Can I use two Thunderbolt displays with Mac mini

Congratulations. I too have preordered a Mini with the M4 Pro.

The short answer to your question is yes, the base M4 Mini should have no problems with two Thunderbolt Displays.

You would probably need to connect them to two of the Mini's TB4 rear ports. But you can always try them connected in series just to see.

For your assurance - I am using my MacBook Air M3 - which could support dual monitors:

Here is my set up - daisy-chained two TB monitors together (of course, the first was connected to MBA with TB3/TB2 adapter).

Since TB Displays use TB2 to negotiate data (up to 20Gbs) - that dual TB displays is feasible with my M3 device.

M4's TB3 (40Gbs) and M4's TB4 (120Gbs) can definitely manage old TB Displays.

Wow!! I’ll try… lcwheeler18.. great question and have you seen pictures of the new M4 Mac mini ?! The darn thing is tiny !! ( but the power button is down below on the raised base.. it’ll be released worldwide on Nov 8th , 3024 it has 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports, 1 HDMI port , 2 USB-C ports, 1 gigabit Ethernet port upgradeable to 10 GB for $100 more ( I’m guessing you do that when/as you’re ordering it before you buy it as after might be impossible ) here’s the meat n’ potatoes: either 2 or 3 displays are supported :

https://www.macworld.com/article/2109165/m3-mac-mini-design-processor-specs-release-rumors.html… depending on the chip that’s in it of course … either M4 or M4 pro.. top price for it fully spec’ed out : $1,399/£1,399.. base model is around $600/£600.. please note ; no keyboard, monitor or monitor is included with it.. you’d /you’ll have to buy those as well… M2’s can be upgraded somewhat for an extra $200/£200… the m2 pro , yes, just the straight M2, maybe… also please note , there were no M3 Mac Minis ever.. oh and if you had Thunderbolt 1 displays . You’ll need 2 Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt adapters ( Apple made) as well…

whew!!

that’ll do it from me

John B

Mac mini (2024) - Tech Specs - Apple Support

"Apple M4 chip

Simultaneously supports up to three displays:

• Up to three displays: Two displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one display with up to 5K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt or 4K resolution at 60Hz over HDMI
• Up to two displays: One display with up to 5K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one display with up to 8K resolution at 60Hz or 4K resolution at 240Hz over Thunderbolt or HDMI"

So a M4 Mac mini with a plain M4 chip can drive a pair of Apple Thunderbolt Displays (27-inch) (model A1407). It would be even possible to connect a third display, (but NOT one with 8K resolution or a 240 Hz refresh rate) at the same time.

If at least one of the Thunderbolt Displays has a good "hydra" cable, you should be able to figure out some way to daisy-chain both displays from a single Apple Thunderbolt 3-to-2 adapter. If both of the displays have bad / flaky "hydra" cables, daisy-chaining will not be an option, and you will need two adapters (along with two TB 1/2 cables for bypassing the permanently-attached ones).

Correction: TB4 is still 40Gbs -- TB5 is 120Gbs

You should be just fine..Apple offers a 1year warranty on all their products… 90 days+ free technical support and 2 weeks return policy… longer if you get AppleCare+ shortly after you buy your new M4 Mac Mini.. that extends the warranty to 3 years and covers lots more stuff( great insurance just-in-case) , well worth it… oh , and just to ask, when you get your new M4 Mac mini , are you going to be having and doing a regular backup with, say, something free, reliable, automatic and built into the MacOS… Time Machine !? ., not gonna say you won’t ever need to use it or have a backup, but you might, and you never know when a backup might come in very handy , might even “save your bacon” so to speak.. all’s you need is a USB external drive ( ssd or hard drive) roughly the same capacity as your Mac mini or bigger… and Time Machine turned on, and there you go-safety and peace of mind…

enjoy your new Mac Mini, sir

John B

I would really like to know what happens on this M4 Mini when you daisy-chain 2 x 27" TB displays off one port. Did you buy it? I actually have 3 of these screens and if I can run all 3 on the M4 Mini without losing any functionality I will get the computer. If I can't I don't know what I will do.

I have M3 - and the picture in the post from the beginning - was indeed, daisy-chain 2 Thuunderbolt Displays.

However, I do not have M4 to test "how many" I can push on TB displays (I have 4 in the house currently).

555delight wrote:

I would really like to know what happens on this M4 Mini when you daisy-chain 2 x 27" TB displays off one port. Did you buy it? I actually have 3 of these screens and if I can run all 3 on the M4 Mini without losing any functionality I will get the computer. If I can't I don't know what I will do.

You can daisy-chain two Thunderbolt Displays off old Macs. Provided that you do not run into issues with bad or flaky "hydra" cables, I would expect the same to be true here.

I do not think that daisy-chaining three Thunderbolt Displays would work. You should plan on buying two Apple Thunderbolt 3-to-2 adapters, and using two of the M4 Mac mini's three Thunderbolt ports to connect the three displays.

You will also need the TB2 to TB3 adapter.