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2 eternal monitors leaves the internal LCD blank; is there a solution for this?
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- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sun Jul 05, 2020 11:39 pm
- Location: Bakersfield, California
2 eternal monitors leaves the internal LCD blank; is there a solution for this?
Hello,
I have T420, recently upgraded with all the latest Win10 software bits.
I want to connect an external large screen and a Wacom interactive display (Wacom one) to my T420, while also using the built-in display. By plugging my DELL into the VGA and my Wacom tablet into the DisplayPort (using a converter to go to HDMI), both of these are working.
However, I cannot activate the 3rd screen (my actual laptop T420 screen); it just turns black and the display configurations do not even show the option of a 3rd window.
Does anyone know if there is a solution for this? I'd really like it to work!
Thanks!!!
I have T420, recently upgraded with all the latest Win10 software bits.
I want to connect an external large screen and a Wacom interactive display (Wacom one) to my T420, while also using the built-in display. By plugging my DELL into the VGA and my Wacom tablet into the DisplayPort (using a converter to go to HDMI), both of these are working.
However, I cannot activate the 3rd screen (my actual laptop T420 screen); it just turns black and the display configurations do not even show the option of a 3rd window.
Does anyone know if there is a solution for this? I'd really like it to work!
Thanks!!!
Re: 2 eternal monitors leaves the internal LCD blank; is there a solution for this?
Welcome to the forum. 
If it's an nVidia GPU T420, there should be a way to make this work. If it's an Intel GPU T420, then no.

If it's an nVidia GPU T420, there should be a way to make this work. If it's an Intel GPU T420, then no.
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, A21m 2628-GXU
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad, A21m 2628-GXU
Re: 2 eternal monitors leaves the internal LCD blank; is there a solution for this?
Triple Head2Go will fix you right up.
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T500 T9600 2055-BE9
T510 i5 4384-DV7
T510 i7 4349-A64
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- ThinkPadder
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Re: 2 eternal monitors leaves the internal LCD blank; is there a solution for this?
This Lenovo site says you can have up to 4 monitors with the nvidia optimus:
https://support.lenovo.com/mn/en/solutions/ht037605
There is an Intel site (can't locate at the moment) that says you can have 3 monitors with the integrated graphics.
Found it:
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en ... phics.html
May your eternal monitors live on forever.
https://support.lenovo.com/mn/en/solutions/ht037605
There is an Intel site (can't locate at the moment) that says you can have 3 monitors with the integrated graphics.
Found it:
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en ... phics.html
May your eternal monitors live on forever.
600, 600X
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T21 2647 T22 2647 1@ 1GHz SXGA+ 4 more; T23 2647 1@ 1.2GHz SXGA+ 3 more
T30 2366-88U 2GHz; 2366-83U 1.8G; 5@ 2366-LU0/66U; 2367-KU6 FUBARd
T41 T42 T43
T61 8897 2.4GHz SXGA+; 8898 2.4Ghz; 6463 2@ WSXGA+; 7658 2.5GHz; T61p; 6 more T61s
T500 2
T530 W530
Re: 2 eternal monitors leaves the internal LCD blank; is there a solution for this?
That's only for 3rd generation Core and later. 2nd generation Core (Sandy Bridge, as in the **20 series) is limited to 2 displays on the Intel GPUs.cadillacmike68 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 06, 2020 10:53 pmThere is an Intel site (can't locate at the moment) that says you can have 3 monitors with the integrated graphics.
Found it:
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en ... phics.html
Agree!

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, A21m 2628-GXU
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad, A21m 2628-GXU
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- Location: Bakersfield, California
Re: 2 eternal monitors leaves the internal LCD blank; is there a solution for this?
Thanks. Looking into this, but I have this configurations:
i5-2430M CPU
16GB RAM
Intel HD Graphics 3000
Looked up this configuration on the Intel website that someone provided me. It says there is only support for 2 monitors
So that begs the question; since my laptop is in good shape, can I augment it to handle 3 screens? I have never heard of the triple Head2Go option someone mentioned. Seems expensive.. Any other options?
Thank you all for the quick responses!
i5-2430M CPU
16GB RAM
Intel HD Graphics 3000
Looked up this configuration on the Intel website that someone provided me. It says there is only support for 2 monitors

