Questions & Answers for Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

I do not own a mac mini but I have seen this done many times in retail stores that want to show off the versatility of such a small desktop. The mac mini has two video outputs: a mini-display port and a mini-DVI port. The mini-display port is the same one you find on the current generation macbook, macbook pros (as well as the Mac Pro) and the Mini-DVI is the same as the on the old black/white macbook. I do not know why apple decided to go with two different adapter types but it works just the same as you will need two separate adapters to use two displays anyway. From there, you just buy two "dongles" (display adapters) which hook up to your respective screen input jacks (VGA or DVI) and you're set!

• Answered by Ben S from Golden
• Oct 27, 2009
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Yes.

The method will depend on your desired configuration.

Do you want to show the same thing on both external monitors (either cloned desktop or extended desktop)? Then you need a signal multiplier/Distribution Amplifier (DVI DA or VGA DA). If you want to show 2 different things on the externals (like the standard desktop plus extended desktop) then you need a product like the matrox dual-head or triple-head.

• Answered by Bruce W from San Francisco
• Feb 25, 2011
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I am happy to report that I was able to connect 2 adapters to attach to Dell Cinema monitors (2650 x 1600 each) to my Macbook Pro.

Note that each adapter needs a USB port which meant the second adapter had to use a USB port on the right hand side of my MBP. Fortunately, the y-shape part of the adapter is long enough to reach the USB on the right side.

Also, I can use the built-in monitor for a total of 3 screens. I am using the set-up for mostly browsing and highly text based app so I cannot vouch how the set-up might operate with low latency apps such as games running high-res and fast changing graphics.

• Answered by Mehran S from Miami
• Feb 7, 2013
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SwitchResX app solved this problem for me.

• Answered by Grzegorz G
• Feb 25, 2013
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If you have a decent stereo receiver, and considering that you have digital optical input, you do, the digital input will give you the best quality. You will need to buy a toslink to mini cable. A quick search for toslink to mini toslink will find you one.
Both the headphone jack on your macbook and the line out on an airport express double as digital optical outputs. If you have your computer set up next to the stereo you can just plug it in from the headphone jack to your digital optical input. Otherwise, if you want a wireless connection, you can buy an airport express, which basically sets itself up for mac, either as a new wireless network or an access point on an existing network. You can plug this unit in next to your stereo and run the toslink cable from the output of the airport express to your digital optical input.
Please don't connect anything to your phono input other than a record player. If you do, you risk damage to your system.

• Answered by Joseph A from Fort Collins
• Oct 20, 2009
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You need another piece of hardware, which falls into one of two major categories:

1) A Matrox Dualhead2go is a device that "tricks" your laptop into thinking that the two displays are a single display. Due to this trick, it has some limitations, but provides good graphics performance. The device costs between $100-200.

2) A USB graphics card, such as the EVGA UV Plus+, which run about $60. These devices give you another display without tricking your computer, but do not offer the same level of graphics performance that the Matrox does. These are great for looking at big spreadsheets/documents, but not great for movies or games.

• Answered by John G from Madison
• Jan 12, 2010
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You do not need this adaptor to connect your Viewsonic monitor. This adaptor is just for "dual link" high resolution monitors, such as the Apple 30" Cinema Display. For your monitor, you can use the standard Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter ($29).

• Answered by Jason G from Big Oak Flat
• Dec 13, 2012
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Yes, a KVM switch allows you to use the same keyboard, mouse and monitor for multiple computers. I have used the 4way IOGEAR KVM for years, and it's great (looks like a thinner mac mini) for my Mac Mini, MacBook Pro and Dell Latitude and switch between. When I want to watch CSI on the MacMini and also work on the Dell, I use Remote Desktop to put the dell screen on part of my 24" Acer monitor, same for the MBP, using CVNC (Chicken of the VNC). Bang, there, you go! Note - You may only have two now - but get the 4 way, in case you have a "visitor" or want to add another.

BTW: my gear= IOGEAR 4 way KVM GCS634U, Apple kbd, Acer 24" monitor, Logitech two button scroll mouse. The Mac Mini and the Dell do a great job of auto recognising the kvm monitor. The MacBook Pro does not, and needs to have a prefs visit to "detect displays" on every boot.

Hope this helps -

• Answered by John G from Richmond
• Dec 27, 2009
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