RichMayo Posted June 2, 2008 Posted June 2, 2008 Folks, This may have been addressed here already, I'm but going to do it anyway... Is there a way to connect two independent displays to a single video connector (VGA or DVI)?? I could swear that in the past, I've seen adaptors that connected two VGA monitors to a single DVI, but now I can't find anything like that. I CAN find an adaptor that splits a single DVI into a VGA AND a DVI, but I get the distinct impression that the two displays must be exactly the same. I'm trying to help a work-at-home programmer set up a laptop with three displays (two external monitors plus the built-in). He needs to use a laptop, because at times it's necessary to travel to the customer's location and actually install software. Is there any way to do this with the hardware already built into a high-end laptop model, or do I need one of those excruciatingly cool USB monitor gizmos like EVGA sells?? Thanks in advance for any assistance!! R. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClayMeow Posted June 2, 2008 Posted June 2, 2008 The way laptops usually work is it sees connecting an external display as having a dual-monitor setup because even if you opt to turn the laptop screen off, you can still view both simultaneously. I've never tried, nor seen anyone, connect two external monitors to a laptop. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemo Posted June 2, 2008 Posted June 2, 2008 You would need an external adapter to get two external monitors connected. Something like a Matrox Graphics eXpansion Modules (GXM). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardnrg Posted June 3, 2008 Posted June 3, 2008 I don't really see why anyone needs 3 screens just to install software, unless you are talking about running an application in debug mode or something... The USB to VGA/DVI adapters are probably the easiest solution, I have mine running to my second screen at 1680x1050x32 (this is the highest widescreen resolution available on mine, which is also the native resolution of the monitor). There is no video processing in hardware, so if you watch a video full screen, it appears pixellated because it's CPU+software video processing for the upscale. I say go for these type adapters because unless you have a really high end laptop, I don't think you'd be able to run two external monitors at their native resolution unless you have a fairly high end laptop that can run custom high resolutions like 3360x1050x32 or 3840x1200x32 to feed to a DualHead2Go... If you need to run full screen video or realtime 3D apps/games on the external screens, then go for a DualHead2Go and a laptop that is capable of driving a custom double width resolution. If you don't need full screen video nor realtime 3D apps/games, and are just using simple 2D stuff like most applications, go for the cheaper, easier and more flexible option of USB adapters. I run SLI on my main monitor, so even though I have four DVI outputs from the 8800 cards, I have to use the USB adapter for my secondary screen... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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