Can Mini Mac drive Dual Displays?

Intel web states "Two Serial Digital Video Out (SDVO) ports for flat-panel monitors and/or TV-out support via Advanced Digital Display 2 (ADD2) cards or Media Expansion Cards" for the GMA950 chipset. Does mini mac support this ADD2 card or any Media Expansion Cards?

As far as I know they had supported both Windows and Mac systems at the outset, though as the FAQ says, the unit is 'seen' by the host system as a single widescreen display, which does rather limit the sort of flexibility those of us that habitually use dual displays on systems that directly support them have been able to take advantage of.
One would also have to say that if the unit requires additional drivers to give it functionality, it is a rather more risky proposition than if it gives the necessary functions without needing any additional software, simply because if MacOS 'understands' it natively, it is highly probable it always will, while if it required drivers, MacOS will more than likely break some functionality over time as it updates.
Additionally, if one were to want mirrored displays, there are cheaper 'splitters' that would provide that functionality specifically, but where spanning is needed from a single VGA port, this appears to be the only viable solution for Macs (PC users have the additional option of USB video adapters). It clearly works as shown in the link I gave previously, but a prospective user would of course be wise to ensure that the Matrox device is capable of delivering the specific display configuration they have need of before purchasing.
Personally, if I were in need of dual head functionality before purchasing a system, I'd not generally look at a Mac mini as the system of choice to achieve it. However, if I already had a mini and a need to drive dual displays, this appears to be a reasonable way to achieve it, both technically and cost wise.

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Mac Mini (mid-2011) dual display with extended desktop

Can Mac Mini (mid-2011) dual display different picture on HDMI TV and DVI monitor. I can only get it to mirror and not display different programs or extended desktop. Can i "extend" instead of "mirror"? and how

Hi David it should...
Display Support:
Dual Displays
Resolution Support:
1920x1200*
Details:
*This model simultaneously supports 1920x1200 on an HDMI display or a DVI display using the included HDMI-to-DVI adapter and 2560x1600 on a Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort display or even a VGA display (with an optional Mini DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter, which is compatible with the Thunderbolt port).
2nd Display Support:
Dual/Mirroring*
2nd Max. Resolution:
2560x1600*
Details:
*This model simultaneously supports 1920x1200 on an HDMI or a DVI display (using the included HDMI-to-DVI adapter) and 2560x1600 on a Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort display or even a VGA display (with an optional Mini DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter, which is compatible with the Thunderbolt port).
Are you using splitter maybe?

Upgraded to Yosemite and Windows 8.1 Pro in Bootcamp, can no longer drive retina display and two external monitors simultaneously?

Greetings
I just upgraded from Mountain Lion and Windows 7 Ultimate (Bootcamp) to Yosemite and Windows 8.1 Pro on a late 2012 MBP 13" Retina. Prior to the upgrades, I was able to drive the retina panel and two external monitors simultaneously when operating directly in Bootcamp. Now, I can only drive 2 of the 3 simultaneously though all three are recognized under Graphic Properties. I simply cannot find any option or profile under Graphics Properties or Options or Personalization to run all three screens.
My hardware hasn't changed and this worked prior to the updates. I have no issue on the Mac OSX can run all three. I also have no issue doing it in Windows under Parallels Desktop 10. It is just when I boot directly into Bootcamp that this happens. What am I missing?
Thanks,
G.

Great point, Loner T. It was late when I was working and I thought about this afterwards also.
The issue was that in Windows=>Control Panel=>Display, under "Change Display Settings", the three screens showed but "Extend Display" was not selected for one of the screens. It was simply off. I can't believe I danced around this w/o picking it up sooner. In fact, it has happened in the past that for some reason a display loses this setting.
As an aside, thanks again for all of your help and terrific input to upgrade both the Mac and Windows operating systems. As I was going from Windows 7 Ultimate to Windows 8.1 Pro, one thing I did come across that made life much easier was to upgrade first to Windows 8 so I could keep my apps. The jump from 7 to 8.1 would otherwise migrate my personal files, but not programs and require a lot of time to reinstall all. This was completely avoided by going to Windows 8 first.
Thanks, again, and very much appreciate the work that you do here.
Best,
G.

Trouble loading Mac driver for Display Adapter (connecting Mac to flat screen TV)

Howdy:
I'm trying to connect my Mac (OSX 5) to a flat screen TV. To do so I just bought a USB 2.0 to HDMI® Display Adapter w/ Audio (1920 x 1080). The mini CD containing the DisplayLink software drivers that came with the unit won't fit in my Mac CD drive. I then tried to download the correct driver from the DisplayLink website, "DisplayLink USB Graphics Macintosh Driver" which appears to be appropriate for OSX 5 (at http://www.displaylink.com/support/mac_downloads.php). This proceeds through the installation steps, then bombs out with the error message that "The following install step failed: run preinstall script for DisplayLink software. Contact the software manufacturer for assistance."
In the hopes of finding a compatible driver, I looked for an earlier version of the driver on the DisplayLink site, but couldn't find one.
Help!

