DVI? Connecting 6930p via a dock...

I'm thinking about buying the HP 6930p Elitebook. One concern I have is that it only has a VGA port and no DVI, HDMI or Displayport for connecting an external monitor. I plan to connect the laptop regularly to a 24" display.

I thought one workaround might be to get a docking station for the laptop, which has a DVI connection. As the laptop connects to the docking station via a different port, I assumed a digital video signal would be sent. However, when I called HP to confirm if this was possible, they advised me that as the laptop only outputs VGA, even when it is connected to the dock, the only thing I could do would be to connect it via the dock's VGA port; it couldn't be connected via DVI. Is this correct? I have received incorrect info from HP and Dell on more than one occasion, so I wanted to check on here. Would the DVI port work on the dock or could I only use VGA?

Also, if not, how much better would a DVI or HDMI connection be versus VGA for that size of display.

Thanks very much in advance!

 

That's a very good question- I am really not sure.
If the dock has a DVI connection, I would think you could output the signal through it to the monitor. I am not sure, but that's what I would bet on.

I have a 22in monitor and it's really only a subtle difference. If you look closely, you can see some sort of interference of sorts in the background. It's really hard to explain....when using the VGA connection, let's just say there is this ever present film in the background of the screen that sort of vibrates. With the HDMI connection, it doesn't exist. You really have to get very close to the screen and look for it, otherwise it's not noticeable. Basically, the HDMI gives you a "cleaner" picture, albeit not exactly noticeably cleaner. Hope that helps...

I haven't tried playing anything in HD so maybe there is a difference with HD content... not sure though.

 

If you model do not have DVI or HDMI connections, it wont work with docking station either. I do not have the latest model of HP businesses notebook, but I can confirm it with my "old" HP 6710b. If you wish to try it, borrow from a friend dont buy docking station just to assume it will work.

 

When docked, the 6930p will drive a display through the DVI port on the docking station, and YES there is a definite quality difference between the VGA and DVI port (specifically on the 6930p the VGA port is not so good).

 

It works with the DVI port on the dock with the ATI discrete cards. I've tried it before. Works even back in the days when I have the nc6400 with ATI. Intel graphics card models are not supported for the nc6400. I'm not sure if the Intel 4500 versions of the 6930p are supported.

 

Indeed the DVI out on the dock works with the 6930p that only has VGA out.