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    Connect two external screens

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by sergiobaschi, Jul 19, 2008.

  1. sergiobaschi

    sergiobaschi Notebook Guru

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    Hello.

    First of all, I apologize if this is the wrong forum. Hopefully an admin could be kind and move this post to a proper forum, if that's the case.

    I have a question regarding screens. I would like to know if it's possible to connect an XPS 1330 with the 8400M GS to two external screens, and have them work side by side? If it's possible - how do I do that? Or, what do I need? I have no idea, but I suppose I need some sort of "enter this cable from computer here and - put these two cables into the screens"-machine. No idea, as you can see.

    Thanks,

    S
     
    sergiobaschi, Jul 19, 2008
    #1
  2. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    Yes it is possible, however you will need a Matrox dual head 2 go in order to use two external monitors.
    Your laptop only has one video out port, so you can only use one monitor. If you get the matrox part mentioned, it splits the video signal into two and you can use two external screens as one big screen.
    Unfortunately the Matrox dual head 2 go is around $250-300 so you should check ebay for used ones.

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Jul 19, 2008
    #2
  3. John Kotches

    John Kotches Notebook Evangelist

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    According to the specs, the M1330 has both an HDMI and a VGA out port. If that's correct, you connect one monitor via VGA, the other with an HDMI to DVI cable into the second monitor.

    That's quite a bit cheaper than the Matrox splitter.
     
    John Kotches, Jul 19, 2008
    #3
  4. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    I am pretty sure both hdmi and the vga port are going to display the same exact screen. I am not 100% sure, but it doesnt seem likely that you can have two separate screens running just because their are two different display ports.

    The original poster can try, but I dont think it will work, and if it does that would be really awesome.

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Jul 19, 2008
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  5. John Kotches

    John Kotches Notebook Evangelist

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    Okay, but I do this on:
    HP Compaq 6910P (Work Laptop #1)
    Dell Laptop Older, Model unknown (Work Laptop #2)
    Asus C90s (personal machine)

    All of them are driving 2 monitors simultaneously at 2 different resolutions.
    1280x1024 and 1680x1050 for the work ones at the office
    1280x1024 and 1920x1200 for the HP & Asus at home.

    Personally, I haven't tried the Dell M1330 but know of no reason that the 8400M graphics won't do the job. I've seen other laptops do it just fine, including one that's 3-4 years old.
     
    John Kotches, Jul 19, 2008
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  6. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    Wow, I guess it is possible, pretty cool. I may just try it when I can get a hold on two external monitors.
    Thanks John, that just saved the OP some money :D

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Jul 19, 2008
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  7. sergiobaschi

    sergiobaschi Notebook Guru

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    FYI:
    Connecting two screens using the VGA and HDMI-port works well. The laptop display cannot be used though, but that's a minor problem.
     
    sergiobaschi, Jan 7, 2009
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  8. Tippey764

    Tippey764 Notebook Deity

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    But does the internal screen work as well? I tried doing VGA and HDMI out + laptop screen but i could only run two at a time.
     
    Tippey764, Jan 7, 2009
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  9. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

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    Only 2 screens at a time for most laptops. Either your laptop screen + 1 external or 2 external and not your laptop screen.
     
    nizzy1115, Jan 7, 2009
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  10. S_P_Q_R

    S_P_Q_R Notebook Evangelist

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    S_P_Q_R, Jan 7, 2009
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  11. helikart

    helikart Newbie

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    Hi John,
    Can you please tell me how you got it to work with your laptops?
    I have a Dell Latitute D830 with one VGA out. I have a VGA splitter that I would like to connect to 2 external monitors. I don't need the laptop screen when connected to the two monitors. What happens right now is that I can split the screen between the laptop screen and the external monitors, but the two ext. screens are just duplicated. Not sure how to disable the laptop screen and just split the screen across the two external displays. (I am using Ubuntu linux) Is the VGA splitter enough to get this done without additional video ports on the laptop?

    THanks a lot!

    Tom
     
    helikart, Jan 19, 2009
    #11