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

i plug my 3rd monitor up with hdmi and there is nothing but a black screen, and when i go check displays it sees it but wont let me do anything with it. if i extend i can drag my mouse well beyond the main screen but there is nothing showing up on the monitor, i just get my neutral orange light on it. is there a difference between an hdmi cable now and past? the cable im using is from a couple year ago. i thought this would all be pnp, didn't expect to have this issue. hope i can figure it out...

 

The HDMI cable might not be fully seated in the HDMI port. The thickness of the chassis is such that a cable with a fraction shallow tip on it will not reach deep enough, so it does not work. A cable that has been used extensively may stop working if the tip compresses into the plastic body around it.

You can trim away plastic from the tip to help it seat better. It's easy with an X-acto knife or razor blade.

This works well for me. Here is an example to show what I am talking about.

 

are you trying to use VGA at the same time with HDMI and DP ?
to get 3 monitor with m18x, you can go only all "digital" meaning you can only use the hdmi and dp + the laptop monitor...

you can't mix VGA analog output with hdmi and dp ...
if you do not plug anything in the vga and use the HDMI right click on desktop and be sure that windows as not disabled the hdmi output there....

 

Hmmm. I'd say that if HDMI was working fine beforehand, your problem probably lies with the amount of monitors you are trying to run off the various ports. If you have Nvidia cards, I think the maximum number of displays is 2 external and the internal, without additional adapters. If you intend running 3 externals, you would probably need something like this: Matrox TripleHead2Go DisplayPort | Multi-Monitors for Laptops

Have a read through this thread, it is very informative regarding multiple displays:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m18x/575323-m18x-multiple-monitors.html

 

Hello guys) Have some questions which might interest others as well...

1) According to Nvidia webpage, gtx780m is capable to output 4k resolution through mini displayport. But does modern TV's support mini displayport? I guess we'll have to stick to HDMI 1.4 which is capable in running 4k res but at 30fps, correct?
2) How many monitors can Alienware 18 run at the same time and at what resolution? Without using any external adapters
3) Is it possible to do a 3d vison surround on 3x120Hz screens? In the past through HDMI it was possible to run external 3D monitor at 720p resolution, if i'm not mistaken

Tnx beforehand, i'll really appreciate your help :thumbsup:

 

Mini displayport is just displayport with a smaller connector size (like USB and mini USB) so you can just use a mini-dp to dp cable.

 

Alienware m18x R3 can only drive 1 external display + it's internal 18" screen or 2 x external screen with internal screen disable.

That should answer all the other questions as you can't run 3 screens from an mobile Nvidia graphics card.

 

The following link shows DP resolutions.
DisplayPort - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
3D is another story. the only 120 Hz. 3D is NVidia proprietary and needs DVI dual channel and is not supported on the m series in surround. The HDMI and displayport versions default to the 3D TV standard, basically 720p.at 60 hz (30fps per eye) or 1080p @ 30 or 24 fps.

 

Oops: 10 chars

 

So what's the best 3x screen external device option currently?

 

I would say TripeHead2Go DisplayPort Edition for 3 screens + the laptop internal screen. The maximum resolution there is 1920 x 1080 x 3.

Ice

 

Tnx so much for the heads up, guys) everyone +repped!!! Also, as far as i understand it's possible to drive a 4k TV trought HDMI at 30Hz and 4k Monitor at 60Hz using display port, correct?

 

Is there anything which can do 1920 x 1200 x3?

 

I don't think it's possible on the new M 18. Even with the Matrox product, it limits it to 3 x 1920x1080 vs anythingx1200. Please update if anyone knows of a new/better possible option.

 

Actually, with the 2 ports that the M 18 has (HDMI and Displayport), could you have 1 port go to an external monitor directly and the display port going to a DualHead2Go Digital SE?

Matrox DualHead2Go Digital SE | Multi-Monitors for Laptops

Need to read more.

 

no it can't, you can't do it with a matirx head either. The maxtrix heads don't go above 3840x1200. Are you talkin about gaming at 7680 x 1920?

here is a pretty good review that shows fps at 5760x1080. GeForce GTX Titan 3-way SLI and Multi monitor review - 5760x1080 Multi-Monitor gaming

 

The (notebook) "m" series GPU's from NVidia do not support 3D surround.

