Sony Vaio Z Dual Display Docking Port

Hi guys, I have done a search on the forums and couldn't really come up with an answer that would solve my problem. I am planning to get 2x 23inch monitors 1920x1200. So now here is the situation. I want to connect both of these to my sony vaio z. I have found solutions such as the Matrox DualHead2Go box and what not.. But i was wondering if i can get the sony z docking station and use that for dual output. Unlike some other threads that i've read my situation would be to plug the hdmi on the laptop to monitor1 and the dvi from the docking station to monitor 2. Can anyone confirm if this works or not. thanks.

 

guess no one has ever done anything like this.

 

great.. i wanted to see if it works before getting another 23in monitor. lol

 

It won't. The Sony's and the dock are not set up to support it that way. Another possible solution outside of the matrox one, are the USB monitors sold by LG and others, that use Display Link technology. I've seen 6 monitors hooked up to a notebook through this method and all working wonderfully.

 

Isn't there a VGA port on the dock as well?

 

There is a dvi and a vga. There is also a hdmi on the laptop. so 3 ways to connect.. but no clue if it will work or not.. as nixon stated it wouldnt work. has anyone ever tried this tho?

 

This will work! On the Docking station is a DVI and VGA port! You Can connect 2 Displays! But not more...

If you connect to the VGA port on laptop self, you get 2displays working too...
The Laptop TFT and the VGA Connected one!

So there will be not the problem to connect 2 displays through the docking station...

Cheers

 

I have tried with a SZ (not a Z) under Windows Seven. All screen are detected but it can't able to activate the DVI and the VGA at the same time; only the screen on the laptop et and a other output.

Is it because the graphic card isn't capable or is it the driver under Seven?
If anyone have a idea...

 

which Graphic Card do you have?

I don't think it's the Graphic Card... or the driver....

I think you must make some more settings.... to deaktivate the laptop screen if you enable 2 outside displays....
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But one other thing!
DVI ist like HDMI there is not much difference!....
there exists HDMI-to-DVI and DVI-to-HDMI Cables.....

And the vga and hdmi must working at the same time....
I didn't test parallel hdmi and vga.... but i think it must work!

http://www.kabelladen24.de/images/Logo-hdmi-dvi purelink.jpg
http://www.kabelladen24.de/images/91_0.jpg

I think, this is cheaper as the Dockingstation....

Cheers

 

humm not sure if i am making myself clear on this one. I was to use 2 external monitor and not the laptop's display.

The sony z has a hdmi port.
The docking station has a vga & dvi port.

I have read on the forum that it is not possible to do both vga and dvi port from the docking station. Though I am not sure myself because i have never tested it.

If and only if that solution doesnt work. I was wondering if anyone has tried to use the hdmi port on the laptop to connect to one external display and using the dvi from the docking port to connect another display.

 

I wish i could try it but i haven't received my dock yet.

However, I'd like to let you know that under Windows 7 beta, with the nvidia card activated, I see 4 displays available in Display Settings, presumably the laptop display, VGA, HDMI, and the dock DVI.

 

Im thinking about bitting the bullet today and just head out to the sonystore to buy the dock. I can try on my lcd tv and my monitor before getting another monitor.

 

I have got a GeForce Go 7400 with the driver for windows vista from the VAIO web site. (Sometimes, the GeForce lags more than the intel when I surf).

The laptop screen is desactived but I have always the message:


Else, the HDMI is a good idea, but, my laptop is too old to have this port .

 

Okay I have a conclusion. It does NOT work. Just bought the docking station and spend some time trying to figure a way around it but it doesnt work. only 1 display and laptop at the very most.

 

Maybe, it's limitation from Sony like the VT instructions. (To enable the VT intructions, we must use a software to read and change the value of the bios. It's invisible in the menu of the sony bios).

Or it's a hardware limitation. Nobody works for Sony or Nvidia?

 

It's a hardware thing like I said earlier in the thread. Sony, like most manufacturers, does not support dual external displays yet at this time. I think it's something that is under consideration, but it hasn't been done yet.

 

Did you ever get to the bottom of this as I have exactly the same question

 

Sorry to dig this old thread up, but wondering if anyone has solution for this? I have a Sony vgnz720d; the dock will let me plug in a DVI and a VGA, but I cannot span the two. Was wondering if there is a cable I can use (DVI splitter?) to accomplish this? Or would HDMI to one of the monitors suffice?