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    x201 vs x220 graphics

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by robx201, Apr 8, 2012.

  1. robx201

    robx201 Newbie

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    My x201 strains to run its own display plus an external monitor. Would the x220 do any better? I'd like to have a Thinkpad I can plug into a docking station and run two external monitors from it.
     
    robx201, Apr 8, 2012
    #1
  2. kirayamato26

    kirayamato26 Notebook Deity

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    Yes it would, but the X230 will be released sometime soon-ish with even stronger graphics, so why not wait?
     
    kirayamato26, Apr 8, 2012
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  3. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    Intel integrated graphics performance has progressed with each generation with Sandy Bridge being a very large leap forwards. I would have no worries about the X220's ability to drive two displays.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Apr 8, 2012
    #3
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  4. MidnightSun

    MidnightSun Emodicon

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    How does it "strain" to run two monitors? What symptoms are you noticing? My T500 (with its even weaker Intel GMA 4500MHD) does fine with the built-in WSXGA+ panel and an external FHD panel through DisplayPort.

    The X220 should work quite well with two external monitors; the HD 3000 integrated GPU is more than powerful enough.
     
    MidnightSun, Apr 8, 2012
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  5. robx201

    robx201 Newbie

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    MidnightSun: when my x201 is running its own display + external monitor, performance for playing videos becomes a bit choppy. If I let it run the external only, then everything seems pretty good. So that's what I'm doing now.

    When is the x230 suppose to be released? I kind of wish they'd make an x-series with a quadro. I use to run a T series with a quadro and it was fantastic.
     
    robx201, Apr 8, 2012
    #5
  6. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

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    X230 will probably come later half of the year.

    My X220 is doing just fine running two external LCD one is a U2410 and another is the U2711.

    If your X201 is giving you grief then consider a vidock or eGPU solution, cheap and cost effective of boosting your current graphics performance.
     
    lead_org, Apr 9, 2012
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  7. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    Have you ever updated your X201 video driver? I was able to power the internal display + external via DP to HDMI adapter with no issues..
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Apr 9, 2012
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  8. robx201

    robx201 Newbie

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    I was looking at the ViDock 3 and I might be more open to it if I hadn't just bought an Ultrabase within the last two weeks. But I hate to make one dock obsolete after owning it for only a few days.

    I have an Nvidia Quadro FX580 card sitting in a drawer. It would have gone nicely with the ViDock 3, too :|
     
    robx201, Apr 9, 2012
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  9. robx201

    robx201 Newbie

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    I just tried that, per your suggestion. But Windows said I'm already running the best driver.
     
    robx201, Apr 9, 2012
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  10. 600X

    600X Endless bus ride

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    The lag you are experiencing has got nothing to do with your graphics. I get that Problem on my X220 as well sometimes. When I use two Monitors (internal + external) and Play a Video on the external one, it runs choppy as well. But as I already said, this doesn't occur every time.
    If I remember correctly, the T-Series has this problem as well. I don't know how or even if you can fix this, but at the moment the only way is using the external monitor only.
     
    600X, Apr 16, 2012
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  11. Kish21

    Kish21 Notebook Geek

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    Can this be happening because the monitor refresh rate is dropping to 40/50Hz? I would check this first for both displays.
     
    Kish21, Apr 16, 2012
    #11