You can have 3 monitors 2 external and the Internal monitor in 2D extended mode for windows applications, but not games. I do this all the time when working, but alas no gaming. You can designate an external monitor (TV) as primary which allows you to play on the large screen. I do this regularly. I prefer using the DP+ port with a DP to HDMI converter cable. The plug is easier to use in the notebook.

I have read that ATI eyeinfinity is supported on the 7k series but I have no experience with this.

 

Someone on widescreen gaming forum claimed that Mviewtech release Displayport Version Multi-Monitor adapter and Edge Blending device -±ßÔµÈÚºÏ-ÉϺ£´óÊÓµç×ӿƼ¼ÓÐÏÞ¹«Ë¾|´¿Ó²¼þ±ßÔµÈÚºÏ|Ö÷¶¯Á¢Ìå±ßÔµÈÚºÏ|¶àÆÁ±¦|ÈýÆÁ±¦|ËÄÆÁ±¦|ÎåÆÁ±¦|ÁùÆÁ±¦|´¿Ó²¼þ¼¸ºÎУÕýÄ£¿é-http://www.mviewtech.com these units can but like all Internet forums produce no proofs. I'm happy with 1920 x 1080 x 3 for now.

Waiting to see if the AMD version m18x r3 can support MST Multi stream transport v 1.2 Club3D Releases DisplayPort Splitter For EyeFinity Setups. That should solve some of your questions.

Triple Monitor 4K: Gaming at 1.5 Billion Pixels Per Second - Tested

Ice

 

If you have got m18x r1 or 2, consider an Egpu
DIY eGPU experiences [version 2.0]

Ice

 

I find it odd that the M18X has the screen limitations with it being able to run in dedicated only mode, in optimus mode it would be limited by the intel graphics.

 

Actually there is one product out there with a 780M which can support 3d surround.

 

So just confirming, for Windows applications (I'm thinking a Pro Tools setup here specifically), you can run 2 external monitors plus the laptops own screen with an Nvidia powered M18?

 

Both solution can only drive 2 monitors or 1 external monitor + 1 18" Laptop Screen. Limitations on the Intel HD 4000 is that it is capable of drive 3 screens if the motherboard has 2 displayports which the alienware m18x R1 - R3 doesn't have.

If you have an m18x or m18x with Nvidia chipset, the please try and confirm this finding. Perhaps you might get a different result than mine. Im currently running 4 screens on my alienware m18x R2 with a triplehead2go setup.

Ice

 

The Matrox TripleHead2Go DisplayPort Edition can and works in 5760 x 1080 at 50Hz as confirmed by this: Matrox Graphics - Support - GXM Compatibility List

Any higher resolution would require and external GPU and require, some sort of multimonitor capable Graphics Card such as Nvidia 660Ti and ExpressCard slot on the m18x R1 - R2.

Ice

Note: If you are looking at Intel HD 4000, then you might be able to run 3 screens including the laptop screen provided the Nvida Graphics is switched off. So the Nvidia is now useless in this scenario.

 

Here's someone using the TripleHead2Go with the new 18.
Gaming setup with TH2G and Alienware 18 - triple monitor gaming - YouTube

The Dell 2412 is a 1920x1200 monitor...Maybe it's possible to get 4 screens active since it looks like his Alienware 18 screen is working too (lit).

 

Yes including the internal screen, you get 4 screens in total. Thats what I'm running on my m18x r2. The matrox triplehead2go can't go over 1920 x 1080 on 3 screens.

Ice

 

Does that mean he's actually using the Dell 2412 at 1920x1080 then? If you didn't need to use the laptop screen, could you just buy the DualHead2Go, plug in the mini-display port to the DualHead2Go, then plug the hdmi to another monitor? I don't have the screens yet, but a dream of mine to get 3 displays.

 

that's the highest resolution available from the Matrox box [ http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/products/gxm/th2go/displayport/ even though the screens can do higher resolution. As far as Nvidia Graphics Card is concern, they only support 2 monitors so if you disable the 18" laptop display, you should be able to hook up another monitor. I haven't tried that as the m18x LCD is big enough for me.

Ice

 

displayport on new 18 should be able to drive 3 monitors through pass-through on the display port tech if the monitors have it too.

 

How do you disable and re-enable the internal screen?

 

you know when you drag around the monitor you want to use, and you select which is which i.e use monitor x and builtin or etc.. in control panel's display setting/appearance or NVidia control panel.. there is where you enable/disable. just the usual you know.

 

Is there a way to change the color temperature of a laptop screen like on desktop screens?

