Looking for a real DisplayPort hub/splitter

multiple-monitors display dvi displayport splitter

43,483

Solution 1

Finally, it looks like we have a real DisplayPort MST (multi-stream transport) hub: Club3D MST hub

See Club3D's product page for more info. It's pretty cheap too, only $120 CAD. Unfortunately for me, it requires DisplayPort 1.2 support (or AMD EyeFinity) which my MacBook Pro doesn't have, and it turns out that OS X doesn't support MST at all, but Windows does on Apple hardware.

Solution 2

The only chipset I'm aware that can do this yet is the IDT VMM1400, yet I'm not aware of any devices that use it. This should help find what you're looking for!

Oh, and the Cirago DisplayPort splitter has a description that seems certain to only provide a single display.

Solution 3

The UltraAV® Mini DisplayPort 1.2 MST Multi-Display Hub might suit. (130 USD.)

Advantage: it's directly used on mini displayport, adapters from DP to mDP are only needed for the screens.

NB: The splitter costs more than 200 € whereas the MST hub costs far less.

43,483

squircle

Formerly known as thepurplepixel. I'm most active on SuperUser, but do venture around to other StackExchange sites from time to time.

Updated on September 17, 2022

Comments

squircle over 1 year

In my search for a new display, I came across the Dell Multi-Monitor Hub MMH11, which seemed to be an alternative to my search for daisy-chainable DisplayPort displays.

However, before I cave and spend $179 on this device, I am wondering if this will be similar to other splitting devices where it appears to the computer as one big monitor and the device does the splitting (which I don't want). Or, does this use the packet-based nature of DisplayPort to present two/three separate displays to the computer?

Also, would this device work on my MacBook Pro? (I know the Dell site says it's for Windows, but it also says that no driver installation is required. I'd assume since the MBP supports DP 1.2 it would work, but it's better to ask). Thanks!

Edit: I've checked out the similar-looking Cirago DisplayPort splitter, but I have extreme doubts as to whether or not it's a genuine displayport splitter, or just another monitor-conglomerate. Their DVI solution looks identical to Dell's, which I'm pretty sure won't do what I want. I also don't want to order this DisplayPort "hub" and find that it doesn't do what I want it to.
- Mircea Chirea over 13 years
  
  No DP 1.2 hubs yet...
- squircle over 13 years
  
  @iconiK Anything to back that up? While a DisplayPort hub would be nice, I'm trying to ascertain whether or not this will do the same thing.
- Mircea Chirea over 13 years
  
  @squircle, look at the specs; says no where it is DP 1.2. Besides, all current DP hubs merge all monitors into a single big monitor.
- tina over 13 years
  
  I just got off a chat with a Dell rep and was told that the Dell Multi-monitor hub (MMH11) was not compatible with macs (not sure whether they know that it does not work or they just don't know and reply conservatively). Sucks though, I was considering it too!
- squircle over 13 years
  
  @wrocks I'm pretty sure it would be Mac-compatible, but the software wouldn't be (other identical devices without the Dell branding are compatible with any OS).
- GreenKiwi about 13 years
  
  Anyone found any updates on this?
- ocodo over 12 years
  
  FYI the Cirago is definitely a monitor aggregation hub, and reports a single monitor to the host machine.
- BrianTheLion over 11 years
  
  It's 2013. Any updates on this?
- squircle over 10 years
  
  @BrianTheLion Yep, there certainly is. See my answer.
squircle over 13 years

I just sent Matrox an email as to whether each display connected to the Dual/TripleHead2Go shows up as a separate display to the system, and I hope to hear from them soon. The thing I'm worried about with the Dell device is whether or not the configuration is managed through software through the USB connection. If it is, and there's no software for Mac, I'm out of luck. I'd prefer to buy the Dell solution because it's cheaper, but if I'm not sure it's going to work, I'd rather buy the Matrox (assuming it does what I want it to do). I'll let you know what happens here.
squircle over 13 years

I have confirmed here that the Dual/TripleHead2Go doesn't allow independent operation of the monitors; they appear as one big display. Thanks for the suggestion, though. I'm going to try to find out more about the Dell device.
ewindisch over 13 years

It turns out that the Cirago, Startech, and Dell are all based on the previous revision of the IDT chipset which did not support a true switching / daisy-chain mode. This new chipset, supporting independent displays, has only been available since October. I recommend contacting IDT, if anyone is building such a device with their chip, they'll know. Most likely, you'll have to wait another 1-6 months.
squircle over 13 years

@ewin But their description says " The IDT VMM1400 multi-monitor controller is compliant with the VESA DisplayPort™ v1.1a and HDMI™ v1.3, and uses one DisplayPort input port and four HDMI or DVI output ports." Weren't daisy-chaining/DisplayPort hubs added in VESA's DisplayPort 1.2 spec?
ewindisch over 13 years

True, it does say compliant with DisplayPort v1.1a, but their press release also says, "The IDT VMM1400 is configurable to operate in hub or daisy chain mode. In hub mode, the VMM1400 supports four HDMI or DVI outputs that can display on up to four monitors. In daisy chain mode, the ViewXpand device supports a connection to downstream devices (for example, another VMM1400) to form the daisy chain of monitors compatible with the current DisplayPort standard"
ewindisch over 13 years

Although possible, I doubt they would claim that it supports daisy-chain unless the chipset can actually do it. It is possible that they failed to advertise it as a v1.2 device. Either way, there seems to be no devices actually built on this chip. It seems, too, that the devices built on the old chip were also built by IDT, Dell and Cirago simply rebranded the device (or built it to a reference design)
squircle over 13 years

@ewindisch It must have been either mis-labeled, or just doing the one-huge-display thing. *"Other improvements ]in DisplayPort 1.2] include multiple independent video streams (daisy-chain connection with multiple monitors)..." So unless it's DP 1.2, I guess it won't cut it. Thanks anyways for the suggestion!
squircle over 13 years

@ewindisch And on the product page for that chip, they link to the Dell adapter and the Cirago adapter, so I guess it won't do what I need it to.
ewindisch over 13 years

I agree, it must be DP1.2 to do the daisy-chain. The press release explicitly says it does daisy-chain, despite claiming being v1.1a. It is worth contacting IDT for clarification. Good luck!
ewindisch over 13 years

I'm quite sure that the Dell and Cirago adapter are based on their VMM1300 chipset.
squircle over 12 years

Great! Thanks so much. I eagerly await your reply. :)
ewwhite over 12 years

Any word from the manufacturer?
ewwhite over 12 years

The Dell unit is made by Startech: youtube.com/watch?v=4GlOy60-fpc&feature=related
René Kåbis over 12 years

Nope, not a bloody word. I will try to pester them a little bit more. Anyone want to help?
ShatyUT over 12 years

I can confirm that the MMH11 does not support independent monitor mode. It appears as a single big monitor in Windows, making it not fit for purpose.
squircle over 11 years

Thunderbolt != DisplayPort, unfortunately.
Abhi Beckert over 8 years

Mac OS X does support MST, here is a list of Macs with the feature and MST displays that are officially supported: support.apple.com/en-us/HT202856. However OS X only supports MST for single displays - it can't do MST across multiple displays (which is probably what Club3D's hardware requires).