Two 24" Dell IPS 1920x1200 displays + X230. VGA monitor looks terrible

I finally received my two 24" Dell monitors. They are beautiful...well, one is anyway.

I have an X230 in a dock, and there is one Display Port output and one VGA output. The monitor connected direct Display Port--> Display Port is crisp and beautiful. The monitor connected via VGA is horrible and blurry. I know I need digital-->digital connections for the resolution to be crisp, but the Lenovo dock doesn't allow for that.

What do I need to get two digital outputs? There has to be a way...
Thanks.

Is this what I need?

http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Thinkpad-Mini-Series-433710U/dp/B002DUD36S

Or this?

http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkPad-Docking-Station-0A33970/dp/B008ABKADI

(I hope it isn't the second - the reviews are scathing)

Or, is it this one (looks newer?)

http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkPad-Mini-Dock-Series/dp/B0085MQLMQ/ref=pd_sim_e_2

It's frustrating that Lenovo cheaps out on it's official X230 dock by only including one digital output...

Last edit: or this??

http://www.amazon.com/433815u-Lenovo-Factory-Thinkpad-Minidock/dp/B0085MQLGC/ref=pd_cp_pc_0

 

Which dock do you currently have? Are you using the mini DP port on the notebook itself?

 

I have the standard (?) Lenovo one with a DVD drive and a VGA/Display Port output. It came with my work X230t. Of the ones I linked above, the last one looks to be the best option, however it's not compatible with the X230t, which I will use the most with the two displays.

I am not using the Display Port out on the laptop itself. I suppose that's an option, but not a good one since I just want to click the computer in the dock and be done with it. I guess that's really my only option at this point (to manually plug in the mini port plug every time)?

I guess this is what I need if there isn't a dock out there that can't do what I'm trying to do? (two digital monitor outputs for an X230 and X230t)

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...=1475824726&catargetid=1608281401&cagpspn=pla

 

You know what, screw it. I am just going to disconnect the VGA and use the dock's Display Port for one monitor, and manually connect either a mini-Display Port cable (X230) or Display Port Cable (X230t) depending on which is connected. On the second monitor, I have a Display Port-->DVI connected and a mini-Display Port-->Display Port connected as well. That way I can dock either computer and manually plug in the mini or full side DP cable depending on which computer I'm using.

Way too complicated, but I'm determined not to buy and hack a $200 dock just to avoid manually plugging in a cable to the computer itself.

 

Do you have a model or part number? It's impossible to guess and make any sort of informed recommendation.

 

ThinkPad Ultrabase Series 3 (0A33932) - Overview

 

Yea, that confirms it. To have two digital connections you would need to use the DP connection directly on the X230 or move to a compatible dock with two digital connections.

Obviously the cheapest route is a display port cable and use what you already have.

 

USB->DVI options are always there too, e.g. HIS Multi-View II Adapter (Mac & Window 7 compatible version) < Multi-DIsplays Technology < Notebook Graphics < Products | HIS Graphic Cards . Good for everything but gaming and 1080p video, but you have another monitor for that.

 

Lenovo Displayport to Displayport splitter

have you considered something like this?

 

Do you have a link to the maker of the DisplayPort to DisplayPort splitter in your article? I didn't see a link. Thanks

 

@thors.hammer,

What do you mean by the maker of the DP splitter? They are just the standard stuff from the Lenovo website.

 

Thanks. I didn't realize they were in the accessories area there.