x200 with TWO external monitors

Hello there!

Is there any way to plug 2 external 24" monitors (1900x1200) to a Lenovo x200 with Intel 4500MHD graphic card? I dont do gaming, but I do Photoshop and Camtasia Studio screen recording.

I'd love your feedback before I go ahead and buy the Lenovo x200.

Thank you!

 

You need to buy the Ultrabase. This will give you a DisplayPort and a VGA. You can have both of them active simultaneously (the ThinkPad LCD must be disabled). However, you will need to hook one of them up with analog VGA as there is no option for dual digital out. Several people have used dual 24" monitors with the x200, so it definitely will work.

 

Thank you, I appreciate it So you reckon the integrated GPU will be able to handle that no problem then?

 

It will handle it just fine. It is even able to output to a 2560x1600 monitor using DisplayPort and can accelerate decoding of 1080P video. The only thing it can't do very well is play demanding games or accelerate an application like Maya.

 

Fantastic. Thanks!

 

There is a user (NSX something) on here that confirms driving two 24" monitors with his x200 and UltraBase. So you should have no problem.

 

Correct NSX was running that. I an use it to run a 24in (1920x1200) and a 20in (1600x1200). Check my sig for specific monitors.

 

correct NSX is using two 24 inches outputing 1920x1200 on both .. and there is no lag what so ever... ie. the graphics card can easily handle it. i can have a movie playing on one screen and doing stuff on the other..

 

NSX, do you recommend any special settings or configuration to run (and multitask) two 24 inchers simultaneously?

Your input is highly appreciated!

 

Hi all

I have one doubt:
Using the two monitors is like a big resolution streched for the 2 monitors or is possible to have diferent resolutions settings in bouth monitors?

I need to configure different aplications windows to open in monitor 1 or monitor 2.

Thanks

 

You can configure them as independent displays. Applications maximize to only the monitor they are on, and you only get one taskbar (you need to use a program like UltraMon if you want smart taskbars and/or spanned maximize). It is possible to force applications to open on different monitors (and even in a particular place), but unless your application has a setting for this (PowerPoint does for example), you will probably need an application like UltraMon to make it work.

It is also possible to use two entirely different monitors. This can include different resolutions, sizes, and even one LCD and one CRT if you choose.

You may have a problem with 3D applications or any application using overlay (many video players) that are spanned across both monitors (it is complicated to do this on my triple monitor desktop).

 

No

When using Windows XP you can stretch without 3rd party software like Ultramon.

When using Vista: well; good luck with installing 3rd party software to get the same functionality as XP

 

multimon and ultramon do it, so no worries.

 

I'm not a fan of installing unnecessary application, thus i don't recommend any extra programs besides making sure the Intel drivers are the newest and just use expand desktop. Make your Main screen the Digital output and your secondary screen as the vga (it's a bit noticeable when you have text).

Once you go two 24 inches.... with 1920 x 1200... you can NEVER GO BACK!

 

Fantastic stuff NSX, I will follow your advice. If I have any problem setting the two 24 inches, I hope you dont mind me sending you a PM

I assume the process would be the same for the x200 and the x200s - I am still unsure of which one of the two to buy.

 

ya you can pm me... i'm not really on this forum as much since midterms/assignments/exams are popping up..

personally i would get the x200... the battery life is good enough that the x200s is not necessary... i would recommend the x200t if you wanted the x200s..

personally i don't want a ULV cpu... simple as that. The LED backlit however is extremely attractive but it's not a deal breaker for me.

 

Yeah I know, but all the reviews I have seen online state that x200s is not that far behind the x200 in performance, while it has better screen and more battery life. I wish I could get a solid performance test comparisons between the two machines.

 

You will only notice a performance difference between the x200 and the x200s or x200t for processor bound applications. This includes media transcoding, filters in A/V apps, software compiling, and gaming (although the video processor will slow you down before the CPU in most games). Basically anything that can keep the CPU at 100% for more than a minute.

For normal desktop applications, web browsers, office suites, etc. you will notice little to no difference.

The regular x200 is the best value proposition. It is inexpensive, has a webcam, WWAN option, and powerful.

The x200s is the thin and light. The screen is brighter and has a higher resolution, but it is still a TN panel (poor viewing angles). It does not have a webcam or WWAN option with the LED panel. The main benefit is you can almost match the x200 9 cell battery life with a 6 cell (and 14.4 ounce lighter according to Tabook) x200s.

The x200 Tablet is about features and screen quality. It uses a WXGA AFFS+ LED display. It is extremely bright, has good color, and fantastic viewing angles. It also offers all the options (including webcam/WWAN), stereo speakers, dual array (noise canceling) microphones, buttons on the screen, and of course convertible Tablet functionality. It weighs marginally more (4.32 ounces w/ high capacity battery) than the x200, and has identical performance to the x200s.

The question is what features do you want/need, how much do you value screen quality/resolution, what weight can you carry, and how much are you willing to spend. When you can answer those questions, you will know which of the x200 series you want.

 

Yeah I dont think I am going to notice much the performance hit on the x200s. I use Photoshop at basic level, dreamweaver and Camtasia studio (screen recording), and of course office applications. No gaming, no high-end 3D stuff, no graphic rendering, etc. I do have three of four programs running at the same time, but I doubt I will clog the CPU at all.

For me, the superior screen and superior battery life is probably more significant than a 20% CPU performance boost.

If I just could find a cheap store that delivers the x200s overseas...

 

if you're running those programs.... for sure you should really go for the x200. And it looks like price does matter to you.. so that's another reason for the x200. The x200s' screen is only slightly better, so it's not a deal breaker. And since you're using those software... you'll be using the monitors for the most part anyways.

