Getting That Second Non-Thunderbolt Monitor to Work on your MacBook Pro
The Problem
So, you know you want a second monitor on your MacBook Pro, you already have the beautiful 27” Thunderbolt monitor working, but when you daisy chain from that first Thunderbolt monitor to your own DisplayPort monitor it does not work (or at least very well). In my case, it would come up 1 out of 10 times correctly, and the other times, it would come up in some kind of funky power saving mode. So, since I’m pretty new to the apple world, I decided to call for Mac Support team and explain my dilemma. I got a very nice person who did some research and came back and told me that a Thunderbolt port is not meant to work with DisplayPort, just other Thunderbolt ports. This means I can buy another 27” $1000 Thunderbolt monitor from apple, but my HDMI $150 monitor with the $10 DisplayPort to HDMI adapter will just not work. Here is the article she sent me to: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4744?viewlocale=en_US There is a huge thread about this issue already in the apple forums that you can read here titled “ThunderBolt + External Monitor = Mounds of Who”. https://discussions.apple.com/message/13180670#13180670
A Solution
While I was at a local Apple Store yesterday, I noticed they had a new Seagate adapter call the GoFlex Desk Thunderbolt Adapter that had two DisplayPort Connectors on it. Someplace in the above thread I think I read that if you put a device between your real ThunderBolt monitor and your DisplayPort monitor that things will work as expected. So, I put down my $189 for this GoFlex adapter and it worked!!!
It’s hard to find online, but it was at the store. I now have two monitors working on my desktop with this cool little device, and when I purchase a Seagate GoFlex drive, I’ll be able to have fast external storage as well. Very cool
Other Points
I’m guessing any ThunderBolt device with two ports will do the job. This one just seemed like it was almost affortable so I bought it. BTW, don’t forget the $50 cable (like I did). This dock does not come with anything but a power cord.
April 8th, 2012 at 11:15 pm
Thanks! I’ve been struggling with this also. I may try and find a different dual port device, but this is a big hint.
April 8th, 2012 at 11:31 pm
interesting to know, have you tested any other Thunderbolt devices?
April 8th, 2012 at 11:34 pm
@Carol – No, just the GoFlex. It works for me so I’m stopping there.
@Ron – good luck, if you find other devices that work, please post here
July 22nd, 2012 at 2:54 am
How is this wired up? Does the FlexGo go before the Thunderbolt or after? If before, how do you have a sufficient number of ports? It appears that the FlexGo only has 2 TB ports. Thx!
July 22nd, 2012 at 2:41 pm
The FlexGo does not help. you need a drive (like the LaCie) which has two thunderbolt ports. The flexgo’s only have one which means it must be at the end of the line
August 6th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
So you mean I can BUY stuff and it will work! I don’t OWN enough stuff yet to have it work, I’m so happy I can BUY something I wouldn’t need otherwise to faosifjaöslkdfjasildjfoiw
September 12th, 2012 at 10:57 pm
Awesome! This worked!!!! Thank you for writing this up!!!
For those reading at home, note that The Seagate GoFlex Desk has exactly 2 Thunderbolt ports. So, one of the Thunderbolt ports has to be used for the “input” Thunderbolt cable, either from the laptop or from the Thunderbolt display.
That leaves one Thunderbolt port exposed, and yes, I can confirm that this port allows me to plug in a Mini Displayport cable and connect my Dell Ultrasharp.
But, this solution would NOT let you connect 2 Dell Ultrasharp monitors to a MacbookPro with just 1 Thunderbolt port. It literally serves only to overcome the ridiculous problem that Apple created by not making the Thunderbolt port on the Thunderbolt monitor be backwards compatible with MiniDisplayport.
Again, a huge thank you to MacWinGuy.
September 12th, 2012 at 11:07 pm
Thanks Jim! Great Info to know about the 2nd port on the goflex desk!
October 10th, 2012 at 2:13 am
I’ve done this but my last monitor is purple and green. Any advice?
October 29th, 2012 at 2:59 am
Will this work if I connect my dell laptop to this golflex device? I’m looking for a solution so I can use my work laptop with my iMac display. Thank you for the help!
November 15th, 2012 at 12:03 am
the goflex desktop has two thunderbolt ports so it works. the goflex adapter only has one so hit must be the end of the line.
November 15th, 2012 at 12:04 am
also, I don’t think the imac dislay can be used as an external monitor
November 22nd, 2012 at 4:38 pm
Omar: No, I don’t think you will be able to use your dell laptop. Just another thunderbolt or displayport monitor (but no guarantees)
January 19th, 2013 at 4:28 pm
Hello.. can you please explain exactly how these are supposed to connect.. there are 3 main 4 components. Macbook Pro – Thunderbolt display – External Monitor and then the seagate adapter. what ports do all plugs go into to get all 4 working together???
January 23rd, 2013 at 9:45 pm
Just for clerification on what Jim said earlier “It literally serves only to overcome the ridiculous problem that Apple created by not making the Thunderbolt port on the Thunderbolt monitor be backwards compatible with MiniDisplayport.”
This is actually a fundamental Thunderbolt chip issue. Each thunderbolt chip only has one displayport output. With the Thunderbolt Display, it has one thunderbolt chip, which is already running the LCD in the TB Display, so in order to run another display, it has to go through another Thunderbolt chip before mini-displayport to DVI/VGA or DHMI can work again (at least this is what the documentation on Intel’s website indicates) The only way Apple could possible work around this would be to put 2 Thunderbolt chips inside the display.
It is good to know that the theory is proven true by someone actually testing this. Going to have to pickup one of the GoFlex Desk modules myself.
For JimH: you would go Mac to Thunderbolt Display to Seagate GoFlex Desk (to Mini displayport adapter) to last monitor.
January 24th, 2013 at 12:34 am
BrianM: Wow, interesting! Thanks for clarifying.
As for the fact that you’re planning to go try this yourself, I guess I can happily report that I am 5 months in on my “2012 non-Retina MBP -> Thunderbolt Display -> Seagate GoFlex -> 27″ Dell UltraSharp” with no complaints. So, good luck, hope it works for you.
January 24th, 2013 at 3:12 am
Ok i’m sorry if I’m stupid but can someone please explain exactly how the connections are between the divides??
How does the Macbook Pro connect to the TB display, to the seagate and to the external monitor?????? What cables are used to connect??
January 24th, 2013 at 3:23 am
Ok, let me explain how I connected mine, and what’s working, and if you all could help out I would REALLY appreciate it!
(MacbookPro 13″ 2012) <- (Has TB cable from TB display and power plugged into it) output TB port on back of TB Monitor is going into seagate (top Spot) and MiniDisplay port to HDMI is connected to HDMI cable going to external monitor.
What i'm getting now is the Monitor on the MBP black, and the TB display and the external (3rd) monitor working fine.
What did I hook up wrong as I thought I should be able to drive all 3 displays? (MB Display, TB Display and 3rd monitor)
March 9th, 2013 at 12:44 pm
FWIW the seagate connector is a SATA plug, just stick an SSD in and you’re laughing or any other sata disk
March 11th, 2013 at 8:18 pm
JimH I don’t know… that’s my setup (MacBook Pro 15″ 2012 is the only difference) and it works for me
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March 16th, 2013 at 2:28 pm
@JimH
The 13″ MBP will only drive 2 displays. If there are 2 external displays, the laptop display will go black – this is expected behavior as per Apple:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5219?viewlocale=en_US