Multiple Monitors on the W510 - a great solution (with pics)

[AMATX]

I'll second RonS's comment about avoiding a USB video adapter, if you want any kind of performance at all. I tried the USB approach first and found it was a real dog. Other approaches work much, much better.

[cpfuller]

Thanks RonS I think I will try the USB and if it is too slow I will order a ViDock. Just wasn't sure if the USB would work.

Charles

[furball4]

I have another "so how do I..." question for the video geniuses here. I tried to deduce the options myself, but I'm not digesting the knowledge here well enough to do that. I have a W510 with the 880M, and in addition to the laptop display I want to drive two DVI-D 1600x1200 monitors that mirror each other. This is an office setup - I will be using my laptop display and one of the external monitors, while the second external monitor will be facing clients across the desk and showing them a copy of whatever is on my second display.

The one option that I know I have is to run a DisplayPort-to-DVI adapter cable to a powered DVI-D splitter, and then run DVI cables from the splitter to both monitors. The splitter might be something like this: http://www.opentip.com/Electronics-Comp ... 20009.html

Do I have any other options that would be cheaper or more elegant? Might an unpowered DVI splitter work for me, since the combined resolution of both external monitors is less than the max resolution for a single external display from the DisplayPort? Why does there not appear to be any such thing as a DisplayPort splitter? Would I gain anything by moving to monitors that accept DisplayPort inputs natively? Can DisplayPort monitors do anything fancy, like daisy-chain themselves for the purpose of mirroring output? How would you guys solve this? Many thanks in advance.

[1 hour later: Amusingly, powered HDMI splitters are cheaper and more common. So DP/HDMI cable -> HDMI 2x splitter -> HDMI/DVI-D cables would be cheaper. Whole solution for under $90.]

[AMATX]

I've never used a splitter of the type you describe, but the one you pointed to for $112 is probably your cheapest solution.

Thinkpads are setup to run TWO monitor/display streams, on your choice of any TWO of the THREE outputs on the laptop.

VGA, DVI, DisplayPort. Your choice, but only two of the three at any given time.

So, if you want to drive three monitors, you need extra hardware to make it fly. In my case, on a W700, I chose to go with Matrox TripleHead2Go for the DVI output port and DualHead2Go off of the DisplayPort. I'm driving four 1920x1200 monitors, which is more than you want.

Another good choice might be the ViDock2, which is an external enclosure for a second video card. Very nice little black boxes.

Both of the above approaches are more expensive than the splitter you referenced.

The reason external splitters will work is because the laptop video cards support high enough resolutions, that once you split 'em, end up being enough video bandwidth to fill up several monitors. The bottleneck here is not resolution issues in the laptop video card, but the hardware limitations built into Thinkpads.

[playersnoopy]

no more ViDock2's... just 3, 4 and 4Plus.

I just got my 4Plus (225 watt), slightly overpriced, but convenience factor makes up for a bit I guess.
Running an ATI Radeon HD 5870 in it now, overclocked to 875Mhz core/1300Mhz memory. Works smoothly for all my gaming needs. Can do 4 monitor hookup from that card but my desk is crowded enough :p

Only thing to remember is to eject the ExpressCard first through the taskbar before pulling it out. Other than that I just plug it in when I get home, stays powered off when you eject.

[RonS]

Splitting high-resolution signals is hit-and-miss. I think your best bet is to connect both monitors to your W510 by whatever means you want, and go to your Display Settings in Windows. Normally, when configuring a new monitor, people select "Extend desktop to this display" But in your case, you should select "Duplicate Desktop on 1 and 2" (or whatever variant, depending on your version of Windows). That will mirror your desktop on both screens.

[db$]

Question: I am running the ATI V5200 graphics car in the express bay in the port replicator like Ron. Question: the fan on the V5200 is running continuously even though i have no monitors connected to it. Is this normal? It is quite audible.
Thanks

[db2boy]

Great thread, could I get a sanity check on my thinking please. I want to use 3 x external monitors @ 1900x1200 plus likely LCD from W500 too.
This rules on a triplehead as it can't do 3 at this resolution. Ignoring USB boxes, having VGA + DVI + DP cables going everywhere or a mix'n'match setup I assume my best option is to get a ViDock? Trying to keep things neat and tidy!

Assuming this is correct can I get a card that will run all 3 external monitors individually from the ViDock, and if so is anyone doing this and what card are you having success with or what card would people recommend?

Apologies, I'm not a video card expert and need some guidance

Thanks

Ant

[AMATX]

Yes, laptop display + ViDock would be legal. You'd then stuff an adequate video card inside the ViDock that can support up to whatever number of monitors you wish, such as four, perhaps.

The ATI FireGL V5200 video card that RonS mentions is a decent cheap card. Two DVI outputs, capable of running two WUXGA monitors natively, or if you throw in a couple Matrox Triphead2Go Digital version splitters, you can jam four monitors into it. I currently have a ViDock w/this card hooked up to two splitters running a total four WUXGA monitors in this fashion through this one connection, via an ExpressCard slot. I wouldn't suggest this for fast motion video or gaming, but for lots of general screen real estate it works fine.

If I were starting over, I'd probably buy a ViDock box and stuff this card into it for 4x(1920x1200) monitor support:

http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/produ ... lppciex16/

No messing with splitters to drive four monitors. Poke around on the Matrox site, as they have cards supporting various numbers of monitors. I think I saw a video card there that drives three WUXGA monitors, which is what you want. Be careful which ViDock box you get, as they have several with specs you need to match up to the video card.