Your 20" 2007 iMac has a mini-dvi video out. Forget about using usb and installing drivers and just use a mini-dvi to HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable instead.
Mini-DVI to HDMI Adapter
Then connect your audio line out (headphone) to your TV's audio in and you should be set to go.

How can I get a dual display to work with Keynotes?

I'm using an iMac 24" output to a projector. I want to have Keynotes presentation on the iMac mon while I demo with various softwares, iPhoto, on the projection screen. Basically, I want to run the Keynote presentation and forward the slides on the iMac24" as a reference to the demos I'm doing on the large screen.
Keynotes does not seem to let me do that. It wants to take up both screens.
Help is appreciated.

You are right: When in the presentation mode, Keynote normally wants to use both screens, depending on your Keynote Preferences settings.
Although I haven't tried this, the following procedure might be a way to accomplish what you want. It's worth a try, and at least it can do no harm.
1) In Keynote /Preferences / Slideshow window, check the box "Allow Expose, Dashboard, and others to use screen. This lets other applications use the display on your computer while Keynote is in the Presentation mode.
2) In the same menu, check the button "Present on primary display." This will put the presentation onto your iMac screen.
3) In the Keynote / Preferences / Slideshow window, do NOT check the box "Use alternate display to view presenter information." This means that your slideshow will run, but you will not be able to see the "presenter information" to preview what's coming next. You'll need to run your slideshow by memory.
4) The other applications you want to show on the projector (which you assign as the "alternate" display in the System Preferences / Displays menu) you will need to drag them over to that display before you launch the Keynote Presentation - just as you would do if you were using two monitors.
Others have asked similar questions, so if this works, please let us all know. If you have to "fiddle" with it a bit, please let us know that too.
Good luck.

Can I use 2 external displays on new mid 2011 iMac?

I'm thinking of getting the new 27" iMac with the 2GB video card. It lists in the tech specs two thunderbolt ports and a mini display port, but the images only show the two thunderbolt ports, so I assume Apple is counting one of those as being the dedicated mini display port. I'd like to be able to use an additional two external displays with this iMac, though one extra would be fine. I see on the video card manufacturers website, they say it can "theoretically" drive 6 displays, depending on output ports. Is this like on the Mac Pro tower that can drive 6 displays (3 displays from each video port, assuming you have 2 video cards)? Can the iMac drive 3 displays (internal and two external) off it's video port with the proper adapters, i.e. dual link dvi adapter, or just one extra external monitor? I'd be satisfied with one extra display, but being able to add a 2nd would be a nice help in Photoshop since the iMac doesn't have the anti-glare option like on the laptops. I'd like to keep the second thunderbolt port open for the upcoming thunderbolt raid storage enclosures. Thanks all for any help and information!

Thank you, I have read that I could daisy chain the HD RAID enclosure on one of the thunderbolt ports with another monitor, if the monitor were at the end of the chain, but I do not know if the other port would still simultaneously support yet another external display at the same time.

Dual display with Lenovo USB Port Replicator 43R8770

Hi,
I have installed the Lenovo USB port replicator using the 1.0.0.1 drivers. I am running Windows XP on a Thinkpad X300.
I can successfully get into dual display mode but when I try to make the external monitor my primary display it will not work. It just switches my primary monitor back the notebook LCD without displaying any errors.
If I disable the notebook display I can set the external as the primary but as long as the notebook is enable the external cannot be set as the primary.
Has anyone ever seen this before?
Solved!
Go to Solution.

I know it's an old discussion, but I wanted to post instructions on getting the dual-monitor setup working, as it took me a while to get it right.  This is using a Lenovo x301 with Windows XP SP3,
Lenovo Enhanced USB Port Replicator and 2 Dell 19" 1280x1024 analog flat panel monitors (I know..I know...)  My
boss didn't want to use the Laptop display.  Just the two external monitors.  Note: before proceding, please make
sure you've installed the Port Replicator drivers.
Connect left monitor (primary display) to x301 VGA port.
Connect right monitor (extended display) to Port Replicator VGA port.
Click on the Intel(r) Graphics Media Accelerator Driver for Mobile icon in the system tray and select GRAPHICS OPTIONS --> OUTPUT TO --> MONITOR
Click on the Lenovo Display Adapter icon in the system tray and select EXTEND TO --> RIGHT
Hope someone finds this helpful down the road.
Message Edited by BMCit on 01-28-2009 01:56 PM

Apple Remote Desktop - Dual Displays

How can I mirror my dual displays on my remote machine to my dual displays on my local machine? The current default goes to full screen only on "Monitor 1" and blacks out "Monitor 2". Any suggestions or other applications that can emulate this task would be greatly appreciated.

