Laptop to output to dual external monitors

beaco · 21st August 2008, 1:56 PM

Looking for a laptop to output to dual 24" external monitors. Preferable 14" form factor or smaller. I have seen some notebooks around with dvi & hdmi, dvi & vga or hdmi & vga configurations. I assume at least some of these support dual output.

Anyone do this and have any recommendations or know any models that will support this?

Thanks.

swipe · 21st August 2008, 4:31 PM

If you can't find a laptop with native support, consider a Matrox DualHead2Go or TripleHead2Go.

beaco · 21st August 2008, 4:33 PM

considered that along with vtbook, advanced docking stations and expresscard docking stations. I'm still not sure they will be able to run at full res.

shift · 21st August 2008, 4:38 PM

Acer TravelMate 7720G - using two external (1 DV1, 1 VGA) monitors on it right now.
Unfortunuately - it's 17", a bit far from the <14" you want.

RichoB · 21st August 2008, 4:39 PM

do the 24" monitors need dual dvi each? If they dont, id just use run 1 screen off the HDMI and one f the VGA. Its what i do on my 2x22", from my Compaq 8510w.

Otherwise I'd guess you'd need an external video card solution, which starts getting expensive.

proffesso · 21st August 2008, 4:42 PM

Dell Precision 6400 will output to dual 30"

hdkhang · 21st August 2008, 4:47 PM

I assume you mean you want to be able to output to two external monitors whilst the internal laptop one is disabled.

beaco · 21st August 2008, 6:16 PM

Yes, don't really need the laptop one whilst I am at the desk. Will look into the 6500.Would prefer not to use vga as it starts to get blurry at high resolutions. However, I am open to input. Do you think I would notice the difference between VGA and dvi/hdmi?

beaco · 21st August 2008, 6:21 PM

Can't find a dell precision 6500. Can only see an M6400 (not released) and an M6300. None of which are available in australia. Am I looking in the wrong place?

proffesso · 21st August 2008, 6:24 PM

its the 6400, and its looks like there is a small wait im guessing.

its a beefy peice of kit, upto 16gb ram, quadcore cpu

Rezin · 21st August 2008, 6:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beaco

Would prefer not to use vga as it starts to get blurry at high resolutions.

That must be a problem with your screen (or the screens you've used) then. I've got a Dell 2407WFP-HC hooked up to an Inspiron 9300 via VGA and 1920x120 looks fine (wouldn't tell the difference between that and DVI).

scruff · 21st August 2008, 6:40 PM

Look into ASUS XG STATION

beaco · 21st August 2008, 6:45 PM

Just spoke to the girl about an m4400. m6400 is 17" m4400 is 15". m4400 is max 8gb ram so still ok. Waiting on verification.

ASUS XG Station is PCIE1X adapter. Haven't seen much reported about it yet. Would prefer inbuilt or a proper docking station rather than bit and pieces. But we'll wait and see. Thanks for the tip.

hdkhang · 22nd August 2008, 1:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rezin

That must be a problem with your screen (or the screens you've used) then. I've got a Dell 2407WFP-HC hooked up to an Inspiron 9300 via VGA and 1920x120 looks fine (wouldn't tell the difference between that and DVI).

Just hit the "auto" button on the monitor when in VGA mode so the timing is corrected. If VGA looks blurry, it's likely because it isn't correctly mapped or has the timing off. DVI doesn't really have this issue thankfully. But there is no real reason for VGA to look less sharp than DVI over such short distances.

beaco · 25th August 2008, 8:14 AM

Does anyone use an e-port or e-port plus port replicator/docking station? Does the video pass through work ok?

21st August 2008, 1:56 PM	#1
beaco Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 261	Laptop to output to dual external monitors Looking for a laptop to output to dual 24" external monitors. Preferable 14" form factor or smaller. I have seen some notebooks around with dvi & hdmi, dvi & vga or hdmi & vga configurations. I assume at least some of these support dual output. Anyone do this and have any recommendations or know any models that will support this? Thanks. __________________ http://www.jstar.com.au

21st August 2008, 4:33 PM	#3
beaco Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 261	considered that along with vtbook, advanced docking stations and expresscard docking stations. I'm still not sure they will be able to run at full res. __________________ http://www.jstar.com.au

21st August 2008, 4:38 PM	#4
shift Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Hillcrest, Logan Posts: 1,676	Acer TravelMate 7720G - using two external (1 DV1, 1 VGA) monitors on it right now. Unfortunuately - it's 17", a bit far from the <14" you want. __________________ "Loyalty to the country always. Loyalty to the government when it deserves it." -Mark Twain "Say what you want and be who you are because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss

21st August 2008, 4:39 PM	#5
RichoB Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Perth Posts: 196	do the 24" monitors need dual dvi each? If they dont, id just use run 1 screen off the HDMI and one f the VGA. Its what i do on my 2x22", from my Compaq 8510w. Otherwise I'd guess you'd need an external video card solution, which starts getting expensive. __________________ *SONY VGN-FW35G* \|\|\| ASUS EeePc 900 \|\|\| Pentax K20D \|\|\| Samsung 780i My Photos...

21st August 2008, 4:42 PM	#6
proffesso Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 6,312	Dell Precision 6400 will output to dual 30" __________________ If at first you don't succeed, remove all evidence you ever tried.

21st August 2008, 4:31 PM	#2
swipe Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 363	If you can't find a laptop with native support, consider a Matrox DualHead2Go or TripleHead2Go.

21st August 2008, 4:47 PM	#7
hdkhang Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 475	I assume you mean you want to be able to output to two external monitors whilst the internal laptop one is disabled.

21st August 2008, 6:16 PM	#8
beaco Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 261	Yes, don't really need the laptop one whilst I am at the desk. Will look into the 6500.Would prefer not to use vga as it starts to get blurry at high resolutions. However, I am open to input. Do you think I would notice the difference between VGA and dvi/hdmi? __________________ http://www.jstar.com.au

21st August 2008, 6:21 PM	#9
beaco Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 261	Can't find a dell precision 6500. Can only see an M6400 (not released) and an M6300. None of which are available in australia. Am I looking in the wrong place? __________________ http://www.jstar.com.au

21st August 2008, 6:24 PM	#10
proffesso Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 6,312	its the 6400, and its looks like there is a small wait im guessing. its a beefy peice of kit, upto 16gb ram, quadcore cpu __________________ If at first you don't succeed, remove all evidence you ever tried.

21st August 2008, 6:40 PM	#12
scruff Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Melbourne Posts: 3,338	Look into ASUS XG STATION __________________ Где мой слон?

21st August 2008, 6:45 PM	#13
beaco Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 261	Just spoke to the girl about an m4400. m6400 is 17" m4400 is 15". m4400 is max 8gb ram so still ok. Waiting on verification. ASUS XG Station is PCIE1X adapter. Haven't seen much reported about it yet. Would prefer inbuilt or a proper docking station rather than bit and pieces. But we'll wait and see. Thanks for the tip. __________________ http://www.jstar.com.au

25th August 2008, 8:14 AM	#15
beaco Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 261	Does anyone use an e-port or e-port plus port replicator/docking station? Does the video pass through work ok? __________________ http://www.jstar.com.au