New Graphics Card Necessary to Run Vocal-booth Monitor?

[monkey man]

Beloved, esteemed 'Cornies,

Will I require a new graphics card in order to be able to run a 2nd monitor? The monitor will just be a cheapie reflecting the main display and be housed in a yet-to-be-constructed vocal booth. I aim to set one up in there with a mouse so I can control things whist I record. Mobile-device control isn’t an option ‘cause I’m super-sensitive to anything wireless.

Currently have the stock card that came with my 2012 Mac Pro, an ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 1024 MB dynamic VRAM. The main monitor is an old DELL U3011 30” LCD. No idea what the booth monitor will be; I'm all for something that makes the connection situation easier.

Thank you, beloved peeps!

[HCMarkus]

With proper cables you will be fine with the 5770 Monkey.

[mikehalloran]

If you need an extra port, DisplayLink boxes add monitor support to USB 2/3 ports. About US $50. Many brands — look for language that says, Supports the free DisplayLink drivers...

The drivers are updated regularly except for High Sierra 10.13.4–6 when Apple dropped support for awhile (oops!). Apple fixed this in Mojave and I got an email this morning that the 10.14.5 driver has already been released.

Mine is USB 3 to HDMI but worked quite well from the USB 2 port on my 2010 iMac. I have replaced the iMac and no longer have the need for the box. If you feel you might, PM me and I’ll send it to you.

[monkey man]

How very-kind of you to offer this, Mike. Thank you, mate!

I've decided to remain on 10.13.6 so is there any way I could achieve a connection to a booth monitor using either USB or my existing graphics card?

Looking at the installed card's exterior face, I'm using the long connector (I think it's an analogue one) for the Dell and have two free USBC-looking ones (they're obviously not USBC, but they're about that size and "squarish") to the right of it; there are no other ports.

I couldn't log in when I heard the news about your dad. So sorry to hear this, mate. My heart goes out to you, brother.

[mikehalloran]

I've decided to remain on 10.13.6 so is there any way I could achieve a connection to a booth monitor using either USB or my existing graphics card?

Existing graphics card? Maybe — it all depends. Post details.

USB? Only if your Mac supports Air Play. My wife's 2011 iMac does; my 2010 does not which is why I had to roll back to 10.13.3. Here's the FAQ
https://support.displaylink.com/knowled ... es/1854724

The DisplayLink Mac page
https://www.displaylink.com/downloads/macos

[monkey man]

I've decided to remain on 10.13.6 so is there any way I could achieve a connection to a booth monitor using either USB or my existing graphics card?

Existing graphics card? Maybe — it all depends. Post details.

I posted in the OP that it's an ATI Radeon HD 5770, the stock one installed in the Mac off-the-shelf. I later posted my best description of what I could see connector-wise:

Looking at the installed card's exterior face, I'm using the long connector (I think it's an analogue one) for the Dell and have two free USBC-looking ones (they're obviously not USBC, but they're about that size and "squarish") to the right of it; there are no other ports.

Following your request, I've "researched" the matter.

http://www.gpuzoo.com/GPU-ATI/Radeon_HD_5770.html
This spec page says:
DisplayPort
Dual-Link DVI-I
HDMI
VGA

https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/r ... -5770.c250
... and this one says:
2x DVI
1x HDMI
1x DisplayPort

This second list says nothing about VGA (why?!?), but that acronym rings a bell so I'm guessing that it's the long connector I referred to earlier that I'm using for the main monitor.

The DVI's might me the two spare connectors I described as being USBC-looking and squarish?

As for the HDMI and "DisplayPort" connectors, I can't for the life of me find anything other than the long one (being used) and the two small ones I described earlier.

To say that this stuff is Greek to me is an understatement; I'm a first-class landlubber when it comes to graphics, which is why I've sought this help from a mob who I know would understand my simian limitations.

USB? Only if your Mac supports Air Play. My wife's 2011 iMac does; my 2010 does not which is why I had to roll back to 10.13.3. Here's the FAQ
https://support.displaylink.com/knowled ... es/1854724

I don't know what AirPlay is, but a quick Google suggests to me that it not only requires an Apple TV but, I'm guessing, relies on transmission "through the air". As I said in the OP, "Mobile-device control isn’t an option ‘cause I’m super-sensitive to anything wireless", and if AirPlay is wireless, it's a no-go unfortunately.

The DisplayLink Mac page
https://www.displaylink.com/downloads/macos

On this page it says, "Users of 10.13.4-10.13.6 should use v4.3.x as it contains a workaround to enable one extended USB display", and yet there's no mention of USB on the page it links to, the one you provided earlier:
https://support.displaylink.com/knowled ... es/1854724

If this AirPlay thingy doesn't involve any wireless transmission but uses a USB port exclusively, that'd be just the ticket.

Way, way out of my depth here, Mike, so please forgive my obvious ignorance and lack of grounding in the area, and thank you in advance for your patience.

