I'm currently able to connect 2 monitors using HDMI-Thunderbolt 3 cables, but I'm unable to get the 3rd monitor to detect a signal.Apple recently announced they would be transitioning their Mac line from Intel processors to their own, ARM-based Apple Silicon. I want to connect 3 identical monitors (22inch 1080p). I've seen this question for older versions of the Mac mini, but I'm struggling to find an answer for the Mac mini 2018.
Best Thunderbolt 3 Monitor For The New Mini 2018 Software Porting MeansApple Cinema Display, or any other monitor that uses a Mini Display Port.Yes I have a 2014 Mac Mini plugged into my 27' 2011 iMac. Existing Macs with Intel chips will still be useful long after the transition is complete, however, and software porting means they might even support more of your existing favorite applications for the foreseeable future, which is why adding an external GPU (eGPU) likely makes more sense now than ever.OK, I see the menu bar is on both the MacBook Pro 13 (2018) display and my. And while new Intel-powered Macs will be released and sold leading up to that time, it does mean that the writing is on the wall for Intel-based Apple hardware.Razer Core X Chroma ($399)The new JHL7440 controller was specifically designed for Thunderbolt 3 monitors. But the good news is that you can continually upgrade and replace these graphics cards to give your Mac even more of a boost as graphics tech improves. Keep in mind that for each of these, the pricing is for the enclosure alone — you’ll have to add your own eGPU to make it work. Here are a couple of Thunderbolt 3 eGPU enclosure options out there for those considering this upgrade path, and the relative merits of each. As a bidirectional adapter, it can also connect new Thunderbolt 3 devices to a Mac with a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2. But for anybody looking to extend the life of their existing Mac for a few more years to wait and see how the Apple Silicon transition shakes out, updates from Apple and key software partners make an eGPU a great choice.The Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter lets you connect Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 devices such as external hard drives and Thunderbolt docks to any of the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) / USB 4 ports on your Mac.The Chroma version also comes with tunable LED lighting for additional user customization options. On the back of the eGPU you’ll find four extra high-speed USB ports, as well as a Gigabit Ethernet port for networking. The integrated power supply provides 700w of power, which enables 100w output for charging any connected laptop. And working in Lightroom was in general much faster and more responsive, with significantly reduced rendering times for thumbnails and previews, which ordinarily take quite a while on my 2018 Mac mini.Apple also uses eGPUs to accelerate the performance of any apps that use Metal, OpenGL and OpenCL, which is why you may notice a subtle general improvement in system performance when you plug one in. Likewise with Apple’s own applications, including Final Cut Pro X.In my experience, using the eGPU greatly improved the export function of both Adobe and Apple’s pro video editing software, cutting export times by at least half. The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is a beast, however, and delivers plenty of horsepower for improving activities like photo and video editing, as well as giving you additional display output options and just generally providing additional resources for the system to take advantage of.Thanks to Adobe’s work on adding eGPU support to its Lightroom, Photoshop and Premiere products, you can get a lot of improvement in overall rendering and output in all those applications, particularly if you’re on a Mac that only has an integrated GPU. It’s quiet in operation, and only really makes any audible noise when the GPU held within is actually working for compatible software.Most of my testing focused on using the Razer Core X Chroma with a Mac, and for that use you’ll need to stick with AMD’s GPUs, since Apple doesn’t natively support Nvidia graphics cards in macOS. It’s also relatively short and long, making it a great option to tuck away under a desk, or potentially even held in an under-desk mount (with enough clearance for the fan exhaust to work properly). That’s under the 96W required for full-speed charging on the latest 16-inch MacBook Pro, though it’s still enough to keep your notebook powered up and provide full-speed charging to the rest of Apple’s Mac notebook lineup.The Node Titan also provides only one port on the enclosure itself — a Thunderbolt output for connecting to your computer. The trade-off for the smaller size is that it only supports two-slot graphics cards, but it also features an integrated pop-out handle that makes it much more convenient, combined with its lighter, more compact design, for taking with you place to place.Akitio’s Node Titan packs in a 650w power supply, which is good for high-consumption graphics cards, but it also means that another compromise for this case versus the Core X Chrome is that the Titan supplies only 85w output to any connected laptops. The Node Titan is their high-end eGPU enclosure.The case for the Node Titan is a bit smaller than that of the Razer Core X, and is finished in a space gray-like color that will match Apple’s Mac notebooks more closely. Enclosure maker Akitio was acquired by OWC, a popular Mac peripheral maker and seller that has for decades provided third-party RAM, docks, drives and more. Akitio Node Titan ($329)If you’re looking to spend a little less money, and get an enclosure that’s a bit more bare bones but that still offers excellent performance, check out the Akitio Node Titan. Mirroring for samsung tv mac freeStill, an eGPU can stave off the need for an upgrade for years, making it easier to wait and watch to see what the process transition really means for Mac users. It is important to note that the future of eGPU support on Apple Silicon Macs isn’t certain, even though Apple has said they’ll support Thunderbolt. Adding an eGPU can have a similar effect, especially if you spend a lot of time in creative editing apps, including Adobe’s suite, Apple’s Pro apps or various other third-party apps, including DaVinci Resolve.The total price of an eGPU setup, including card, can approach or even match the price of a new Mac, but even less expensive cards offer significant benefit, and you can always swap that out later depending on your needs. Now, only a few Macs in Apple’s lineup make it easy or even possible to upgrade your memory. Bottom lineBack when more Macs had the option for user-expandable RAM, that was a great way to squeeze a little more life out of external machines and make a slowing machine feel much faster. It operates a little more noisily, especially in terms of making a quiet, but still detectable constant hum, even when the GPU is not being taxed.The Node Titan is still an excellent choice, however, and potentially a better one for those looking for more portability and a bit more affordability at the expense of max notebook power output and a host of handy port expansions.
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