So I just ordered a new Sager NP9377-S from XoticPC (currently in phase 2), and I've been thinking of how to set up multiple monitors for it when I receive it.
I didn't order it with any of the external display video adapters (2 displays per adapter, up to 2048x1152 resolution, adapter costs $99) that XoticPC offers because I figured I could get multiple monitors though the thunderbolt port (and I didn't want to use up a USB port due to always having a shortage of those in the past).
I was planning to get some (at least 2) older VGA-only monitors (1280x1024 I think, though I have a few DVI capable 1600x1200 as well) hooked up to that port through an adapter, since I saw that the description of the port said it supported multiple devices - then later I would get an additional single high-quality gaming monitor for the HDMI port. However, after a bit of research I am not exactly sure how well this would work, so I have a few questions:
1) I found that on older Sagers that have a DVI port instead of the thunderbolt port, you can only either connect a monitor to the DVI port or the HDMI port, but not both at once (unless you want to replace your main laptop screen, and I definitely want mine to remain functional) - is this still true of Sagers where the DVI port is replaced by a thunderbolt port, such as the NP9377-S?
2) I heard that it is possible to daisy-chain monitors through the thunderbolt port - how many an be chained on this Sager? Can all six devices be monitors? Or is there a limit there? Also, I found that the only monitor that can do this is an apple monitor that costs $1000 each - are there any cheaper alternatives that will also work?
3) Since I know USB adapters exist that support multiple screens at once, are there thunderbolt adapters (to HDMI/DVI/VGA) that would allow me to do the same (not taking advantage of daisy-chaining)? I have so far only been able to find some that convert the thunderbolt port to a single output, not more than one.
4) If I cannot actually have older screens on the thunderbolt port, where can I find USB adapters that do the same thing that XoticPC offers in their adapters? I don't want to make adjustments to my order at this point and send another payment, so I would rather get those on Amazon or elsewhere, but I have the same problem here as with the thunderbolt port - I have only seen adapters that convert a single USB output to a single HDMI/DVI/VGA output (or sometimes all 3, but only one at a time works). Does anyone know where to find adapters that do what XoticPC claims to, with 2 separate high-resolution displays on one USB port? Or better yet, which exact adapter XoticPC sells?
If anyone can answer these, please let me know, and any other suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance!
Setting up multiple displays on Sager NP9377-S
Discussion in 'Sager and Clevo' started by Atomizer4, Dec 19, 2014.