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How do you set up a dual-monitor display for a Thinkpad?

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Navi
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How do you set up a dual-monitor display for a Thinkpad?

#1 Post by Navi » Wed Dec 19, 2018 3:38 pm

I have two VGA monitors that I want to connect to my Thinkpad in a dual-monitor setup. I know I need some kind of VGA hub or multiplexor to accomplish this, but every VGA hub I can find on Amazon just splits the VGA signal. I need something that will actually multiplex multiple VGA signals to a single VGA port.

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Re: How do you set up a dual-monitor display for a Thinkpad?

#2 Post by dr_st » Wed Dec 19, 2018 3:52 pm

Not sure something like this exists. And welcome to the forum, by the way. :D
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Navi
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Re: How do you set up a dual-monitor display for a Thinkpad?

#3 Post by Navi » Wed Dec 19, 2018 3:53 pm

So what do people use for dual monitor setups? I'm a total n00b at dual monitors, so I have no idea where to start or what kind of hardware I need.

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Re: How do you set up a dual-monitor display for a Thinkpad?

#4 Post by dr_st » Wed Dec 19, 2018 4:07 pm

Navi wrote:
Wed Dec 19, 2018 3:53 pm
So what do people use for dual monitor setups?
They use separate ports on the laptop / video card.
Thinkpad 25 (20K7), T490 (20N3), Yoga 14 (20FY), T430s (IPS FHD + Classic Keyboard), X220 4291-4BG
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad

Cigarguy
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Re: How do you set up a dual-monitor display for a Thinkpad?

#5 Post by Cigarguy » Wed Dec 19, 2018 5:00 pm

What Thinkpad do you have? I've been using a docking station to achieve dual monitor capability on my T500 and T420. I really hate the T420 screen format so an external monitor is a must.

MikalE
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Re: How do you set up a dual-monitor display for a Thinkpad?

#6 Post by MikalE » Wed Dec 19, 2018 7:09 pm

Matrox Dual-head2Go and Triple Head2Go has been used for years by flight simulator builders.

https://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/prod ... igital_se/
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Navi
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Re: How do you set up a dual-monitor display for a Thinkpad?

#7 Post by Navi » Wed Dec 19, 2018 8:55 pm

Okay, after doing some research on various solutions, I've decided to go with a direct connection to the VGA port on one monitor and connection to the DisplayPort port on the other via a DisplayPort-to-VGA converter. This solution will work for now, though it will not allow me to add additional monitors after the first two (I don't think I have the real estate for more than two monitors anyway). I'm going to look into docking stations as suggested in one of the posts on this thread. I also read during my research that you can daisy-chain monitors with DisplayPort, which doesn't make sense to me unless you can use a monitor with multiple inputs and somehow repurpose one of those input ports as an output. I'd have to do some additional research to figure out how this works...

Anyway, I think I've found a workable solution for the time being. I'm just waiting for my converter to arrive from Amazon on Friday so I can put it to the test. Thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions.

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