External Monitor and DVI Expresscard for T400

I am currently planning on buying a new Dell U2311H monitor when it goes on sale. In about 2 months (around SB launch), I also plan to be buying new desktop parts to go with it, but until then I am stuck with my T400 and its sole VGA port. I have heard that the image quality on external monitors connected to VGA can vary greatly, so I have the following questions.

1) Given that I will receive brand new desktop parts in a few months, is the general image quality of VGA output on this monitor bad enough to warrant investing in some sort of DVI extension?

2) If so, will using an expresscard cable like this be a viable solution? Or will I need to rely on the more expensive advanced mini dock?

 

Yeah, its not great. Jitter is generally a problem with high-resolution VGA. Ideally you'd go with a true DVI output.

Don't the T400's have DisplayPort? If they do, then just plug them through with DisplayPort? Or go with the proper dock setup.

That's not a video card, or even a video output. I can't even tell that thing is. You probably wouldn't want to rely upon that. Why not get a proper docking solution; they're not usually that expensive used on eBay.

 

I suppose that the dock does sound like the best option then since nobody seems to have a definitive about whether the expresscard method works.

I found a used one on ebay for about $40 but it does not come with an AC Adatper. Does a dock require a separate AC adapter, or is the one with the thinkpad sufficient? Sorry, I don't really know much about docks besides the fact that they add a bunch of extra ports.

 

It's an ExpressCard to connect your notebook to this: PCI Express to 4 Slot PCI Expansion System

It gives you a way to add 4 PCI cards as expansion hardware to your notebook via the ExpressCard. It is most definitely nothing you want, Bass. Given that you will eventually be building a desktop for it, a VGA connection will certainly be good enough. It won't be AS good as a digital connection, but you will only really be able to tell if you have them side-by-side and switch back and forth. A VGA->DVI/HDMI converter is not a cheap bit of hardware because it requires an active processor to convert the analog signal to a digital one. It will not be just a cable. It would be better to save your pennies for better computer parts.

 

Don't know how it works on the Thinkpads, but on my Dells (Latitude D-series and E-series), its the same AC adaptor used on the laptop, as it is on the dock.

That Expresscard using a DVI-like connector, IMHO, is a cruel joke. That most certainly will not work.

 

yes the advanced dock and advanced mini dock uses the same ac adapter (actually 90 watts version), this is common in all business grade laptops of various manufacturers.

 

no point in doing this...

your laptop is converting your digital frame buffer into an analog signal for VGA, then you convert VGA back to digital DVI/HDMI... any noise between these two conversions means your digital DVI/HDMI will suck

your monitor is an eIPS 1080p... VGA would probably be a little noticable if has interference(you can see the video signal flicker a little), but why don't you try it first before finding a dock?

just make sure you get a relatively high quality SHORT cable... ferrite cores at both ends to reduce noise, shorter cable for same reason

For only $2.79 each when QTY 50+ purchased - 3FT SVGA Super VGA M/M Monitor Cable w/ ferrites (Gold Plated) | SVGA Male/Male Cables w/ ferrites



and yes, eIPS >>>>>>>> TN so much... i have one of each side by side, the eIPS one is so much better(Dell 2209WA vs a no-name V7 TN)

 

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone.

In the end, I purchased a Dell U2211H for $188 (I was hoping for the 23", but this was an awesome deal) and the advanced mini dock for $34.

I liked the suggestion for the gold ferrite vga cable, but in the end I chose the dock because the price was fairly good and the 2 months for a desktop computer is only an estimation at best, since my income is not exactly stable yet. So I thought I might as well make the most of my T400 first, as some of the other features of the dock besides the DVI port were nice (in particular, I am running low on USB ports).