Thinkpads Forum

Is the current X60 (with Intel 950) in the X6 base capable of powering two 1600x1200 displays?

I've heard various things about the VGA in the X6 Ultrabase, but it's not clear to me whether it mirrors the port on the X60 or provides a second output.

NB: The DualHead2Go doesn't support resolutions this high. I've read about the PC Card to DVI but haven't seen any reviews.

Also, is there any indication of when the X series might move to the next generation of Intel integrated graphics (the 3000, I think)?

Thanks for the help.
Eliot

can~~~
no problem

gunston wrote:can~~~
no problem

?? wait so the ultrabase powers another monitor? I thought it was just a replicator...

Ok, so to wrap up the fundamental question: can the VGA on the X6 ultrabase drive a second (non-mirrored) display, or does it just mirror the output of the VGA on the X60 body?

Thanks

slowernet wrote:Ok, so to wrap up the fundamental question: can the VGA on the X6 ultrabase drive a second (non-mirrored) display, or does it just mirror the output of the VGA on the X60 body?

Mirrored.

alee wrote:Mirrored.

That stinks. It looks like the Ricoh cardbus controller in the X60 is also incompatible with the various bolt-on solutions, I guess that means I'm out of luck for multiple hi-res displays.

slowernet wrote: That stinks. It looks like the Ricoh cardbus controller in the X60 is also incompatible with the various bolt-on solutions, I guess that means I'm out of luck for multiple hi-res displays.

Does that mean the X60 wouldn't work with this?
http://www.villagetronic.com/vtbook/index.html

smvp6459 wrote:Does that mean the X60 wouldn't work with this?
http://www.villagetronic.com/vtbook/index.html

Fairly certain not, as it's not on this list, and the X21 is listed only with "limited compatibility":
http://www.villagetronic.com/vtbook/com ... .html#ibmn

The notes for a competing product, the SideCar from Digital Tigers, say:
Incompatible: Ricoh controllers, notably used by IBM ThinkPad "A" and "X" series notebooks.
http://www.digitaltigers.com/notebooks.shtml

(Lenovo, please consider switching to a CardBus controller which is more compatible with these kind of products.)

The VTBook card does actually works with the X60s. I have been using it for three weeks now and it's working just fine. I am using the card to drive two external 1280x1024 displays (one DVI and one VGA) in addition to one 1280x1024 from the VGA port of the Ultrabase. The Ricoh cardbus controller is able to provide enough power to run the VTBook card with 2D accelaration but not enough for 3D.

Thanks hedgeman, that's great news.

hedgeman, do you have some photos of your setup?

Has anyone tried the x60s w/ the Digital Tigers Sidecar? (even though they "say" it is not supported). Just curious.

I wonder if trying it there would be any chance of doing damage to the x60s. I have access to a SideCar if I want to test, but don't want to take any chances

hedgeman wrote:The VTBook card does actually works with the X60s. I have been using it for three weeks now and it's working just fine. I am using the card to drive two external 1280x1024 displays (one DVI and one VGA) in addition to one 1280x1024 from the VGA port of the Ultrabase. The Ricoh cardbus controller is able to provide enough power to run the VTBook card with 2D accelaration but not enough for 3D.

Is it only limited to 1280x1024? What about say bigger resolutions?

CHoPSTICK89 wrote:Is it only limited to 1280x1024? What about say bigger resolutions?

Yes, you can run VTBook at bigger resolutions (check http://www.villagetronic.com/vtbook/techspecs.html) but VTBook's resolution is limited to 1280x1024 (16 bits) in dualdisplay mode.

In conclusion, yes, one should be able to run a dual 1600x1200 setup on a X60/s: one monitor using the X60's VGA port, and the other one using VTBook in either DVI or VGA mode.

Hedgeman

Is there any update on whether or not the VTBook on an X60 will run at 1920 x 1200 in DVI mode?

Also, hedgeman mentions that the card will run with 2D accelaration, but not 3D. Would this have any effect on the the day-to-day activity of running business apps and Photoshop in Windows?

Is there any update on whether or not the VTBook on an X60 will run at 1920 x 1200 in DVI mode?

Well, it should according to their website, but the colour depth will be limited to 16bit. I would tend to believe it since I'm effectively running a higher resolution (2x1280x1024) of my VTBook perfectly.

2D acceleration is absolutely fine. The running of business appls is so good that I actually much prefer to work off my DVI monitor driven by VTBook rather than the "faster" X60s' VGA port.

Usage with Photoshop at 1920x1200 might not be so great since your colour depth will be limited to 16 bit. (32 bit is supported at 1600x1200).

Keep in ming that your the monitor connected to the X60's VGA port would still be able to run with a colour depth 32bit even though your DVI monitor connetected to the VTBook card will limited to 16bit.