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Review on πŸ”Œ StarTech.com USB 3.0 to HDMI Adapter - DisplayLink Certified - 1080p (1920x1200) - USB Type-A to HDMI Display Adapter Converter for Monitor - External Video & Graphics Card - Windows/Mac - USB32HDPRO Plus by Joseph Lang

Revainrating 3 out of 5

Dual 30 " to 11 " MacBook Air Compatibility and Comparison Mac OS X 10.9 vs 10.10 Yosemite

I bought this before Yosemite when I was on 10.9 and worried about upgrading to 10.10 and driver incompatibility. I bit the bullet tonight and I'm lucky that everything works as before and feels a little faster. Here is my current configuration: 11" MacBook Air (Mid 2013) with 8 GB RAM and 30" Intel i7(2) 1.7 GHz 2560x1600 display with DisplayPort. (1) CalTech (http://amzn.com/B00G69FC48) Since the 11-inch MacBook Air only has a Thunderbolt and more specifically a DisplayPort, I had to buy this USB 3.0 video adapter to power my third display. So I have a Thunderbolt cable to the CalDigit Thunderbolt Station, then from there I have a DisplayPort to display #1 and a USB 3.0 to DisplayPort adapter to display #2. I also run my MacBook Air closed, but i could use it as a third display if i wanted to. I don't need very high frame rates, since upgrading to 10.10 everything works and to my surprise it's noticeably faster than before. UI transparency is poorly supported on a second display with a USB driver. Overall I'm very satisfied, although the frame rate is high enough for surfing the web, watching videos and working. I can push the boundaries of the 11 inch MacBook Air to the day Apple releases a new 11 inch MacBook Air that can support 2 DisplayPort displays without the need for a daisy chain connection. For those who might be wondering why I didn't, I bought two Thunderbolt displays and it worked for me but not for my wife. She booted into Windows on her Mac for work, and the Thunderbolt displays didn't work consistently when connected to a remote terminal. Here is the link to the drivers: [.] UPDATE 02/12/16: I updated the USB 3.0 adapter to 4K DisplayPort. and now updating my install is much faster. StarTech USB 3.0 to 4K DisplayPort External Multi-Monitor Video Graphics Adapter - USB 3.0 - Ultra HD 4K Graphics Card (USB32DP4K)

Pros
  • PERFORMANCE: The USB 3.0 to HDMI Adapter lets you power your laptop or desktop with a single USB Type-A | connect to an HDMI monitor or projector 1920x1200 (1080p) | 5.1 channel audio (via HDMI) | HDCP1.4 | Cable length 6.3 inch (16 cm)
Cons
  • So far so good