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Thunderbolt 3 Dual Display Adapters: Notes and Recommendations

Created on: October 29, 2018
Last updated: April 19, 2022

Relevant Part Numbers:

OWCTB3ADP2DP
OWCTB3ADP2HDMI

 

Please note the following when using either of the OWC Thunderbolt 3 display adapters:

  • Using cheap or inexpensive cables can result in a flickering or poor performance with the connected display. We recommend using a reputable brand cable that meets the DisplayPort 1.2 specification (when using OWCTB3ADP2DP) or HDMI 2.0b specification (when using OWCTB3ADP2HDMI).
  • If your cables and displays are DisplayPort 1.2 compatible, it should be possible to run two 4K displays at 60Hz simultaneously. 
  • Both adapters are capable of driving individual 1080p screens at up to 144Hz, so long as the host computer and application(s) used support this refresh rate. Not currently available on Mac.
  • 4K displays that are HDMI 1.x will run at 30Hz, whether stand-alone or in tandem with another HDMI 1.x 4K display. 
  • 4K displays that meet the HDMI 2.0b specification should run at 60Hz according to our tests, including dual display configurations.
    • In a mixed display environment where one supports HDMI 2.0b and the other HDMI 1.x, the displays should run at 60Hz and 30Hz respectively.
  • 5K DisplayPort displays will require running two DisplayPort cables into the adapter, in order to function as expected.
     
Important: though we test as many DisplayPort and HDMI configurations as we can with our docks and adapters — using a variety of different display brands — it is not possible to test and verify all display brands or configurations. If you encounter any issues with the configurations noted above, please contact our technical support department.