Use Sager NP5165 with lid closed?

Is this possible? I basically want to be able to use the laptop at my desk, hook it up to 1 or 2 LCD displays, and my logitech wireless mouse and keyboard.

Is this possible? First, in terms of how many displays you can connect to it, and 2nd, can the laptop be used while the lid is closed? I am thinking of getting rid of my desktop machine since this laptop is more powerful.

 

You can connect up to two displays using the machine as-is(with the built-in screen disabled). If you need more than that, or want to use 2 externals plus the laptop display- you'll need one of the external USB video dongles. They aren't good for anything but 2D though.

As for running with the lid closed, there shouldn't be any real issues. It does get some cooling through the keyboard though, so you may notice slightly higher temps than with the lid open.

 

If it's not too much trouble, can you please list an example of one of these USB dongles, or link to one? I have never seen one before; is it just a USB video card?

I don't care if i can't do 3d, i'm using the laptop for software development. The laptop is so powerful that I'm thinking of getting rid of my home desktop, but keeping the 3 displays so I can "dock" my laptop at my desk if i want to work on larger, and multiple displays. Same thing for when I work from the office. I have multiple displays at my office but i rarely log into the desktop they are hooked into.

The laptop has a hdmi + DVI, but you're saying it can only drive two displays at a time? That's a shame. I'd have liked to drive two monitors at the same time as using the laptop's display. I could get rid of one of my monitors that way.

 

Yes, essentially you'd be looking at an external USB video card. Something like this:

Newegg.com - IOGEAR USB to VGA Video Adapter GUC2015V USB to VGA Interface

Matrox makes products that can do two or even three monitors on the external box as well.

The problem with the video output isn't unique to just this model, or even laptops in general. Most video cards just can't drive more than two monitors at one time (desktop OR laptop models). The HDMI + DVI outputs give you options on which you want to use, but to use both you'd have to disable the laptop screen.

 

Would closing the lid without invoking suspend be enough to disable the screen?

 

Do you mean to shut the internal screen off to save power? That depends entirely on your power settings. I like to have mine set to stay on when the laptop is plugged in, but obviously you'd want to check on your machine.

 

I think Malibal is referring to windows power settings. There is an option like "when the lid is closed i want to..." and you can set it to shut off, sleep, hibernate, etc. I think "do nothing" is one of the options.