So that begs the question; since my laptop is in good shape, can I augment it to handle 3 screens? I have never heard of the triple Head2Go option someone mentioned. Seems expensive.. Any other options?
Thank you all for the quick responses!
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- Joined: Fri May 27, 2011 9:19 pm
- Location: Florida
Re: 2 eternal monitors leaves the internal LCD blank; is there a solution for this?
Its a small hardware device that allows your built in display port to output to 2 monitors and still make your internal screen available.
You would have to change the motherboard to get discrete GPU. I don't think you can upgrade the CPU because its the chipset that has the limitation.
Eternally at your service, Mike.
You would have to change the motherboard to get discrete GPU. I don't think you can upgrade the CPU because its the chipset that has the limitation.
Eternally at your service, Mike.
600, 600X
760LD FUBARd
T21 2647 T22 2647 1@ 1GHz SXGA+ 4 more; T23 2647 1@ 1.2GHz SXGA+ 3 more
T30 2366-88U 2GHz; 2366-83U 1.8G; 5@ 2366-LU0/66U; 2367-KU6 FUBARd
T41 T42 T43
T61 8897 2.4GHz SXGA+; 8898 2.4Ghz; 6463 2@ WSXGA+; 7658 2.5GHz; T61p; 6 more T61s
T500 2
T530 W530
760LD FUBARd
T21 2647 T22 2647 1@ 1GHz SXGA+ 4 more; T23 2647 1@ 1.2GHz SXGA+ 3 more
T30 2366-88U 2GHz; 2366-83U 1.8G; 5@ 2366-LU0/66U; 2367-KU6 FUBARd
T41 T42 T43
T61 8897 2.4GHz SXGA+; 8898 2.4Ghz; 6463 2@ WSXGA+; 7658 2.5GHz; T61p; 6 more T61s
T500 2
T530 W530
Re: 2 eternal monitors leaves the internal LCD blank; is there a solution for this?
I think the HD graphics may actually be integrated in the CPU in those generations. So - upgrading the CPU could remove this limitation, except you cannot use an Ivy Bridge CPU in a Sandy Bridge Thinkpad, without using Coreboot (free FW), because of BIOS limitations.
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, A21m 2628-GXU
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad, A21m 2628-GXU
Re: 2 eternal monitors leaves the internal LCD blank; is there a solution for this?
So we're back to Triple Head2Go.
No, I don't work for them, nor do I sell them. This was an extremely popular flight simulator accessory for people that were building cockpits such as myself. Some would hook up one of these to each computer running a copy of flight simulator and have wrap-around visuals in the simulator.
I'm not talking about a desktop with two controllers on it. I'm talking about full size airliner cockpits.
No, I don't work for them, nor do I sell them. This was an extremely popular flight simulator accessory for people that were building cockpits such as myself. Some would hook up one of these to each computer running a copy of flight simulator and have wrap-around visuals in the simulator.
I'm not talking about a desktop with two controllers on it. I'm talking about full size airliner cockpits.
A31p P-IV 2Ghz, 2MB, 2653-R6U
T500 T9600 2055-BE9
T510 i5 4384-DV7
T510 i7 4349-A64
T520 i7QM 4242-4UU Highly Modified
T500 T9600 2055-BE9
T510 i5 4384-DV7
T510 i7 4349-A64
T520 i7QM 4242-4UU Highly Modified
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- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sun Jul 05, 2020 11:39 pm
- Location: Bakersfield, California
Re: 2 eternal monitors leaves the internal LCD blank; is there a solution for this?
Thanks.
With the Head2go module, does it give you the option to either expand or mirror screens? I'm only interested in expanding.
With the Head2go module, does it give you the option to either expand or mirror screens? I'm only interested in expanding.
Re: 2 eternal monitors leaves the internal LCD blank; is there a solution for this?
read
https://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/prod ... splayport/
IMO this is quite expensive for what it is.
But I believe many current gen3 laptops dont even do three screens.
I wouldnt be sinking for this device when you can probably go a USB vga dongle? Performnance may be avg. even on usb3... which the 420 doesnt have.
https://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/prod ... splayport/
IMO this is quite expensive for what it is.
But I believe many current gen3 laptops dont even do three screens.
I wouldnt be sinking for this device when you can probably go a USB vga dongle? Performnance may be avg. even on usb3... which the 420 doesnt have.
Re: 2 eternal monitors leaves the internal LCD blank; is there a solution for this?
I never used it myself, so I don't know the details.oaklandian wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:05 pmThanks.
With the Head2go module, does it give you the option to either expand or mirror screens? I'm only interested in expanding.
There are eight views in MSFS and each view could be resized to how big or small you needed it depending upon the amount of monitors you were using and then displayed across each networked computer using the TH2G for a full wrap-around view.
I was using dual output video cards in tower systems and using two views per machine so I never needed the TH2G.
If there is an advanced dock available for your machine, you might investigate the multiple monitor possibilities using that.
I've been out of the cockpit building hobby for a decade now, so I don't know what inovations for video display they've come up with since then. There may be something better and cheaper than TH2G by now.

A31p P-IV 2Ghz, 2MB, 2653-R6U
T500 T9600 2055-BE9
T510 i5 4384-DV7
T510 i7 4349-A64
T520 i7QM 4242-4UU Highly Modified
T500 T9600 2055-BE9
T510 i5 4384-DV7
T510 i7 4349-A64
T520 i7QM 4242-4UU Highly Modified
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- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sun Jul 05, 2020 11:39 pm
- Location: Bakersfield, California
Re: 2 eternal monitors leaves the internal LCD blank; is there a solution for this?
Thanks everyone. I am just so fond of my T420 that I am eager to get it.
However, it requires Display port 1.2.
Does the T420 have Display port 1.2, or does anyone know where I can I find this ?
Thanks again!!
However, it requires Display port 1.2.
Does the T420 have Display port 1.2, or does anyone know where I can I find this ?
Thanks again!!
Re: 2 eternal monitors leaves the internal LCD blank; is there a solution for this?
I use DisplayLink adapters for extra monitors. You can add up to 6 more screens using USB. Before Covid, the cheap DisplayLink adapters could be had for around US $20 on Amazon. Now they go for around $35-40 for USB 2.0 and can handle FHD.
jayton4
Current models/upgrades:
T410 2518X01- 8GB, Corsair Force GT 120GB
T410s 2901A3U- 8GB, Intel 6300 WiFi, Crucial m4 256GB w/ mSATA>microSATA adapter
T420s 4174PPU- 16GB, Intel 520 180GB, Crucial M550 512GB mSATA, Intel 6300 WiFi
and a stack of classics in storage
Current models/upgrades:
T410 2518X01- 8GB, Corsair Force GT 120GB
T410s 2901A3U- 8GB, Intel 6300 WiFi, Crucial m4 256GB w/ mSATA>microSATA adapter
T420s 4174PPU- 16GB, Intel 520 180GB, Crucial M550 512GB mSATA, Intel 6300 WiFi
and a stack of classics in storage
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