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    Docking station for M1210?

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by ss_blake, May 7, 2007.

  1. ss_blake

    ss_blake Notebook Consultant

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    Does anyone know if Dell makes a docking station for the M1210 that supports the notebooks internal video card?

    The expresscard options offerered on the Dell website (Belkin and Targus docking stations) do not support the notebooks internal GPU. Since you are forced to use the docking stations' measly 2MB graphics card (!), video output is pretty much useless (i.e. cannot even use Windows Aero)

    I am interested in a docking station that will allow the Dell M1210 GPU (NVidia) to run both the notebook monitor and the external/DVI monitor. Is this possible?
     
    ss_blake, May 7, 2007
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  2. s4iscool

    s4iscool Notebook Deity

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    none that i know of...what advantages are you looking for with a dvi connection over the VGA?
     
    s4iscool, May 7, 2007
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  3. PCModifiers

    PCModifiers Notebook Consultant

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    Best bet though its not exactly what you want, is to get a VGA (Male) to DVI (Female) converter Like this one. Not pure digital I know, but the best you can do from an analog output.
     
    PCModifiers, May 7, 2007
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  4. s4iscool

    s4iscool Notebook Deity

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    i cant see that doing a single thing to improve performance
     
    s4iscool, May 8, 2007
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  5. PCModifiers

    PCModifiers Notebook Consultant

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    It doesn't improve performance, it outputs the laptop's display to a external LCD monitor. Isn't that what this thread is all about?
     
    PCModifiers, May 8, 2007
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  6. ss_blake

    ss_blake Notebook Consultant

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    Is there any docking station (preferably expressport) that supports even VGA output to an external display using the laptop's internal GPU?

    EX. plug the laptop into the docking station, and video will passthru from the laptop video card to an external monitor connected to the docking station VGA output? I note the Dell D-Family advance port replicator would fit the bill, but their website states it only works with the XPS M1710. Will this also work with a XPS M1210?

    http://accessories.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=ca&l=en&s=dhs&cs=cadhs1&sku=310-8555
     
    ss_blake, Jun 10, 2007
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  7. PhoenixFx

    PhoenixFx Notebook Virtuoso

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    No, that won’t work because M1210 doesn’t have a docking port.
    Why don’t you use a DVI adapter like PCModifiers suggested, to connect an external monitor? Quality difference is almost negligible.
     
    PhoenixFx, Jun 10, 2007
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  8. ss_blake

    ss_blake Notebook Consultant

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    I guess that would be an option, but I will be docking several times a day. So I will be plugging and unplugging the video cable a lot - hopefully the connectors wont wear out.

    For other accessories, I guess a USB docking station is the only option (ex external keyboard, USB devices, sound)?
     
    ss_blake, Jun 10, 2007
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