R500 and digital audio

[tbrychcy]

Hi All.

I wonder how to get connected the R500 with amplifier, so that to get digital audio from the laptop. Do you have any ideas how to deal with it? The laptop has only D-PORT with no audio.

One of my ideas is to dock the laptop with advanced mini dock station and get the audio from the dock via SPDIF. But I am not sure if I can use D-PORT when the laptop is docked.

Appreciate any help solving this.

Regards,
Tomek

[dr_st]

What is this D-Port you mention? I am not familiar with the name.

SPDIF on the dock is pretty much the only solution, save for an external PC Card / ExpressCard / USB sound card.

[tbrychcy]

Thanks for your immediate response.

D-PORT is Display Port. Do you have any clear information regards my doubts?

regards,
Tomek

[dr_st]

I never tried it, but everything I know dictates that you should be able to use DP when docked. But since it doesn't pass audio (and it doesn't), what prevents you from using DVI?

[tbrychcy]

The answer is below:

ThinkPad R500 (15.4-inch wide)
Note: Integrated graphics models support all docking functions except DVI-D (digital) Pass-Through

If I understood this properly it means that after docking laptop with integrated graphics (the one I have) I will not be able to use the DVI, is not?

Tomek

[dr_st]

Yes, you are right.

Docking should not have any effect on the ability to output DisplayPort, but I cannot be 100% sure.

[tbrychcy]

hmm, is it possible to get the answer in 100% on the forum.thinkpads web site?

Thanks for your help.

Tomek