FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions - Knowledge Base

Why does the monitor connected to the DisplayPort not work?

When connecting a monitor to the built-in DisplayPort on one of our Thunderbolt 3 devices and it doesn't work, please check the following items.

Passive vs active adapters
The DisplayPort does not support DP++, so when using a passive adapter (e.g. passive HDMI to DisplayPort adapter), the monitor will not be recognized. Please use an active adapter like our Active DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter instead. These kind of adapters usually include the word "active" in the description and tend to be more expensive than the passive adapters.

4K or 5K displays on a Mac
When connecting a 4K or 5K display to a Mac, please have a look at this article first https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT206587. It might be necessary to update the firmware of your monitor or change some settings (e.g. set MST).

Gaming monitor
Some gaming features require that the monitor is connected directly to a NVIDIA graphics card. When the monitor is connected to a Thunderbolt device instead, these gaming features might have to be turned off (see monitor settings).

Apple Cinema Displays
Apple Cinema Displays with Mini DisplayPort are not supported; connecting one of these displays via a DisplayPort adapter will not work.

BIOS settings
If nothing happens when you connect a monitor to the DisplayPort, please check the settings of your BIOS. For some computers (e.g. Clevo/Saver laptops), the following setting has to be changed:

BIOS > Advanced > Advanced Chipset Control > DDI Control
Change from “DDI to DP” to “DDI to TB”