Does anyone know if it's possible in any way to get this Macbook Air to be able to use 3 monitors instead of only 2 monitors?

[cyberseckyle@infosec.exchange]

@cliffwade The Airs can’t support more than 2 extra monitors. You need a Pro for that bud.

[dhry@mastodon.social]

@cliffwade I seem to recall that chip only supporting a max of 2. Could be wrong.

[dhry@mastodon.social]

@cliffwade Upon re-read, what you said at the end.

[cliffwade@infosec.exchange]

@cyberseckyle That's what I was lead to believe and hate that it's true.

[xabean@infosec.exchange]

@cliffwade you might have to get one of the USB DisplayLink video adapters, not DisplayPort.

In short: the _difference_ is the adapter speaks _USB_ not DisplayPort between the adapter and the computer, to bypass the onboard graphics chip in the Mac. The root cause here is the Mac graphics chip doesn't support a bunch of displays, nor Multi Stream Transport.

[dhry@mastodon.social]

@dhry @cliffwade Wait wait. I'm thinking of the CHIP itself. M1. What chip?

[cliffwade@infosec.exchange]

@dhry Whatever the link says the chip is. M4 I believe.

[cliffwade@infosec.exchange]

@xabean I'm being told that Air's only support 2 external monitors, so would this actually work?

[dhry@mastodon.social]

@dhry @cliffwade It may theoretically be possible if it's not a hardware limitation - there are some USB dongles that have one or two HDMI outs, that uses one usb-c port, the other could be a usb-c to hdmi third monitor. but requires extra hardware.

[cyberseckyle@infosec.exchange]

@cliffwade It just doesn’t have enough power. https://support.apple.com/en-us/122212

[cliffwade@infosec.exchange]

@dhry I currently have a dock to hook up the monitors with already, so I don't really mind having extra hardware.

Just curious exactly what I would need and if it's something that would actually work.

[dhry@mastodon.social]

@cliffwade

[dhry@mastodon.social]

@cliffwade Here’s my dongle with two hdmi outs.

[cliffwade@infosec.exchange]

@dhry That doesn't sound good and not an option I want to deal with. I want it or need it to be fully supported.

[xabean@infosec.exchange]

@cliffwade you said *three* monitors, which I interpreted as external displays, not including the internal display; sorry if I interpreted you incorrectly.

I don't have a mac, but a coworker does, and they rely on a DisplayLink USB adapter to get them the number of displays they want (which I believe is 3 external displays)

[cliffwade@infosec.exchange]

@xabean Yes, three external monitors. I don't want to use the built-in monitor of the laptop itself as I hate tiny screens.

[dhry@mastodon.social]

@cliffwade Nope. Let your work know that them skimping on a shitty non-pro Macbook is causing you grief.

[dhry@mastodon.social]

@dhry @cliffwade I mean, if it was a CHINESE laptop it'd be fucking better than Apple I reckon..

[cliffwade@infosec.exchange]

@dhry I'm going to see if we can trade it in and upgrade. I'd be willing to bet they would let us.

[cliffwade@infosec.exchange]

@dhry LMAO