Thinkpads Forum

UPD: Two 1920x1080 monitors work fine (via the dock's DisplayPorts).

Hi,

Currently I'm using one FullHD 60Hz monitor as an external one and would like to upgrade it to either some big 4K or 3440x1440 (e.g. Dell U3415W) or to two 1920x1200 monitors (e.g. Dell U2415).

AFAIK, W520's DisplayPort has bandwidth for 2560x1600@60Hz. So 4K or 3440x1440 monitor is not an option for me.

Two 1920x1200 @60Hz monitors need more bandwidth than one 2560x1600 @60Hz as well.

I've got a docking station, Mini Dock Plus Series 3 with USB 3.0 (433815U, the same as 433835U), for monitors is has 2x DisplayPort and 2x DVI (and also 1x VGA D-SUB, which I won't use).

QUESTION: Will two 1920x1200 @60Hz monitors work if plugged into the dock's DisplayPorts (preferrably) or/and DVIs?

P.S. I know about USB 3.0 external video cards / display links, but that option isn't preferrable.

From what I found in a description of Quadro 2000 (not 2000m if that matters), the card does support two 1920x1200 monitors @60Hz via two DPs or two DVIs.

Needs to be checked for W520 and the dock station

dp on the dock is a passthrough port, it uses the standard that the Laptop supports. The W520 can support 4K but only at 30 hz if i remember correctly.

W520 supports 3 screens max. I don't have the machine with me, so can't really test it for you.

lead_org, thx for your reply.

There're 2 DPs and 2 DVIs on the dock-station. So both DPs are a pass-through from a single DP, ok. (As I understand, that means, that both ports receive the same, a whole amount of packets with pixel color info, but then each monitor filters its own packets?)

I think I'd better test with two 1920x1080 monitors plugged into dock's DPs, when I get somewhere a second monitor. It that config works, then two 1920x1200 (@60Hz) monitors should work either.

Feeling a bit relieved that I don't need to buy a pricey 4K pro monitor, untill I get off from my W520..

W520 is bugged like heck with the external monitor stuff. The T520 can output to more..

Anyway: I run a 2560x1600 @Hz from the DP at the dock. I have the 2nd monitor on the dock's VGA, so I can that monitor's DVI input with my desktop.

I'm pretty sure it supports 2x 2560x1600 (@ 60 Hz) on the 2 DP's though.

With a W530 you get Displayport 1.2 (and a stupid keyboard layout and lacking eSata)

The DVI's on the dock are single link only. To get DVI 2560x1600 from the dock, you need DP to DVI Dual link, which requires that active USB-powered case.

With the 4338 dock, There are 2 DVI's and 2 DP ports. You can only use two of the four though. Even with T520.

Checked with two 1920x1080 monitors connected to the dock's DisplayPorts: worked fine.