The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Possible to enable Nvidia Surround for multi displays on Sager NP8561 laptop?

    Discussion in 'Sager and Clevo' started by grecinos, Apr 5, 2015.

  1. grecinos

    grecinos Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Hey folks,

    I'm real excited about my new NP8651 and I have a question regarding multi display configurations. I noticed that my laptop has two video cards, an Intel HD 4600 and an Nvidia GTX 970M (with 3 GB RAM). It has 2 display ports and 1 HDMI port. I'm able to configure it to display on 3 monitors using extended mode. The goal is to play Microsoft Flight Simulator across 3 displays. My problem is that the Nvidia control panel is limited. I'm able to access the Intel HD Graphics Control Panel and all of its options, but nothing in regards to extending displays for the purpose of playing games across multiple monitors. Thus leading me to my questions...

    1.) Is it possible to somehow "unlock" the Nvidia Control Panel so that all of the options are available?
    2.) To play games via 3 monitors, I need to enable "Surround" mode on the Nvidia graphics card. I'm certain that the display card is capable, but I do not see this option. Does anyone know how to enable it or perhaps another option that is its equal?

    TIA,

    grecinos
     
  2. D2 Ultima

    D2 Ultima Livestreaming Master

    Reputations:
    4,335
    Messages:
    11,803
    Likes Received:
    9,751
    Trophy Points:
    931
    1 - No. Your display driver is the intel chip. The NCP controls are not "locked" they're "useless".
    2 - You cannot, because your primary monitor will be run by the iGPU no matter what you do, and I'm unsure if your external screens run through the dGPU directly or the iGPU using the dGPU as a number cruncher.
     
  3. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

    Reputations:
    9,436
    Messages:
    58,194
    Likes Received:
    17,909
    Trophy Points:
    931
    The only way would be to run it in windowed mode.
     
  4. grecinos

    grecinos Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Interesting idea. So, by running it in windowed mode, I might be able to stretch the window across 3 monitors?

    Otherwise, It's my understanding that the latest Intel CPU's are being made with integrated graphics adapters to complement a discrete one. how will it work for future laptops?
     
  5. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

    Reputations:
    9,436
    Messages:
    58,194
    Likes Received:
    17,909
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Some have the external monitors hooked up to the DGPU directly, some have switches to go into pure DGPU mode. Some simply don't use the Intel igp. It depends on the model you get.
     
  6. jaybee83

    jaybee83 Biotech-Doc

    Reputations:
    4,125
    Messages:
    11,571
    Likes Received:
    9,151
    Trophy Points:
    931
    iirc the NP8651 has all external display ports hooked up to the iGPU, not the dGPU...
     
  7. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

    Reputations:
    9,436
    Messages:
    58,194
    Likes Received:
    17,909
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Exactly why running it in a window is the only option with it.
     
  8. ShadowKntSDS

    ShadowKntSDS Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    91
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Does this imply that even for a single screen game that using an external monitor means you can't make use of the dGPU?
     
  9. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

    Reputations:
    9,436
    Messages:
    58,194
    Likes Received:
    17,909
    Trophy Points:
    931
    You can use it but through optimus still.
     
  10. jaybee83

    jaybee83 Biotech-Doc

    Reputations:
    4,125
    Messages:
    11,571
    Likes Received:
    9,151
    Trophy Points:
    931
    yes, it just means that all display signals will still be routed through the iGPU, no matter if they were processed on the dGPU or not.