[mikehalloran]

VGA is a 15 pin connector on the Mac I’ve not seen since the G3/G4. Some monitors still sport them, however. Likewise, DVI is an old connector. I’ve never seen either on an Intel Mac. Pictures here:
https://www.cnet.com/news/hdmi-vs-displ ... to-choose/

MDP (Mini Display Port) is generally found from 2008-on. A pair will run a pair of monitors. Many Macs also have HDMI. MDP adapters to DisplayPort or HDMI are inexpensive. Thunderbolt 1/2 look identical take the same adapters.

Here is a connector guide from Apple.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201736

I don't know what AirPlay is, but a quick Google suggests to me that it not only requires an Apple TV

Yes, It’s used for that but can be made to do other things including enable a DisplayLink box in OS 10.13.6 if the Mac supports it. I did a little research and as far as I can tell, though 2011 iMacs support it, the 5.1 and earlier Mac Pro does not.

[monkey man]

Middle pic looks like my card's faceplate. Note that the spec's I quoted and linked to earlier (DisplayPort, Dual-Link DVI-I, HDMI & VGA) don't appear to be borne out by this pic or what I see when I look at the faceplate of my card:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Apple- ... Sw~~Ncdqcf

The ebay ad says the connectors are "DisplayPort & DVI", so I assume the long connector I'm using is DVI. This long connector has a short white Apple adapter cable that I'm guessing converts to VGA for my monitor 'cause the cable's connector looks like the VGA one in the pic on the cnet page you linked to.

If this is correct, it means that I have 2 mini DisplayPort sockets free. An image search suggests I could buy a Mini DisplayPort-> HDMI adaptor such as this:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... rt_to.html
... or this:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... _hdmi.html

I also see a Mini DisplayPort male -> HDMI 1.4 standard male cable:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fosmon-High-Sp ... 2111755017

Things have come a long way since I bought my Dell, so can I assume that I'll have a bunch of options for cheap displays using HDMI these days? If so, I'll go with that, unless a mini DP -> standard DP or mini DP -> VGA would be better.

Just saw this, which appears to cover what I assume would be pretty much any cheap display:
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=12798

... which brings me back to Sir Markus' statement that "with proper cables" I "will be fine with the 5770", meaning that all my stress is much ado about nothing and USB and AirPlay are irrelevant.

Whaddaya think, Mike?

[mikehalloran]

The big connector is Apple's version of DVI—not quite the same as DVI (ADVI carried the monitor power, too) but adapters exist. I remember my G5 having both ADVI and DVI connectors—my G4 may have them, too. The only ADVI monitors I've ever seen were branded Apple..

Without a good straight on look at the other connectors, they might be Mini DVI or MDP depending on the year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini-DVI

Here's a picture of a Mini-DVI to HDMI adapter.


Notice that the connector is rectangular compared to the MDP port below. That's how you tell 'em apart.


There are 2 of them, however and that's a good thing. Yes, the right cables and/or adapters are all you should need.

[monkey man]

Great news, Mike; thank you!

Your pic of a "Mini-DVI to HDMI adapter" brought up this message:
Access Denied
You don't have permission to access "http://webobjects2.cdw.com/is/image/CDW/1781974?" on this server.
Reference #18.6a3d1602.1556152087.fa47f23c

Was it any different from the sorts of adaptors I linked to earlier?

Lastly, and I can't believe I forgot about this, I'd ideally be able to plug a keyboard and mouse into the monitor in the booth. I'm thinking USB mouse -> USB keyboard -> USB input on the monitor. Would this work if the monitor was hooked up via a DVI -> HDMI adapter or whatever?

Curious 'cause the keyboard and mouse would have to derive power from the USB bus from the monitor, and I don't know if that'd work in this case...

Thank you, as always.

[mikehalloran]

Some mystic Down Under Monkey Mojo, no doubt.

Here's a Mini DVI port


Mini DVI generally does not support USB but there are some exceptions. In that case, get a Mini DVI to DisplayPort cable and see.

Mini Display Port does support USB to the monitor after around 2010 or so, if the monitor has DisplayPort in and USB ports, the card has MDP out, that should work. MDP to DP cables are readily available.

[monkey man]

To say I'm confused would be yet another understatement, Mike. Thank you for the info, brother.

Worst-case scenario is that I run a USB cable to the Mac from the booth specifically for the kbd and mouse; that should work, no?

[HCMarkus]

I ran three monitors from my 5770:
Two 1080 via Mini DisplayPort to Display Port
One 720 via DVI to VGA.

[monkey man]

Thank you, Sir Markus.

Are you able to use keyboard and / or mouse inputs to the monitors that're connected to the MDP outs on the card or do you have to chew up separate USB ports on the 'puter?

I'm about to lose 4 USB ports when I install my SSD-host card (sample and audio drives), so it'll be awesome if I can connect the booth's monitor and mouse to whichever display I end up with in there.

Thanks man... I mean, thank you, Sir [bows].