Duplicate Display?

I have a M11XR3 that I got from Dell/Alienware last summer. I've just started to travel with it a bit more, and have tried a few times to "Duplicate Display" with a DP2VGA cable.

Everything works except duplication. I called Dell and, of course, they said it was designed that way and it can't be done.

I can't fathom a laptop that cannot duplicate it's display. Is this the case?

I would think that if it were an issue, it would be all over these forums. Dell said that because it had two graphic cards, it cannot display the same thing across two monitors.

 

That doesn't seem right. I'm certain I duplicated the display successfully on my old R2.

 

The dell guy, and again, level1 dell guy, said that it was due to the fact that when you hook up the external monitor, the NVIDIA card grabs that, while the intel card is still driving the laptop LCD.

Seems kind of limiting if you ask me, just thought I would get all of your's feedback.

 

Through HDMI I am duplicating my display as we speak. I didn't even need to set anything it just is duplicated as default. You can easily select how you want it to display in the screen resolution option.

I dont know if the displayport is different however maybe it is just an output and cannot do the same.

 

Yiddo,

Can you share what adapter you purchased? I'd love to get this working so I don't have to travel with a 15inch 6lb thinkpad.

 

I am just using a HDMI out cable from the HDMI port into my TV.

Right click the desktop. Connect to a projector. Select duplicate. Should work.

 

I just remembered, I did for a fact have the display duplicated. I had and HDMI to DVI adapter and a DisplayPort to DVI adapter and both of them worked. It could have something to do with your cable. Maybe try a different cable.

 

You can have two external screens so you can definetely have a duplicate display.

It may need to be run through HDMI to do so though I am not sure if the displayport next to it can.

 

I think i see the issue.

HDMI to HDMI works. HDMI to DVI works. DP2VGA or HDMI to VGA is not going to work because thats a digital to analog conversion.

Maybe the dell guy was right. There's no way to duplicate your display with a VGA signal.

 

I have a hard time believing that. I may be able to look into this. I'll ask around.

But I can confirm that DisplayPort to DVI duplicates just fine.

 

So, has anyone actually been able to duplicate an M11Xr3 to an external monitor OR projector with a Display Port to VGA cable?

 

I did some googling and evidently it's a common problem with DP to VGA adapters. Some work, some don't. Either try a different cable or find an HDMI to VGA adapter.

 

I have a DP to VGA adapter for my R2, and my experience with it is that it works some of the time. Some times I would plug the adapter in and the external monitor would be dark with artifacting lines. After several plug/unplug retries I would usually get it to work. That in addition to Win Key + P or the Fn Switch, would eventually get the monitor working, but it was a hassle and I don't recommend it.

Also, anytime the PC would undergo graphics switch from Integrated -> Discrete or vice-versa (using Optimus) the display would sometimes revert from functioning to black with artifact lines on it.

Save yourself the trouble.

 

So have you found a way to duplicate the display to a projector... for presentations or "demos" perhaps?

 

I'll ask a completely unrelated question in this thread. Does the MX14 (i know, this isn't the MX14 forum) have the same issue?

I tried to ask in the MX14 forum, but apparently, it's cross posting or some such nonsense.

 

I would primarily use the adapter to be able to use the external monitor instead of the laptop screen, but I believe that the duplication of the screen worked as well. One thing to note is that the external monitor's resolution would be set to that of the smaller laptop screen (1366x768) so everything would look larger and not as crisp. For most projectors I would assume that this is fine.

 

some of this will depend on what you connect to also