 

I am confused NSX. Are you saying that I should go for the x200 because those applications are heavy on the CPU? I thought the x200s would be powerful enough to run anything but heavy graphic rendering, CAD, etc.

 

You will notice a difference when applying Photoshop filters (Gaussian blur especially), compiling scripts in Dreamweaver (if you do this), compressing videos in Camtasia, as they can be CPU bound.

You won't have a problem with normal office tasks, and you can do all of the above, it just will take 20% longer for some tasks.

Graphic rendering, CAD, etc. are usually GPU bound before CPU. The main things that tie up a CPU for long times are media encoding, photo filters, and application compiling.

The x200s is a better bet if you do your work all over the place and need a light package with a high resolution LED screen. If a decent portion of your work is done at a desk with an external monitor, you will probably be more satisfied with an x200 (and you will save some money).

 

Are you mobile ALL the time? Like NSX said...if you're using monitors anyways might as well get the x200's extra horsepower.

 

Nop, I am not mobile all the time. In fact, most of my work load is done at home. But on occasion I might need to be all day long outside and therefore I need a beefy battery. Perhaps I might be better off getting the x200 with a spare battery. I hear the 9 cells pumps out 6 to 7 hours solid, so two of those should do the trick.

 

Depends on your usage very much. I normally we get about 8-9 with lowest cpu speed and wifi on doing browsing and office work.

 

lol i guess jonlumpin and jaredy answered everything for me

ya.. WTB from your needs i full heartily recommend the X200. You save more money... so max out on the configuration for the x200 with the money you save.

 

Awesome stuff throughout the thread guys. I have made up my mind: X200, here I come. NSX, if I have any problem setting the dual external monitors I will send you a PM

Thanks!

 

Hi all ...again

Thanks for the answers!

I decide to buy the Lenovo x200 with this cable: h**p://www5.pc.ibm.com/europe/products.nsf/$wwwPartNumLookup/_45J7915?open&OpenDocument&epi=web_expressepi

Someone have this cable? Is possible to connect the 2 monitor? Any problem?

Thanks

 

Based upon this thread (and some other info)...just got an Ultrabase to drive 2 monitors but now I'm a little confused...one of the monitors I would like to use is a Lenovo L200x. It comes with a a traditional VGA cable and another cable with a square connector (for the monitor) and USB at the other end.....the DisplayPort on the Ultrabase doesn't appear to be USB..so I'm guessing I need another cable but don't have a clue what to look for...
Can someone assist?

 

You need a displayport cable. However if your monitor does not support displayport I recommend using a displayport to DVI cable/adapter.

When you run 2 monitors you will do so with the digital connection from the displayport and then from the VGA connection.

 

The USB like cable is probably a USB A-B cable. Does the L200x have an integrated USB hub? If so, you need the USB A-B cable for that purpose.

As above, you will need a DisplayPort to DVI adapter for your monitor.

 

coming back to the initial question, conecting two external monitors to x200.

I've a x200 with a ultrabase and a displayport-to-dvi cable (p/n 43N9160)
The monitors I have are two Dell 1905FP.

My question:
Is it mandatory that the display-cable for the Displaport/DVI is a DVI-D dual link is a DVI-D single link cable enough?


I just don't get this to work....

 

Is there any way to connect 2 external analog monitors? Is there a Display port to VGA connector or I'd better buy a USB graphics adapter?

 

I found the solution: my displayport-to-dvi cable (p/n 43N9160) was broken!
With a new one, it works like a charm!

 

what do you think about DVI without ThP X200 UltraBase
it means
Lenovo USB-to-DVI Monitor Adapter $129.00 Part number: 45K5296
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...-category-id=F518DEACD67248538629B17343AFFB25

BTW I use
Lenovo ThinkVision L2440p (24in wide) LCD Monitor Analog/Digital P/N 4420HB2
with
ThP x200s: BIOS-3'03; RAM-6gb; TurboM-2gb; HDD-ST93204221AS; w7rc 64-bit
ThP X200 UltraBase P/N 43R8781
DisplayPort to Single-Link DVI-D Monitor Cable P/N 45J7915
and
USB Travel Keyboard with UltraNav P/N 31P9490

 

Do those of you doing dual-head through the UltraBase find there is a noticeable difference in display quality between the VGA and DisplayPort outputs? I've done this with a dual-output video card on a desktop (VGA and DVI) and the difference was enough on matched displays that it drove me to get a dual DVI card so one display wasn't "blurry".

 

Hi,

I've few questions about using two external displays (1920x1080) with x200s through the ultrabase.

1) I'm wondering what is the picture quality via VGA output. I don't care that much about colour reproduction (for example I find the display on my x200s very good, despite of significant light leak at the bottom/top of the screen) but I wouldn't want the text and/or geometry to be blurry etc

2) Would you recommend using the Displayport to DVI or Displayport to HDMI converter, and why?

3) What about docking/undocking of the laptop. Will I be able to just (un)plug the laptop with everything working smoothly? Or is a restart/shutdown required.

4) This is a long shot, but did anybody tried that kind of setup in Linux. I could probably force myself to use win7 but I'd like to avoid that as much as possible.

Thanks in advance for that information.

 

The VGA output is fine in my limited use of it. VGA quality is also affected by the monitor itself using VGA.

I personally use a Displayport to DVI adapter as my HP monitor does not function well with displayport. I recommend just using an adapter to DVI because HDMI is unnecessary as you cannot pass sound anyways. You might as well use the more common cable.

Do you have your docking station yet? You just hit the button the docking station and you can pull the laptop. You might have a little bit of fuss with multiple monitors but you don't HAVE to reboot or anything. You just might to have ensure the correct resolutions are set again.

I don't have any experience with linux with the docking station, but as with anything linux related I am sure you could eventually figure it out with enough tweaking.