 

mmmm ive had 2x external monitors going with my lappys screen going just fine

 

Hello all,

I have done some searching here but can't seem to find a thread with definitive answers. I am aware of the Matrox Triplehead2Go adapter, but wondering if there is any way to get a 3 external monitor setup without it?? Possibly using an HDMI to dual DVI adapter for 2 and the mini DP to DP adapter for 3rd? Just wondering before I buy 3 monitors and triple monitor stand.

Thanks all in advance.

Brad

M18X R2 3840qm - 680SLI - 32 GB Corsair Vengeance 1866 - 2 X Corsair Force 3 SSD's Raid 0 + HGST 1TB HDD - Bluray reader/DVD burner - Killer wireless - Win 8.1 - Intel BT 4.0

 

This was recently discuss here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...-sorta-like-nvidia-surround-just-adapter.html

 

Hi all,

I sold my old m18x last year and want to get one of the new 18's next year. From the specs I've read, there's only 1 HDMI port... Can you use the HDMI and display port to power two separate monitors?

My larger concern is that I want dual 4k monitors, and a single HDMI port can't even power a single monitor at this point... So I'm guessing I would need 2 HDMI's and the display port... Or two display ports?

 

My larger concern would be trying to run two 4k monitors - full stop. That's an awful lot of GPU power you would need if trying to run that kind of setup and I don't think the 18 - even with top of the line hardware - would be able to provide an enjoyable gaming experience at such a high resolution.

 

No idea on the 4k screens, but I use 2 external monitors right now via the mini-display port and the HDMI port as well as the laptop screen (3 screens total). I wanted to push 3 external screens daisy-chaining the display port capable monitors, but don't have the $$ to buy the more expensive monitors yet.

 

Well, I would only need one monitor for gaming... I'm certain the Alienware 18 couldn't handle two for gaming, even after next year's refresh. But I would like two for work (even though I could get buy with one there as well, if I had too).

Okay, well that's good news at least... hopefully HDMI can support the 60Hz buy the time I'm ready to pull the trigger. Then I'd be able to do the same thing w/ 4k monitors.

 

The only output that will drive 4k will be the displayport.

 

Perhaps for now, but HDMI 2.0 will allow a single HDMI port to transmit to 4k... Either way, I suspect we're still at least a year away from the 4k renaissance I'm looking forward to.

 

It's too bad that HDMI is still playing catch-up.

BSN* Exclusive: DisplayPort 1.3 to Support 8K and 4K 3D - Bright Side Of News*

 

4k 3d, that is going to need some SERIOUS horsepower to drive.

 

No kidding, talk about being on the bleeding edge.

 

It will work with lower res monitors but the 2x 4k monitors will struggle to work in anything that's not production.

 

Each 4k monitor will want its own displayport to work, even DP1.2 "only" has enough bandwidth to support one 4k monitor.

 

Ok, so im on the DIY project, want to get two additional LCD's connected to my M18XR2, one would be trough HDMI-OUT and other would be trough miniDP port, so impressions are that I should be able to run 3 monitors at the same time?

main 18.4" monitor plus two external monitors of 1200p resolution (which I guess would be down-ressed to 1080p resolution to support 3 monitor mode if I'm correct?)

Want people to chime in who has tried it or knows for fact if it works or not... otherwise all opinions will be appreciated.

PS: im not looking in setting this up for gaming, just multi screen desktop setup for various multitasking runs etc. Screens I would be getting connected would be 1200p 95% RGB screens from M17XR2 laptops btw.

Thanks

 

I believe it will pull 4 most Kepler pull 4 so in other words your gonna pull 3 with what your doing right now I can certainly double check that it pulls 4 my 780M pulls 4 and most Keplers do

Ahhhh I see why Your asking now XD it doesn't say on the nvidia website...but yes most if not all kelpers from 6xxs and up pull 4 if not you can always ask if accountable the other 680M to help

 

how do you get four monitors from M18XR1/R2 ? do you use some sort of splitter for miniDP port or what? I cant imagine more than 2 extra monitors connected to my M18XR2 due to output port "limitations" ... unless there's something Im unaware of... thanks for the input!

 

1 VGA @ 1080p
1 DP @ 1080p
1 HDMI @ 1080p
1 Laptop display @ 1080p

4 monitors

VGA supports a lot higher then 1080p so it is possible I think it ends at like a low 2k resolution