m15x + External monitor = ???

Ok so, call me slow, but today is the first day that I noticed that there is no VGA hookup on the m15x for an external monitor?

What options do I have now?
Is there an adapter from one of my outlets to VGA?

hdmi to vga?

anyhelp here would be great, thanks.

 

HDMI to VGA requires a rather costly adapter. from where i see it, you've got two options:

1) expresscard to VGA: http://www.villagetronic.com/vtbook/index.html
2) USB to VGA: http://www.vantecusa.com/front/product/view_detail/327

take your pick

 

thanx whizzo, what will give me better quality? and also I have this adapter that goes between the video card, and the VGA cables connecter, it changes something, I think, haha. Not sure if it is something like a component extension or something, but if so, should I look for a usb to it or something?

thanks

 

There should be HDMI to VGA, just that that's a HUGE down-conversion, no?

And USB to VGA is really slow.

 

how bout this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812189137

will that down convert?

 

thats dvi not vga. dvi is digital. vga is analog.

its not just one big downgrade. its converting digital signals to analog signals. its completely different.

 

but I have a DVI input on my monitor, so it should be good right? and no down conversion? right?

 

o you are talking about converting from HDMI to DVI or vice versa. Its not a problem then. HDMI is basically DVI with audio. Both of them are digital signals.

 

yeah, HDMI to DVI (or vice versa) is no big deal, since it's basically the same signal - DHMI just adds audio.

 

i want to get the express card but i dunno if my m15x has the slot for it.
there is a slot in the right hand side but it doesnt look like an express slot...
help please?

 

the slot on the right of your m15x is indeed an expresscard slot, compatible with both 34mm or 54mm cards. the villagetronic card should work just fine.

 

good deal, thanx for the help.

 

THANKS A LOT
really got me out of a pickle here ^^

im guessing steveninspokane got one for christmas too

 

always glad to help. oh and i think steven has had his m15x for a month or two now.

 

o skeen anyway i think ill settle for the usb converter sinec the express card is nearly 200 pounds... :S

 

yeah, it's pretty expensive. the vantec USB connector is pretty cheap imho, but it only supports resolutions up to 1440x900 IIRC. a well, better than nothing i guess.

 

i just want to add a touch screen monitor so play around with so resolution doesnt really matter
thanks again

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160307112356

will this work if i plug it in to my hdmi?

 

nope, wrong direction. that's VGA to HDMI, but you've already got an HDMI port, and no VGA

 

I use an HDMI to DVI on my external monitor and it works a charm but it doesnt work with the lid of the M15X closed, do u know if the M15X can operate with its lid closed?

 

i think you have to change some of the power settings - go into your CC, click "Fusion" to open power settings, click on "quick settings" (top left), and then change "lid close" (or something like that) to "do nothing".

btw, this will only change the setting for your current power plan.

 

I would becareful though, if you are playing games and the lid is closed, it might cause the temps to raise above normal temps.

 

true. might damage the screen as well.

 

Better off leaving the lid open.

I do have a different question though, I have to flat panals, how would I go about using the laptop screen in the middle and the flat panals on each side, and having them all display different parts of the desktop, left middle and right.

 

well, you'll need either a USB or expresscard display connector, because the HDMI port will only run one screen. after you've hooked up all monitors, you need to set your OS to utilize "extended desktop" - you can find this if you right-click on your desktop, choose "adjust" (the bottom-most option), and then "display" (again at the very bottom). you should then see the appropriate options. if you use one of the aforementioned secondary display connectors, you might have to use the driver software included with these products to set up the display attached via this device.

 

So you can do it at the cost of down conversion.

 

probably. i don't think the USB/expresscard connectors support resolutions above 1440x900.

 

bah! ..............

 

just remembered you might be able use a Matrox box to run the monitors at full res. going by the website, you'd need to get the TripleHead2Go Digital Edition. alas, i don't know if you'll be able to use the two secondary displays individually, or if the Matrox adapter simply displays the same image on both monitors.

EDIT: linky -> http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/products/gxm/th2go/

 

this post made me facepalm.

sorry. it just did.

yeah. HDMI to DVI-D is good. buy the cable. you're set.

 

yup. DVI and HDMI is exactly the same signal - HDMI just throws in audio.

 

and theres no spilter or box you can add to allow for multiple connectins?

 

AHA, it seems the matrox triplehead will indeed allow you to run all the display separately:



so i guess the Matrox TripleHead2Go Digital Edition would do the trick for you.

 

thanks, but not for 200 bucks it wont.

 

yep, they're not cheap. i guess you'll have to make do with one additional monitor then

 

maybe theres just a dual head

 

there is, but that'll only accept VGA (analog) input IIRC.

 

well. the DVI standard has analog, and two digital monitor streams, HDMI has one digitial and one HD audio (coaxial equiv. (I think)).

so yeah, the differences are minor.

Edit: I think I hurt my face when I palm'd it...

 

There are other alternatives, though, particularly if you use multiple computers. There's actually a nifty program by the name of Synergy which will let you use a single mouse and keyboard across multiple computers/multiple desktops/multiple operating systems. So if you have a desktop you'd like to use as a secondary system, but have it (at some level) act like a single system, you can use that.

Another alternative would be (once again, with a secondary system, although this could be a weaker one) to use something like remote desktop to spawn another session on your main machine, and have your secondary system continually logged into your primary system.

Just some alternate thoughts on other ways you might be accomplish your goals.

 

I know I'm a little late, but DO NOT GET THAT CARD IF YOU HAVE AN m15x.

That is NOT an express card, it's a PC Card, something that hasn't been in an AW laptop for years

 

Wait hold up... let me find you something...

 

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10419&cs_id=1041902&p_id=2080&seq=1&format=2

then

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...d=1041903&p_id=2396&seq=1&format=1#largeimage

I know it's sloppy but that may work. I'll keep looking in the mean time.

EDIT!
Yea if you have DVI on your monitor just buy the first cable then buy a DVI cable and you're good. HDMI "equals" DVI (minus sound)

 

so I need something that connects to one hdmi output and goes into 2 dvi inputs

 

I don't think that would work, because that would end up being a splitter (signal duplication). I don't believe an HDMI cable can carry multiple video signals.

 

yeah, that this is cardbus.... that thing is PCMCIA man.... that hasn't been the standard for a while now...

good catch

no, HDMI only supports a single display output. something like the TripleHead2Go, will push two inputs into a single signal (expanding the display across them both... basically reassigning pixels past a certain X co-ordinate to a different physical display) ....

one HDMI will only out put one video signal.

for dual output display you'd need to have an external splitter like the triplehead2go... or use your laptop's display as the secondary.

Some forum members have their laptop as the primary display with an HDMI to DVI-D connection to an external display going as well. works well. some software configuration is needed to make it work proper.