NP9150/NP9170 7970 vs 680m External Screens

I am narrowing in on one of these possible machine/card purchases but I can't find the answer to this question anywhere.

What is the maximum number of external screens supported on these laptops through built in ports or passive adapters?

Can you run the display port, hdmi, and dvi simultaneously with the laptop screen on either of these adapters? Or are there limitations by the manufacturer/drivers?

I read that the kepler cards do support this, the fermi based ones don't. With the 7970 appearing to have a backorder and the 680m not being released for shipment for a few more weeks, I might have to wait to pull the trigger.

I currently have 2 external monitors, both hdmi/dvi, so I would hope I could run those, but if I add a display port monitor later will it work?

I have been an nvidia fan for years, but I could be swayed seeing how close the 7970 stacks up to the 680m if it does multi screen better.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

 

well it really depends on if the intel graphics control the ports, which i know they at least control some of them so i have my doubts about how many displays th em series can drive.

 

Both are limited by the integrated gpu to 2 displays including the integrated panel. The gx60 will support 3 due to using amd integrated.

You can shut the integrated screen off and use 2 external.

 

i wonder if they get the 680m working in the p150hm if it will be able to display 3 screens, it would be awesome if you could find 2 15.6" or 17.3" 1080p external monitors and run all three together to play games on.

 

If the 7970m cant then the 680m wont. The 7970m technically supports 6 displays.

 

Ok, so display port screen upgrades, or a USB3 adapter. Regardless, great observation. I might as well not sit around and wait for a feature of the kepler cards that is going to be gimped by the intel innards.

 

Yep, the gx60 will use an a10 apu so will support 3.

 

I went with the satori p170em from malibal with the gtx 680m, I know I am crazy for paying that much, but the specs stated on the P150em "DVI Dual Link (with NVIDIA GPU only)"

Lotus P150EM-SE - Detailed Specs

Hoping the 17" has the same dual link dvi port, that line isn't on the spec page for that machine.

Satori P170EM - Detailed Specs

If not, I don't think I will have a chance at being unhappy with this machine, and there are plenty of cheap usb 3 displaylink adapters to get that third screen fired up.

In the end, I am just a fan of Nvidia enough to pay the premium for the small bump, never had an issue with their chips in the last 7+ years of using them, and I need the machine to be rock solid.

I will update this if it is a dual link port, and it drives both screens.

 

i think maybe the dvi dual link is connected directly to the dgpu, so maybe you can display 3 screens!

 

Lol why would you need more than 2 anyway?

 

Eyefinity and own noobs on the battle field.


- Tito G.