Alienware M18xR1/R2/18 External Monitor Discussion Thread - Ask Questions/Find Solutions Here

If you only have one GPU (a 560M), can you only power one external screen?

 

Don't mean to Necro,
But I Run the m18x screen, and a 30" on the Mini-DP (converter to D-Link DVI), and HDMI to a 24".

Only Issue I ever have is sometimes the 30" won't show immediately after waking the computer from sleep. (reconnect and it works).

Other than that, It runs flawlessly.

 

Just re-read this whole thread. So from the info here, it sounds like to get 3 "External" screens, you have to use AMD Eyefinity? Dual GTX 580M can't do Surround Vision for 3 screens at this time?

Also, looking at the specs for the Matrox TripleHead2Go DP, it looks like you can only do 3x 1920x1080. If I wanted to do 3x 1920x1200, would AMD Eyefinity still work?

Just doing some long term thinking/planning for my future upgrade and thanks for any help.

 

Hey everyone! Im running 2 externals along with my internal monitor. I got a mini DP to DP cable and that works great. The monitors im on have 1 VGA, 1 DVI (which is taken already) and 1 DP. I bought an HDMI to DP cable, HDMI connector on one end, DP on the other, and that did not work at all. It didnt pickup the monitor. So I need something for my HDMI out on my m18x to go into the DP in my monitor. Any suggestions?

 

Read through the thread but didn't find an answer, but I'm hoping I can.

M18x with single NVidia GTX 560M wondering if I can drive 2 external Samsung S27A850D, with laptop monitor off (ie I only want the 2 external screens on).

This way I can tuck the laptop away (with lots of air circulation for cooling) when using it in my office as I really got it for a desktop replacement when I travel (I'm a coder, not a gamer).

Thanks

 

You can try this (already posted here): http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m18x/575323-m18x-multiple-monitors-4.html#post7905881

 

hey guys im thinking to start using dual monitors but ive never done this before
and was wondering what are the things i should have before starting? and where should i connect the wires to etc.. as i said i have never done this before and afraid of doing something wrong

 

As in your M18x screen plus one monitor?

You don't need to do anything special, you just need a monitor that will take a VGA or HDMI cable, and set it to "extend" your display, and you'll be able to use both monitors.

Gaming on 2 monitors is different and I'm not entirely sure how it works. I find it incredibly useful for school, I'll usually put all my notes/research on the 32" TV in my room, and type on the built in screen.

*edit: It's Fn-F6 to extend the display.

 

the part im confused in is the cable part is there like 1 for sound, and one for video? or do i have to use only one cable for all

 

The sound should still come out of the M18x. If the monitor or TV has speakers you'd rather use then as long as the connection is HDMI you should be able to change which speakers to use by going to "Sound" in the control panel.

If it's a VGA connection, you use the VGA cable for video, and the Headphone jack for sound.

 

thanks alot

 

sry to bring up the old thread. was wondering, whether M18x able to hook up a 120Hz LCD monitor(Samsung S27A950) with 120hz refresh rate?

 

Yes, it can. So can the M17x R2.

 

Just a heads up, 2 externals plus built in works with ATI cards, only 2 at a time though with GTX 580m's

 

so you can only run 2 external or internal and one external on the m18x with dual nvidia 580's

can someone please post the mini hdmi cable they are using that has worked for them! it would be good if we could get a list of parts that work that people could just look at and be able to order

Regards

 

No Mini HDMI needed. It is a standard HDMI output. And that is assuming you have SLI enabled. Disabling SLI allows 3 monitors

 

Now if only someone made 18" monitors at 1080p. This brings back memories of my failed attempt at this setup with my old M17x-R2:

Spoiler

​

 

Just incase anyone wants the proof of 3 externals running, I now run all 3 as individual, and as eyefinity (6990's)


I have video of eyefinity running, just can't upload via tappatalk. I'll do an upload if anyone requires

 

I've just done like 5 hours of searching through forums looking for ways to connect my m18x 580m sli to 3 monitors and have come to the conclusion there is no nvidia surround vision for it or any solution without some sort of part. I have finally come up with a second solution of adding a USB display adapter ( USB to dvi around 55$ or so much cheaper then the triple head to go or any others like it at 400$). I have absolutely no idea how these work or if adding this to my laptop will make the extension to the third screen. If anyone has a clue of how these work or if they think this will work please let me know. Fyi it would be used for multi screen gaming. Thanks for anyone's help.

