The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Mutiple Monitors

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by erd0c, Sep 14, 2011.

  1. erd0c

    erd0c Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I was thinking of connecting 2-3 external monitors to my mx11
    1) Can I do this via the DisplayPort?
    2) How do I check which version I have?
    3) what kind of connector do I need to get? (DisplayPort Hub doesn't generate anything)

    Can anyone recommend an alternative strategy?
    thanks
     
    erd0c, Sep 14, 2011
    #1
  2. DeeVu

    DeeVu That Compsci/Psych Major

    Reputations:
    440
    Messages:
    1,062
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Which M11 do you have? If you have an R1 you can attach a VGA and HDMI. If you have an R2/R3 you can have an HDMI splitter?
     
    DeeVu, Sep 14, 2011
    #2
  3. Descalzo

    Descalzo Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    316
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I have an R1 and I use VGA and DisplayPort. But I want to know more about HDMI splitters.
     
    Descalzo, Sep 14, 2011
    #3
  4. DeeVu

    DeeVu That Compsci/Psych Major

    Reputations:
    440
    Messages:
    1,062
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I don't know enough about them. There have been numerous threads on this forum about this.
     
    DeeVu, Sep 14, 2011
    #4
  5. GNandGS

    GNandGS Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    69
    Messages:
    1,247
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    56
    I was using DP to VGA adaptr and HDMI. If anything the monitors used will be the finicky end. Took me a while to figure out that Analog vs Dig on my LCD was not auto detect but manual. Doh!

    Without extra hardware you will not be using 3 panels with diff displays. 2 is max.
     
    GNandGS, Sep 14, 2011
    #5
  6. DeeVu

    DeeVu That Compsci/Psych Major

    Reputations:
    440
    Messages:
    1,062
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I know nothing much but...
    Wouldn't 3 monitors = m11x, 2 monitors?
    :p if you wanted to go that route.
     
    DeeVu, Sep 14, 2011
    #6
  7. GNandGS

    GNandGS Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    69
    Messages:
    1,247
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Cant. The M11x LCD will be disabled when you plug in a second external. Wish I could though!

    One option is a USB LCD for a 3rd screen. If I ever see one cheap (locally) I might grab it.
     
    GNandGS, Sep 14, 2011
    #7
  8. DeeVu

    DeeVu That Compsci/Psych Major

    Reputations:
    440
    Messages:
    1,062
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Haha and grab 3 USB externals... That's like over 9000... Errr 5 monitors o.o

    Edit: or get a usb hub and you could get 9000 monitors but your CPU would explode on boot
     
    DeeVu, Sep 15, 2011
    #8
  9. DrGoodvibes

    DrGoodvibes Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    389
    Messages:
    973
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    On my M11xR1 I have two 24" 1920x1200 IPS monitors(each monitor has four digital and three analogue ports) which I connect using DisplayPort and HDMI. Cause both methods support audio and my monitors have 3.5mm audio out, that creates a few more options too.

    AND if one has an M11xR3 you can go bonkers and get one of these beasties.

    USB 3.0 HDMI 2560x1600 DisplayLink

    Not sure what happens when one adds the third monitor, but if it's doable there's the option of VGA, DisplayPort, HDMI and USB display adapter on an M11xR1 at least.
    If I can count right that would be four.
     
    DrGoodvibes, Sep 15, 2011
    #9
  10. GNandGS

    GNandGS Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    69
    Messages:
    1,247
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    56
    GNandGS, Sep 15, 2011
    #10
  11. DrGoodvibes

    DrGoodvibes Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    389
    Messages:
    973
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Not that I don't believe GNandGS as I was always under the impression you could only have two monitors active, but I just connected three monitors to my M11xR1 to see.

    DP, HDMI and VGA. It does see them all, but you can only select two or have two extended at any one time.

    The message "This GPU supports up to 2 displays" seems to be the limiting factor.

    However I don't have a USB display adapter to test whether that'll support an additional display.

    One thing I will say, is I'd forgotten how heavy CRT monitors are :eek:
     
    DrGoodvibes, Sep 15, 2011
    #11
  12. erd0c

    erd0c Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Wow thanks for all the replies and suggestions.
    I have a mx11 R3
    I read somewhere, depending on your version of Displayport, you can "daisy chain" multiple monitors (I'm not sure if that will achieve what I'm hoping to do).
    This is probably taboo, but I'm not using this for gaming. I'm using to trade financial products. so I need multiple screens with multiple charts.
    I've heard USB connected displays are less than optimal (not entirely sure).

    Thanks again for the advice.
     
    erd0c, Sep 15, 2011
    #12
  13. GNandGS

    GNandGS Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    69
    Messages:
    1,247
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    56
    what will the chain config look like connection wise? Took a quick look but didnt see the obvious. suspect you need an output or passthrough on the monitor?
     
    GNandGS, Sep 15, 2011
    #13
  14. erd0c

    erd0c Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Dude,
    I have no idea what you just said.....
     
    erd0c, Sep 16, 2011
    #14
  15. GNandGS

    GNandGS Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    69
    Messages:
    1,247
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Well a daisy chain should be a physical connection but I'm wondering if it's splitter based or a true chain. Chain would mean 2nd monitor hooks to 1st
     
    GNandGS, Sep 16, 2011
    #15
  16. erd0c

    erd0c Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    oh, I"m just using terms I've read.
    (thanks for trying to help).
    Ultimately, it doesn't matter how its set up (monitor to monitor) or split.
    As long as I achieve the outcome of individual content on the monitors from 1 laptop.
    I don't even know where to begin, which port to use for this purpose, what kind of splitter, etc.
    thanks again
    erd0c
     
    erd0c, Sep 20, 2011
    #16
  17. GNandGS

    GNandGS Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    69
    Messages:
    1,247
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    56
    I do not have an output on my monitors and have never seen one
     
    GNandGS, Sep 20, 2011
    #17
  18. brooksie

    brooksie Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    114
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Does the display port run through 335M like HDMI?

    Sorry to thread hijack.
     
    brooksie, Sep 21, 2011
    #18
  19. dredd1893

    dredd1893 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    23
    Messages:
    172
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    do you mean as in constantly running with 335M? if so, no. the optimus handles what program(s) running which card...
     
    dredd1893, Sep 21, 2011
    #19
  20. GNandGS

    GNandGS Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    69
    Messages:
    1,247
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Unless on R1. I know I cant use the DP and HDMI unless 335 is available. Have not tested individual ports alone
     
    GNandGS, Sep 22, 2011
    #20