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    Driving 2 external screens

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by fred2028, May 25, 2012.

  1. fred2028

    fred2028 Sexy member

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    I want to drive 2 external 24" 1080p monitors from my Alienware M14x laptop. I have VGA, DisplayPort, and HDMI. The 2 screens should be showing different things (i.e. not duplicates). Is there a way to do this? For example, can I buy an HDMI or VGA splitter?

    I am open to options where my laptop screen could also be used and also where it can't.
     
    fred2028, May 25, 2012
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  2. JRS

    JRS Notebook Guru

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    You do not need nor want a splitter if you want to extend the displays.

    Right click on your desktop and select "screen resolution" and the "Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization\Display\Screen Resolution" window should display. You should see two three monitor icons, one for each external monitor and one for your laptop. You probably can only run any two of them at once. Change the "Multiple Displays" drop-down to from "Duplicate these displays" to "Extend these displays".
     
    JRS, May 25, 2012
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  3. fred2028

    fred2028 Sexy member

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    So it WOULD be possible with an M14x?
     
    fred2028, May 25, 2012
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  4. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    A total of 3 screens, nope (well without a USB adapter that is), but dual screen, totally, hook one up via HDMI and the other via VGA for example. Set windows to extend desktop on those two monitors and you're all set. I haven't run into a laptop with two video out that couldn't do two external screens simultaneously.
     
    tijo, May 25, 2012
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  5. JRS

    JRS Notebook Guru

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    You might be able to run all three displays if one is a display port capable monitor connected with a display port cable. It would depend on the GPU involved. You should contact Dell and/or look into the specifics of your GPU.
     
    JRS, May 25, 2012
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