 

You can get one of those adapters and you'll be able to have 3 monitors. The performance will not be exactly the same on the USB monitor, but it's alright. However you will not be able to game on all 3. I used to have a similar setup with dual 4870's. I had 2 external monitors: one via usb-to-dvi, one via VGA, and the internal laptop screen. See here

I don't have that setup anymore, but make sure the device you get accepts up to 1920x1200 (or 1080p) resolutions. Unless you plan on connecting a low res monitor to the the usb-to-dvi adapter.

 

I wouldn't recommend using a DisplayLink USB to DVI adapter unless it is a USB 3.0 version which is supposed to suport 3D gaming. However, that said, I have incompatibility problems with my AMD 7970m drivers that caused black screens when gaming and watching DVDs. The problems disappeared once I uninstalled the DisplayLink drivers. I don't know if these incompatibility problems occur with NVidia drivers.

DisplayLink: Technology for USB adapters, USB universal docking stations and USB monitors for laptops, notebooks, personal computers and Mac OSX

 

I have looked into it and not even usb 3.0 will be able to keep up so those are out. I have another question I was wondering if any of the mobile gpus in sli even support nvidia surround (2d) or if anything I try is basically not going to work. Has even 1 person got 3 monitors working with nvidia at the same time???? I have found that in custom resolutions you can change all the settings so the resolution, refresh rate AND sync polarity are all the same. I have bought an active mini display port to dvi to test if this will trigger the surround option to come on ( haven't received the item yet ). So far I haven't even seen the option yet with the hdmi and vga connected.

 

Follow on where I got so far. I messaged nvidia customer support. They basically told me that there's only a maximum of 2 displays that can be used at one time with mobile gpu's in sli or not. I asked if the displaylink type adapter would work with a response that it wouldn't and nothing will work. I have just givin up on the idea entirely. I would have assumed since nvidia cost more then amd that there software would at least support a feature like this. I would have chosen 6990m's over 580m's if I had the choice again. I have not bothered trying and of the other devices like maxtor dual/triple head 2 go hardware becuase it just tells the computer its one long display and would not work with the laptop display in games. Using the triple head 2 go might work but I'm not forking out $400 for the device plus extra screens.

My only hope for the future is that they add nvidia surround for mobile gpu's.... Not holding my breath tho.

 

I was looking on Nvidia's website and I do not see Nvidia Surround as one of the supported technologies even with the 680m. This is disappointing, I expect to have everything included in their top end cards especially in SLI. I know it is possible since AMD is allowing eyefinity on their mobile cards. I thought it was a neat thing to have when I had the 6990s. Oh well...

 

To all nvidia Alienware owners, have you tried matrox triplehead2go? We should be able to run 3 external screens + laptop screen.

Ice

One more question. How many External monitors with the gtx 680m SLI support simultaneously?

Im thinking of changing my mover.

 

Is it possible to do 3 30 inch Apple Cinema displays with the ATI cards? 2560x1600?

 

I have the M18x R2 with dual 7970M's. I'm trying to run 2 external monitors and internal at the same time. I'm using a mini display to HDMI and the VGA to VGA , but it will only let me use 1 external monitor. Any ideal why or how I could fix this? I don't need eyefinity just 3 separate screens. I know i have seen it done online in videos so i don't know why mine will not allow it. Any help is greatly appreciated! here is a screen shot of what it says when I connect the third and try to apply the settings.

Spoiler

 

Can you use 2 external monitors without using the internal display?

 

I could but I don't want to. I want the 2 external monitor for multitasking. Here is a pic of my setup. Still in the progress of rearranging and hanging things, but gives you an idea of what i'm trying to do.

