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    2 Monitors + Laptop Screen (M17x & Matrox)

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by WaR, Nov 28, 2009.

  1. WaR

    WaR Notebook Virtuoso

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    I am making a new thread for Question 1 (and perhaps 2, and 3 if you feel like answering)

    OK, that was my original post. Let me go further on the issue on Question 1.

    I downloaded the Matrox Tool to see if my system would work with this thing.

    [​IMG]

    Now, I am thinking the DualHead2Go will work. As you can see above it says it supports 1920x1200 x 2. Meaning I can hook up 2 1920x1200 external monitors as long as the refresh rate is 58Hz? It says my driver is valid, so I wouldn't need to use the Matrox driver which is a huge plus. I am on 186.82 btw.

    Are my assumptions correct? What else am I missing here?
     
    WaR, Nov 28, 2009
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  2. WaR

    WaR Notebook Virtuoso

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    Questions just keep piling up here. Now, if the GTX 260m Nvidia site lists a max resolution of 2048x1536, how come the DualHead2Go utility tells me it can max at 3840x1200 with my driver?

    Also, how would someone go and set a refresh rate of 58Hz? Only 59Hz and 60Hz are available...


    Edit: OK. I would only need to get 1080 monitors (I wouldn't mind) and then the refresh required would be 60Hz, which is more doable.

    [​IMG]

    Edit 2: I am having a problem I have read elsewhere. You can't set a refresh rate of 60 Hz. It always goes back to 59 Hz. I hope this is not an issue if I try to hook up 2 external monitors to it that have a required refresh rate of 60 Hz according to the Matrox tool. Anyone know how to make it stay on 60 Hz, or it wouldn't matter?

    Edit 3: I figured out the max resolution issue. It was some silly assumption on my part. The Nvidia site lists 2048x1536 as the max resolution but this is where DualHead2Go comes in. The 260m (and the 280m in fact) only needs to output a resolution of (max) 1920x1200 (which is less than the max listed at the Nvidia site) since DualHead2Go will be the one to double it and send it to the other monitor. As far as Nvidia is concerned it thinks it's pushing out a 1920x1200 when in fact you see 1920x1200 x 2 thanks to the Matrox adapter.

    Refresh stuck at 59 Hz is still unsolved though. I hope this doesn't affect the setup. I'm just trying to get all the info right before plunging in.

    Edit 4: Thinking more reasonably now. I would need about $600 (at least) for my desired setup and a lot of tweaks. Even then, it would be hit or miss with many applications. So I will not be pursuing this option anymore. I could get a large HDTV cheaper and mount it on top of my M17x. Less hassle, less connections, less everything. Excellent results.

    I will let this thread die. I now believe dual monitors on a laptop are overrated.

    Right now I'm going to BestBuy and check out some HDTV dimensions ;)
     
    WaR, Nov 28, 2009
    #2