Thinkpads Forum

I have a T60 on an Advanced Dock. Currently, I am running one monitor off the DVI port on the dock. However I plan on installing a Matrox QID PCIE Low Profile in the PCIE slot on the dock, and running four monitors from it.

My question is, will the DVI port on the dock still run a monitor while the Matrox card handles the other four (for a total of five monitors)?

The built-in DVI will work in addition to the add-on card. However, the QID PCI-e Low Profile will not fit in the Advanced Dock. It's the length that kills you, not the height.

I have about four flavors of Matrox cards here (including the QID) and the only one that fits in the Dock is the APVe.

If you're dead set on that card, you have the option of running the card OUTSIDE the dock with an extenter cable as discussed in this thread: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=22358

If you need to get to give monitors, you still have many options. You can use the Matrox Double or TripleHead2Go ( http://www.matrox.com/graphics/offhome/th2go/home.cfm ). Or you can put a dual-screen adapter in the dock and a dual-screen adapter in the PCMCIA slot (www.villagetronic.com).

Keep in mind that both the DVI and VGA can work simultaneously with the dock (but you'll loose the built-in screen).

Your best solution depends on what you'll be using the five screens for, and what performance you need to get.

RonS wrote:The built-in DVI will work in addition to the add-on card. However, the QID PCI-e Low Profile will not fit in the Advanced Dock. It's the length that kills you, not the height.

I have about four flavors of Matrox cards here (including the QID) and the only one that fits in the Dock is the APVe.

Thanks for the reply!

I have an APVe, just have not installed it in the dock yet.

According to the Advanced Dock User Guide:

The ThinkPad Advanced Dock accepts a standard height (111.15 mm (4.376 in.)) and half length PCI Express Cards (167.65 mm (6.6 in.)) only.

And the product spec page for the QID LP PCIe has the following dimensions for the card:

Card size: 6.6" x 2.7"

So, I wonder why the QID LP PCIe will not fit? Maybe the bracket gets in the way?

The dock takes a full-height, half-length card.

The QID (low profile) is half height, and more than full-length.