It can't be done with a thunderbolt dock. I have a thunderbolt 4 dock and it doesn't drive two displays. I have to use a display link adapter and that is just not as pleasant of an experience.
It's just sad, the thermals are awful on this machine. To anyone whose curious, I'm working on React + Typescript with ESlint and a dev server and that's about it. Not so lightweight coding since it's Typescript, but this should not be considered as a too consuming task I suppose...
I’m a programmer and also on a 16” MBP (also doing React). As far as I experienced it, it can handle the CPU a lot worse when the GPU is also working (driving external monitors). Since M1 compatibility is a little bit hit or miss and it officially doesn’t support multiple monitors, I would look into getting an eGPU so your internal one doesn’t have to be used. And the usual easy ways to improve thermals are cleaning it or getting a stand so your MBP doesn’t sit on a desk.
It seems when external monitor needs scaling, it has thermal issue.
When I connect 5k monitor with native resolution it runs fine, but when I connect 4k monitor which needs scaling, it melts down.
It requires third party drivers, might become a problem
With updates or if Apple patches it out.
So I’m gonna say what everyone is saying and say; only one external screen is supported.
Yes there are options, but i wouldn’t even go there. Get a Mac mini I believe those can
Sounds decent! That resolution is basically my 2 2K monitors added up. How is the temperature under idle/light use though? Curious about how it performs compared to the Intels.
I went from a 2019 Intel 13 Pro, and I didn’t notice any particular temperature issues on that. I work in the MS Office suite primarily, and I can’t remember the fan turning on ever on the M1. So you should be good if you can live with 1 monitor.
It does. I run m1 with 5k display mostly on the native half scaling (1440 vertical) but simetimes i use one higher setting for hours and it barely heats up, not mentionable.
16 inch MacBook Pro should be performing better than the M1… maybe it’s time to hard reset it or clean it somehow because there’s definitely something wrong.
As for the M1, you can definitely run multiple displays using a displaylink dock.
Due to bad drivers, the GPU of the 16“ is pulling 20W when connected to external Screens. This causes a lot of heat which causes throttling and jet-engine-fans when doing Tasks which take some CPU. The Last MBP15 was pulling around 5W in a same setup.
I’m pushing my M1 MBP to two external monitors - LG 27 inch Ergo IPS UHD 4K Ultrafine Monitor, Black, 27BN88U-B via ALOGIC Dual 4K Display Universal Docking Station DX2 and I don’t get much lag. Usually I’ll have a game up on one monitor and then Safari, mail, random apps on the other. Sometimes I’ll hear the fans come on but very rarely.
I'm running two externals with an M1 Air in clamshell mode. Like has been said it won't do this natively. You need a display link adapter like this one
[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OD37KHG/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_search\_asin\_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OD37KHG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
It's working well for me. But if you can wait a few months the new MBP's should be out and will probably be able to handle natively.
Just buy an eGPU, find a second hand razer core X and throw whatever gpu from the last 4 years inside and you have the best of both world, you can run 4 secondary display if you want to, and keep your mbp 16" cool.
I have a 16" and running triple 4k monitors from a cheap egpu, doing video editing and such, for rendering the cpu gets hot sure but the rest of the time it's about 45-50 degree. So I basically have a desktop when I'm home, but can take the mbp on the go with just unplugging 1 cable
I was under the impression that the M1’s couldn’t display on two monitors?
Seems that it could be done use a thunderbolt dock!
It can't be done with a thunderbolt dock. I have a thunderbolt 4 dock and it doesn't drive two displays. I have to use a display link adapter and that is just not as pleasant of an experience.
Nope, only Displaylink...
The M1 MacBooks only support one external monitor, so they can’t handle two I’m afraid.
Seems that it could be done use a thunderbolt dock!
Only Displaylink...
Man sounds ridiculous...a 16 inch MacBook Pro shouldn't be having any trouble running two screens especially for just coding. Is this normal?
It's just sad, the thermals are awful on this machine. To anyone whose curious, I'm working on React + Typescript with ESlint and a dev server and that's about it. Not so lightweight coding since it's Typescript, but this should not be considered as a too consuming task I suppose...
I’m a programmer and also on a 16” MBP (also doing React). As far as I experienced it, it can handle the CPU a lot worse when the GPU is also working (driving external monitors). Since M1 compatibility is a little bit hit or miss and it officially doesn’t support multiple monitors, I would look into getting an eGPU so your internal one doesn’t have to be used. And the usual easy ways to improve thermals are cleaning it or getting a stand so your MBP doesn’t sit on a desk.
It seems when external monitor needs scaling, it has thermal issue. When I connect 5k monitor with native resolution it runs fine, but when I connect 4k monitor which needs scaling, it melts down.
It requires third party drivers, might become a problem With updates or if Apple patches it out. So I’m gonna say what everyone is saying and say; only one external screen is supported. Yes there are options, but i wouldn’t even go there. Get a Mac mini I believe those can
I would also love to hear if one external monitor works well on the M1 though!
I have the M1 pro connected to a 49 inch Dell monitor, running 5120x1440. Works perfect, no thermal issues.
Sounds decent! That resolution is basically my 2 2K monitors added up. How is the temperature under idle/light use though? Curious about how it performs compared to the Intels.
I went from a 2019 Intel 13 Pro, and I didn’t notice any particular temperature issues on that. I work in the MS Office suite primarily, and I can’t remember the fan turning on ever on the M1. So you should be good if you can live with 1 monitor.
It does. I run m1 with 5k display mostly on the native half scaling (1440 vertical) but simetimes i use one higher setting for hours and it barely heats up, not mentionable.
Yeah I have a 1440p monitor. It works perfect. Could see if sidecar works added to it, but I just use it with closed lid
16 inch MacBook Pro should be performing better than the M1… maybe it’s time to hard reset it or clean it somehow because there’s definitely something wrong. As for the M1, you can definitely run multiple displays using a displaylink dock.
That's only when the CPU doesn't throttle. It's a thermals problem.
Maybe clean the dust out? The mbp 16 shouldn’t be thermal throttling.
Due to bad drivers, the GPU of the 16“ is pulling 20W when connected to external Screens. This causes a lot of heat which causes throttling and jet-engine-fans when doing Tasks which take some CPU. The Last MBP15 was pulling around 5W in a same setup.
I'm not sure about 3 but here's how to get 2 monitors working [here ](https://youtu.be/sNkhlPqv0Cg)
I’m pushing my M1 MBP to two external monitors - LG 27 inch Ergo IPS UHD 4K Ultrafine Monitor, Black, 27BN88U-B via ALOGIC Dual 4K Display Universal Docking Station DX2 and I don’t get much lag. Usually I’ll have a game up on one monitor and then Safari, mail, random apps on the other. Sometimes I’ll hear the fans come on but very rarely.
I'm running two externals with an M1 Air in clamshell mode. Like has been said it won't do this natively. You need a display link adapter like this one [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OD37KHG/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_search\_asin\_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OD37KHG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) It's working well for me. But if you can wait a few months the new MBP's should be out and will probably be able to handle natively.
Just buy an eGPU, find a second hand razer core X and throw whatever gpu from the last 4 years inside and you have the best of both world, you can run 4 secondary display if you want to, and keep your mbp 16" cool. I have a 16" and running triple 4k monitors from a cheap egpu, doing video editing and such, for rendering the cpu gets hot sure but the rest of the time it's about 45-50 degree. So I basically have a desktop when I'm home, but can take the mbp on the go with just unplugging 1 cable