lanes, which limits the ports' video support to a single monitor (total bandwidth/ resolution is not a factor in this behavior). Our support team would be more than happy to take a deeper look at your case. Here are some of the best ways to reach them: Email: support@CalDigit.com Livechat: www.caldigit.com/support/ Hope this helps! Best regards and stay healthy, Dalton from CalDigit

@@CalDigitHQ Thank you for the quick reply. I was previously using a USB-C DP dock with the same laptop and it connected to two external monitors just fine. I will also reach out to support with the issue.

@@fahadfreid1996 IT's possible that the USB-C Pro Dock was operating over USB-C's MST function to get the dual monitors up. In any case, definitely hit up our support team. They can help investigate further!

@@CalDigitHQ Thank you! I did contact them and will be waiting for their reply. I really appreciate the quick responses!

Hey Frederic, I asked our support team about this, but they haven't heard any updates from users that have tried the update yet. If you try it, let our support team know!

@@CalDigitHQ Ok, thanks. By the way, I wonder if with the Dell XPS 13 9300, plugging two 4K screen (through CalDigit) uses processor power or RAM or something else (and for each case, how much, if you know about it). And if plugging two full HD displays would put less strain on my laptop.

@@Fredzer100 Dual 4k monitors definitely take up more bandwidth and ultimately are more strenuous on a system than dual HD monitors. I cannot speak to how big of a performance difference we are talking, but there is a calculable data difference.

@@CalDigitHQ OK, thanks. By the way, my Dell XPS 13 9300 does not have a dedicated graphic card but just a motherboard soldered Intel iris graphic plus card. Will it still be able to run 2 external displays (in HD for instance)?

@@Fredzer100 It should still be able to run dual extended monitors.

Yes! The TS3 Plus has a DisplayPort you can plug straight into!

@@CalDigitHQ Many Thanks. I just bought the TS3 Plus on Amazon.

Awesome! Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions!

Hello Prasanth, Our support team would be more than happy to take a look at your case and offer specific troubleshooting advice to get your system running as intended. You can reach them via email at support@caldigit.com or via phone or livechat on our website. We do not pay anybody to review our products. We stand by the quality of products and believe that speaks for itself. Best Regards and stay healthy, Dalton from CalDigit

Sometimes I cannot connect even one =( The monitors are detected but they don't work.

@@DasUnbekannte If it was working previously and is no longer working, you should talk to Dell's support team and see what you can do. You may need to rollback the BIOS update.

With so many ports on the TS3 Plus, it's as easy to get wrong as it is to get right. It's really not hard to get monitors working properly with our products, but there's a lot of simple ways that it could be messed up. This video aims to go over almost every pitfall that our support team sees in order to make it quicker and easier for users to get their monitors working properly!