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BenQ Knowledge Center / BenQ Knowledge / How to Use Daisy Chain When Connecting Multiple Monitors

How to Use Daisy Chain When Connecting Multiple Monitors

BenQ
2024/03/07

If you find yourself needing more monitor real estate for your various usage needs, you really only have two options. One is get a bigger monitor, but that will only go so far. The other is connect multiple monitors, and thankfully that’s made simple with daisy chaining. Essentially, using the daisy chain method you get several monitors working with your laptop or desktop out of a single DisplayPort, or in the case of monitors for Mac® devices, Thunderbolt video out. All you need is one cable to the first monitor, and then one additional cable for each additional monitor.

 

With DisplayPort or Thunderbolt daisy chaining, you enjoy the flexibility of having several displays for all of your work or entertainment needs. You can duplicate the displays or have each dedicated to a different app or task, that’s entirely up to you. As we said, the whole idea behind daisy chaining is simple flexibility, while keeping cables to a minimum.

In this article:

A young man working at a desk with dual monitor set up via daisy chaining

How to Daisy Chain Two (or More) Monitors to Your Laptop

There are two types of ports that allow you to daisy chain monitors: DisplayPort and Thunderbolt. Ensure that your PC features an output port of either type and that the monitors feature both input and output ports of the same type.

 

Please note that MacBook® computer only supports daisy chaining via Thunderbolt. Daisy chaining is not supported via HDMI or using regular USB ports on any device. Also, you can only connect a single external display using a Mac device with the M1 or M2 chips. For more information about connecting different models of Mac devices to external displays, please refer to the Apple website. 

How to Daisy Chain via Thunderbolt

For daisy chain connections via Thunderbolt, the Thunderbolt port on all your devices must be version 3 or higher and all connections require use of Thunderbolt 3/4 cables. 

To daisy-chain via Thunderbolt:

1.     Power on all monitors.

2.     Connect the Thunderbolt out on your laptop to the Thunderbolt in on monitor 1.

3.     Connect the Thunderbolt out on monitor 1 to the Thunderbolt in on monitor 2.

4.     Repeat step #3 for any subsequent monitors.

* NOTE: The connection to the final monitor can also be USB-C with DP Alt mode support. Please check Apple official site about the number of external displays you can use at the same time depends on your Mac model and the resolution and refresh rate of each display. For connections to monitor 2 and beyond, use cables at least 1m long for increased placement flexibility. 

to daisy chain external monitors, connect your mac to the first monitor with a thunderbolt 3 cable.

Thunderbolt supports higher bandwidth relative to DisplayPort in daisy chain, which allows for 4K@60Hz for two monitors, and up to six monitors at 1080p@60Hz. Check the official Thunderbolt website for specifications regarding support for multiple screens.

 

*Please use Thunderbolt 3/4 certified cables with the Thunderbolt 3/4 icon shown.

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How to Daisy Chain via DisplayPort

For daisy chain connections via DisplayPort, DisplayPort on all your devices MUST be version 1.2 or higher and support Multi-Stream Transport (MST).

To daisy chain via DisplayPort:

1.     Power on all monitors.

2.     Enable DisplayPort 1.2 and/or MST in the settings menu of each monitor.

3.     Connect your laptop to monitor 1 by:

  • Connecting the DisplayPort out on your laptop to the DisplayPort in on the monitor using a DisplayPort cable.
  • Or, connect DisplayPort over USB-C from your laptop using DisplayPort over USB-C (DisplayPort Alt Mode) to the monitor using a USB-C cable.

4.     Connect the DisplayPort out on monitor 1 to the DisplayPort in on monitor 2 using a DisplayPort cable.

5.     Repeat step #4 for any subsequent monitors.

to daisy chain external monitors, connect your mac to the first monitor with a thunderbolt 3 cable

Due to bandwidth limitations, connecting more than two monitors via DisplayPort may cause a lowering of resolution on one or all of the monitors. Check the specifications of your laptop or desktop’s graphics hardware to see if it supports adding multiple monitors.

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KVM Switch: Another Way to Elevate Your Workspace

Besides daisy chaining, there’s another way to make your workspace more efficient, known as a KVM switch, or keyboard, video, and mouse switch. KVM switching allows you to control multiple operating systems via a single keyboard and mouse set. You can thus work on one system designing and on another checking galleries without switching keyboards and mice.

Mac® and MacBook® are a trademark of Apple Inc.

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