W520 problem with projector over VGA

[MCheiron]

Hi,

I was wondering if anybody had problems connecting a projector to the VGA port?

I received my W520 (with the 1000M Nvidia) 2 days ago and tried to hook it up to our projector today. The only mode that works is "projector only". When using "extended", only the projector shows the desktop, when using "duplicate", the W520 screen shows the desktop for 2-3 seconds in the lower resolution of the projector, but with fast moving color changing horizontal stripes. In the meantime, the projector flickers a couple of times, and then the screen goes back to the last working configuration. That is all battery only. I haven't tried it while connected to power.

Did I get a laptop with bad a bad graphics card?

Thanks for your help,

MCheiron

[MCheiron]

Actually, I found a thread in the Lenovo forum about this issue. It seems it is caused by the Intel HD graphics chip that creates some strange third monitor that does not really exists. The only way so far to solve the problem, is to use the Nvidia Control Panel and manually assign the projector to the Nvidia card. Here is the thread for more information:

Lenovo Support Forum

If you found a different more convinient solution, please let me know.

Thanks, MCheiron

[MCheiron]

Hi all,

Here are my finding from today:

Intel HD only:
"extended": does not work, laptop screen shows discoloration, stripes, low resolution, there is a second "standard screen" visible in the Nvidia controll panel that is turned on as well
"duplicate": does not work, laptop screen shows discoloration, stripes, low resolution, there is a second "standard screen" visible in the Nvidia controll panel that is turned on as well
"projector only" : does not work, laptop screen shows discoloration, stripes, low resolution
"computer only": works as assumed

Nvidia only:
everything works

Optimus:
"extended" works
"duplicate" does not work, laptop screen shows discoloration, stripes, low resolution, there is a second "standard screen" visible in the Nvidia controll panel under the Intel HD card
"projector only", I forgot that setting
"computer only", works

Maybe that helps somebody, since you can see that you can only duplicate your screen while running Nvidia only. It would be great, if we could turn Optimus on and off with a little program and not have to restart. If anybody has some additional input, please let me know.

Thanks, MCheiron