Multiple Monitors

[renke]

Hello,

Recently I became attracted by the idea to have additional monitors; my idea is to have 2 additional monitors for my Thinkpad R400. Is it possible to connect 2 monitors to my Thinkpad and still use the native display? I am willing to buy the required hardware (beside the monitors, that is), so it's fine if I need extra stuff to make it happen.

I also used the forum search, but it seems like in most of the cases people just want 2 or more monitors without using the Thinkpad display itself.

Regards,
Renke

[ssd_thinkpad]

You can use as much as monitors with usb-graphic-cards.

Keep in mind that to improve your monitor setup you can always dock your R60 to the Advanced Dock and put a dedicated graphic card within the advanced dock!

[renke]

Can you recommend an USB graphic card?

I also saw this mentioned in some other threads

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/cont ... 7343AFFB25

Would this also work? Are there any drawbacks?

uh, and by the way, I have a Thinkpad R400, not R60.

[AMATX]

Stay away from USB video cards, as they work very slowly. Bandwidth issues, plus the gizmos don't have a lot of smarts in them, being low cost.

Search under my AMATX id and also see some older post(s) by RonS to get some background. What you want to do can be done, but you'll need to buy a splitter to get display+2 monitors working.

You can only have two video output sources going at once off of a Thinkpad; that's why you need to split one of them to get to three outs.

[renke]

I also have to mention that my R400 only has a VGA connector – no DVI etc. Do I have to get a docking station for my Thinkpad in order to get DVI?

I haven't had the time yet to read all of your posts, but with that splitter solution, can the monitors show different things? I really want to extend my desktop not only mirror it.

[AMATX]

I also have to mention that my R400 only has a VGA connector – no DVI etc. Do I have to get a docking station for my Thinkpad in order to get DVI?

I haven't had the time yet to read all of your posts, but with that splitter solution, can the monitors show different things? I really want to extend my desktop not only mirror it.

Dunno if there's such as thing as a VGA to DVI converter(doubt it). My -guess- would be the dock is the way to go. Poke around more and you'll figure out a more definite answer.


As far as splitters and display, yes, as you add monitors you select 'extend desktop to this display' and Windows adds it to the mix. Non-clone mode, so it's all one big desktop and you can display whatever you want on each monitor.

I currently have seven WUXGA monitors going, using DVI/DP ports, three splitters and a ViDock2. I have another splitter to add into the mix, allowing for eight monitors, and as soon as I can pick up a cheap monitor I'll get that going. One LARGE desktop

[renke]

okay, sounds nice so far, I will probably go for a docking station then.

uh, I should have also mentioned that I use GNU/Linux as my operating system, but I guess that should be no problem.

ah, another question, is it even possible to connect two Full HD monitors to my Thinkpad? Is this possible with the ATI Radeon HD3470 graphics card, I read that is can only handle an external monitor with a 2048x1536px resolution.