The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Turn an old laptop into second monitor for main laptop?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by fatboyslimerr, Jul 12, 2013.

  1. fatboyslimerr

    fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic

    Reputations:
    241
    Messages:
    1,319
    Likes Received:
    123
    Trophy Points:
    81
    Not sure if this is possible but I'd like to use my 13" Sony Vaio laptop as a second monitor for my M15x. I've had a google for possible solutions but most use virtual or wifi based solutions and are far from perfect.

    Does anyone know of a way to use the screen from my old Vaio as a second monitor using cables and/or software?

    Thanks
     
    fatboyslimerr, Jul 12, 2013
    #1
  2. StormJumper

    StormJumper Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    579
    Messages:
    3,537
    Likes Received:
    488
    Trophy Points:
    151
    Here's something I found...

     
    StormJumper, Jul 12, 2013
    #2
  3. Commander Wolf

    Commander Wolf can i haz broadwell?

    Reputations:
    2,962
    Messages:
    8,231
    Likes Received:
    63
    Trophy Points:
    216
    There are adapters you can buy on eBay, etc, for doing this. They're usually in the tens of dollars, but they should make things easy if you can figure out how to buy the right one. Considering that price and the price of your time, it's likewise debatable whether it's worth it unless you have a really nice panel you'd want to keep, etc.
     
    Commander Wolf, Jul 12, 2013
    #3
  4. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

    Reputations:
    21,580
    Messages:
    35,370
    Likes Received:
    9,877
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Sell the laptop even if you only get $40-50 out of it and buy a monitor.
     
    HTWingNut, Jul 12, 2013
    #4
  5. fatboyslimerr

    fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic

    Reputations:
    241
    Messages:
    1,319
    Likes Received:
    123
    Trophy Points:
    81
    I feared as much. It's not a particular nice screen and not 1080p. Laptop is worth jack all as its at least 5 years old with a crappy core duo and gt 7200go or something.

    Monitors are not that cheap in UK even on eBay. Usually around $80 for a used 22". Its crazy.

    Thanks for the comments.
     
    fatboyslimerr, Jul 12, 2013
    #5