That would be a cool feature, but not one that's currently in Remote Desktop.

HT1553 how to format mac drive ?

Sir, Pls, tell me that how we can format mac drive & how can i trash lock items. Thanks

1. Use the Disk Utility in the /Applications/Utilities/ folder to erase it.
2. Select an item in the Finder, choose Get Info from the File menu, and unlock it.
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DVDs and the Mini Mac

We recently purchased blank DVD-R disks from Staples. When we insert them into the Mini Mac drive, they just sit there for about 30 seconds and then pop back out. No message appears on the monitor.
When they are put into the eMac, a message screen appears that enables us to record. No problems.
Any ideas?

The slot-loading superdrive in the Mini has had a reputation for being "fussy" about what media it likes. I would try a different brand of media for starters. (And for data-backup, DVD+R is considered to be a bit more reliable than DVD-R, though for movies, that won't make much difference.)
You don't say how old your Mini is -- or whether it has successfully used different brands of media.
If the Mini has some miles on it, and brands that formerly worked no longer work, then you might need to use a DVD lens cleaning disc.
Another option to consider if you do a lot of DVD burning is to get an external , tray-loading, firewire dvd burner. They will generally be more tolerant of different media brands and sizes, and will generally burn faster. Some examples here:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/optical-drives/
Another thing to check is the settings in Apple Menu > System Preferences > CDs & DVDs, "When you insert a blank DVD". Probably should be set to "Ask what to do"

Can a Mac mini support video to two 30" apple studio displays?

Can a Mac mini support video to two 30" apple studio displays at the same time? If so, how do you do it and what resolution can be acheived for each monitor?

Hi Brian,
Nope, or not very well...
Display Support:
Dual Displays
Resolution Support:
1920x1200*
2nd Display Support:
Dual/Mirroring*
2nd Max. Resolution:
2560x1600*
Details:
*This model simultaneously supports 1920x1200 on an HDMI or a DVI display (using the included HDMI-to-DVI adapter) and2560x1600 on a Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort display or even a VGA display (with an optional Mini DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter, which is compatible with the Thunderbolt port).

Dual Display on Mac Mini

Hi there,
I want to have a dual display setup with my Mac Mini. There's also a twist. One of the displays is a regular monitor. The other display is a 46" TV. I am not too technically minded - is there a splitter or some kind of dual display "kit" I can pick up?
Thanks!

Which Mac mini? The new one has two video outputs on it, so two displays is not a problem.

Mac mini dual display - blue screen flashes frequently

I recently purchased a mac mini i7 model, with fusion drive.
I have upgraded the RAM to 16GB.
I have also purchased 2 monitors, both are LG 22EA63V LED.
I connected one monitor direct HDMI to HDMI.
The other monitor is connected from Thunderbolt to HDMI.
Everything worked amazingly well for the first few weeks. Now, not so much....
I frequently have the screen freeze and flash blue, and then resume as normal dual display mode.
Other times the screen will flash blue and then come back as a single display. In this case the Thunderbolt to HDMI display appears as primary display, while the HDMI display loses connection.
If I unplug the HDMI display completely, the blue screen flashing does not happen at all.
So, what could be causing this problem, and how do i fix it?

Hi Matt,
See if there's some setting on the HDMI monitor for Input Source, or things like Auto-tune.

Is it possible to run dual display monitors on a KVM switch between my mac mini and a PC desktop?

I have two 23" monitors utilizing DVI that I currently have plugged into my PC desktop. I'd like to purchase the mac mini and utilize the same monitors for both systems and switch back and forth between the two. So, I'm wondering if it's possible. The only two hangups I can anticipate is dual display capability on the mini (I expect that some adapter will be necessary), keyboard compatibility between the two systems, and finding a switch that will handle all the above. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!!

I think this video could help you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYoC2teAbmE
Other question is the switch box, You will have eight income cables (4 video, 4 usb) and four output cables
http://www.showmecables.com/viewItem.asp?idProduct=10778
http://www.networktechinc.com/pdf/cat-kvmsplit-usb-hdmi.pdf

Can mac mini use macbook's display?

Can mac mini use macbook's display? ie can it be added to Macbook as another drive?

No, it can't use the drive, but it can use the drive. You need a FireWire cable, plug them in to the same port on each device, and hold down the "t" key on the MacBook. The Mac mini should then see it as a hard drive. If you want to share the disc drive, on the MacBook open System Preferences, sharing, Remote Disk. In Finder, the Mac mini should see the MacBooks drive under "Remote Disc".

Can Mini Mac drive Dual Displays?

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