Here are a couple FAQs and videos that you may find helpful just in case you need some trouble-shooting: Our Tech Advisors are always available to answer commonly asked questions.

(We also covered MST with DisplayPort here). This is most likely to come up if you attempt to use a USB-C device with MST. MST support is not native to Thunderbolt 3. Just like with USB-C, if you want to use a Thunderbolt 3 device with MST, your video card must support MST. Otherwise, a USB-C adapter is a simple and cheaper solution. We recommended these adapters, which give dual output to HDMI or DisplayPort and are Apple and Windows compatible. The power of Thunderbolt 3 is most useful when you require a dual HDMI or DisplayPort connection. If you need a single video connection to VGA, DVI or HDMI only, you can get away with using a USB-C video adapter and will save on costs. Since Thunderbolt 3 technology uses the USB-C connector, there are situations where you can use USB-C adapters and cables. Having the most up-to-date software on your laptop will put you in the best place to harness Thunderbolt 3’s multiple capabilities. Even though your Thunderbolt 3 laptop is fairly new, updates are very important for new laptops. The first and most important tip, make sure your Thunderbolt 3 drivers, software, firmware and computer’s BIOS are all up to date. So, what do you need to know about DisplayPort over Thunderbolt 3? Update

Know what features you want to use and if your devices support those features. Note: Not every Thunderbolt 3 equipped computer and device is the same.

Thunderbolt 3 utilizes the USB-C connectorįor a refresher on DisplayPort, check out our Display Technology 101 post.Compatible with existing DisplayPort 1.2 displays, devices, and cables (with adapters).Supports up to two 4K displays 60Hz or a single 5K display 60Hz.Provides up to 40Gbps of total bandwidth.While Thunderbolt 3 solves concerns for those working with high-resolution images and videos, it requires some research and figuring out exactly what you need to get the setup you want.īefore we get started, here are the table-stakes tech specs that you should know: So, if you’re someone that needs to view 4K displays but doesn’t want to suffer through performance issues on your laptop, Thunderbolt 3 is your solution. Thunderbolt 3 puts an end to performance issues while viewing high resolutions and provides a single cable connection for users. Thunderbolt 3 has been dubbed the USB-C that does it all because it handles USB, data, video and power. Let’s talk Thunderbolt 3 to round out our discussion about USB-C and display technologies. In our last blog, we covered what you need to know to use DisplayPort over USB-C.

Thunderbolt™3 and DisplayPort: What You Need to Know

Thunderbolt 3 to displayport mac