Plenty of cards out there these days, just shop around. In the future, the limiting factor is likely to be ExpressCard slot(s), as most laptop manufacturers are eliminating these, and the video card/ViDock types haven't come out with external setups for use with USB(3.0) interfaces.

[db2boy]

Thanks for the great info - very helpful. Being a tad shocked at the price of the Matrox card I did a little more Googling this evening and came across the ATI FirePro 2460:-

http://www.amd.com/us/products/workstat ... emv.aspx#1

This is cheaper than the Matrox and seems to offer what I require and if my understanding is correct can be used with the ViDock 3. Did I miss anything I might not be aware of?

I missed playersnoopy post saying he/she is using a ATI Radeon HD 5870 in a ViDock 4Plus - would this offer any additional advantages over the above? Not a PC gamer and my setup will be for office only, this leans me to the ATI 2460 unless I am missing video processing oddities I am not familiar with

Thanks

Ant

[AMATX]

Actually, the 2450 might even be less money, as it maxes out four monitors at 1920x1200. The 2460 card goes all the way up to 2560x1600 for 30" monitors.


http://www.amd.com/US/PRODUCTS/WORKSTAT ... 50-mv.aspx


Can't help you on specific cards, as I'm not in the market right now and am not current. That said, four port cards look like a really good deal to me. No messing with splitters, etc., just grab whatever ViDock box specs up to the card and away you go...

Your wanting three external monitors(unusual number) removes usage of dual monitor cards; otherwise, I'd suggest you go get the ATI V5200, which is a reliable el cheapo card, but it only has two outputs on it. Splitter required for driving more monitors.

[crashnburn]

Actually, the 2450 might even be less money, as it maxes out four monitors at 1920x1200. The 2460 card goes all the way up to 2560x1600 for 30" monitors.


http://www.amd.com/US/PRODUCTS/WORKSTAT ... 50-mv.aspx


Can't help you on specific cards, as I'm not in the market right now and am not current. That said, four port cards look like a really good deal to me. No messing with splitters, etc., just grab whatever ViDock box specs up to the card and away you go...

Your wanting three external monitors(unusual number) removes usage of dual monitor cards; otherwise, I'd suggest you go get the ATI V5200, which is a reliable el cheapo card, but it only has two outputs on it. Splitter required for driving more monitors.

Would this setup work with Mac OSX Snow Leopard? Or do these cards only work with Windows?

[AMATX]

^^ Dunno. This is a Thinkpad forum, not a Mac forum.

I'd guess the video cards work fine w/Linux, but don't know. Google it and find out.

[crashnburn]

^^ Dunno. This is a Thinkpad forum, not a Mac forum.

I'd guess the video cards work fine w/Linux, but don't know. Google it and find out.

There is a subform called OSX on a Thinkpad where W510 has been successfully been used with OSX. So.. my question stands

[db2boy]

Hi again
As per my post a few above, I now have the ViDock 3 and ATI FirePro 2460 - having an issue though. It all works as expected if I boot with the ViDock connected and I can run monitors. If I try and hot plug the ViDock in though I get an error for the ATI card in device manager:-

"This device cannot find enough free resources that it can use (Code 12). If you want to use this device, you will need to disable one of the other devices on the system"

So I understand the message and I assume the BIOS on boot with the ViDock is correctly handling resource allocation but hot plugging it Windows 7 is struggling/competing for resources. I looked in the BIOS of my W510 (latest one 1.37) but don't see anything that might assist with this. Anyone know how I might be able to hot plug this as I am mobile often but want to use the ViDock when I get back to my desk.

Many thanks

Ant

[lasse]

In case someone is wondering if a dualhead2go DP edition will work with the w510 (to allow for 3 monitors) the answer is yes.

I am running the laptop display + a dualhead2go DP with 2x1920x1080 monitors (I drive the dualhead2go from one of the displayport connectors on the series 3 plus dock but i assume the port on the actual laptop would work just as well).
It is a bit odd that the specifications of the Quadro FX 880M states that is supports monitors up to 2560 x 1600 when it clearly supports atleast 3840x1080.

Quite easy and tidy solution for people who wants to support 3 monitors without having to get a vidock.

/Lasse

[AMATX]

In case someone is wondering if a dualhead2go DP edition will work with the w510 (to allow for 3 monitors) the answer is yes.

I am running the laptop display + a dualhead2go DP with 2x1920x1080 monitors (I drive the dualhead2go from one of the displayport connectors on the series 3 plus dock but i assume the port on the actual laptop would work just as well).
It is a bit odd that the specifications of the Quadro FX 880M states that is supports monitors up to 2560 x 1600 when it clearly supports atleast 3840x1080.

Quite easy and tidy solution for people who wants to support 3 monitors without having to get a vidock.

/Lasse

I found a similar situation when I cranked up a W700 in Feb, 2010. Video card supports 3840x1200, and the DP port can work with a dualhead2go DP splitter to drive 2 x (1920 x 1200). I suspect most/all of these video cards are 3840x1200, as that is the exact resolution to drive 4 x (1920x1200), which = four WUXGA monitors.

RonS ran into some problems when the W510 came out, in that the DVI port on that was DVI-I(Lenovo being cheap) and therefore, wouldn't drive 2 x (1920x1200), so hooking up a Matrox splitter wasn't an option off of the DVI port for that level of support. I have no idea whether the W520 port is DVI-D, which would be required for driving two WUXGA monitors. Fortunately, on the W70x models, the DVI port -is- DVI-D, so it worked ok for me(I run a Triplehead2go Digital splitter off of my DVI port to drive two WUXGA monitors).