Spoiler

 

OK, good, but not good. I wasn't suggesting you should/should not want to, I was just curious if there was a problem with using 2 external monitors no matter what. So, the problem is you are limited to using only 2 out of the 3 available displays.

Seeing that glass of iced tea made me thirsty, LOL.

 

I have ordered a active mini display adapter to DVI to see if that makes it work. Amazon.com: Accell B087B-006B UltraAV Mini DisplayPort to DVI-D Single-Link Active Adapter ATI Certified (Black): Electronics I read some previous post about having to have that to make it work, but there was never confirmation if it did. Mine will be here Tuesday and I will let everyone know for all the future people with the same question.

BTW.....That was a good glass of tea! Wife knows how to brew it! LOL

 

I run dual 2412m's from the M18x without any problems, don't know if I can run three or not as I don't have room on my desk for a third monitor. It's the setup in my avatar...

 

I believe with nvidia 680Ms you can run 3 externals and internal just fine. The 680M officially supports 4 active displays according to notebookcheck. One of the new features of the 600 series kepler cards was that they support an additional display to the 500 series. One of the great things about the m18x is the ability to bypass the igpu directly as optimus systems have issues sometimes utilizing the full kepler features due to the pass-through.

 

I have just received my m18x r2 with Nvidia GTX 675m SLI and Im currently running 3 screens from a Matrox TripleHead2Go on my existing Alienware m15x via an Ndivia GTX 260m. Hence Im interested if someone could confirm that the m680m could actually do that without the TripleHead2Go Setup...

Ice

 

Are you asking if you can run three...one with the HDMI, one with the Displayport and the other with the VGA?

 

The 680M should be capable of this

 

It is the lack of timers I though was the problem. That is why you have to use an active display port adapter for the third display being 2 externals and the internal. I wonder if there was a way to force the cards to use both sets of timers on the cards.

 

Yes plus the internal LCD monitor as well.

P

Anyone with proof? Photos?

 

Anyone? Please confirm...

 

I've seen examples of 3 external displays and don't see any reason why 2 external + internal display should not work.

Review: Three-screen GeForce GTX 680 vs. Radeon HD 7970

I haven't tried it, so I cannot tell you what settings to use. (I don't use an external display with the M18x... sorry I cannot provide any advice on this.)

 

Ok guys I got my active mini display adapter to DVI in yesterday and it works great! I also call AMD and asked them about it and they also confirmed that it has to have and active adapter to power anything past 2 monitors even though there are 3 ports on the side. If you only want 3 monitors, for the money and quality your best bet it this one I found on amazon for $31 and it’s ATI Eyefinity Validated by AMD. It is only a single active, but the price is good. The dual active adapters jump in price to the $80-$120 range. Let me know if you guys have any questions. I attached a link for the active adapter and a couple pictures below so you can see.
Amazon.com: Accell B087B-006B UltraAV Mini DisplayPort to DVI-D Single-Link Active Adapter ATI Certified (Black): Electronics

Spoiler

Spoiler

 

Problem is those are the desktop versions.

 

Problem solved... good job.

 

I'm going to order one tomorrow to see if it works with nvidia cards.

 

jlyons264, it has been a while since anyone posted before Grimy1 did today, but I am pretty such I remember seeing previous posts about that adapter (or similar model) and it should work fine. I think it will work out great regardless of which GPU is installed. Look forward to seeing how it goes.

 

Thanks for the effort guys. Keep it going

Ice

 

Anymore updates?

 

I current'y have a VGA connected monitor and a HDMI connected monitor. Even with the Nvidia settings to apply all monitors, I cannot get more then 2 displays to show up. I am surprised at this since these cards are more costly then the AMD counterpart. I wish it was available for the 580m setup :-/

 

you need an active display port adapter to have the 2 external and 1 internal monitors working at the same time...

 

What would that do for me? In the Nvidia Control panel, it says my GPU can only support two monitors :-/

So can you run Displayport and HDMI but not VGA and HDMI?