On my previous laptop, a Dell D800, I had a multiple-monitor graphics card in the D-Dock docking station, so I had 3 external displays when the laptop was docked.
I purchased a Dell Precision M6400 laptop which has an NVIDIA Quadro FX 2700M adapter. I asked Dell support what I would need to repeat my earlier configuration of 3 external displays and they said to buy the E/Port Plus (http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&sku=430-3312&s=bsd)
After this arrived, I realized that this is just a port replicator, and even though it has the 2 DV connections I need for my two 2 Samsung SyncMaster XL2370 LCD (1920 x 1080) displays and a VGA connection for the other monitor I'm using (Dell E173FP 1280 x 1024), since my display adapter only supports 2 monitors, I can only display on 2 of the 4 displays (the 4th being my 1920 x 1200 laptop screen).
Now I'm looking at my options -- first do I need to just return the port replicator (it was expensive) and look for an actual docking station that might allow me to install a video card (like the D/Dock did)?
Otherwise, I'm seeing a couple of expansion modules, but am unsure which to consider.
There is an $89 UV Plus UV19
EVGA | Products
This supports up to 1920 x 1200, so would work with the SyncMasters if I bought 2.
It's not very expensive, but would it be slow?
Then there is the Matrox TripleHead2Go
Matrox Graphics - Products - Graphics eXpansion Module - TripleHead2Go
but it's really expensive, and I don't know that it offers an advantage to be worth the cost.
I've read great advice here from others with similar problems, so before I waste any more money, thought I'd see if anyone has any suggestions.
Thanks for any thoughts.
I purchased a Dell Precision M6400 laptop which has an NVIDIA Quadro FX 2700M adapter. I asked Dell support what I would need to repeat my earlier configuration of 3 external displays and they said to buy the E/Port Plus (http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&sku=430-3312&s=bsd)
After this arrived, I realized that this is just a port replicator, and even though it has the 2 DV connections I need for my two 2 Samsung SyncMaster XL2370 LCD (1920 x 1080) displays and a VGA connection for the other monitor I'm using (Dell E173FP 1280 x 1024), since my display adapter only supports 2 monitors, I can only display on 2 of the 4 displays (the 4th being my 1920 x 1200 laptop screen).
Now I'm looking at my options -- first do I need to just return the port replicator (it was expensive) and look for an actual docking station that might allow me to install a video card (like the D/Dock did)?
Otherwise, I'm seeing a couple of expansion modules, but am unsure which to consider.
There is an $89 UV Plus UV19
EVGA | Products
This supports up to 1920 x 1200, so would work with the SyncMasters if I bought 2.
It's not very expensive, but would it be slow?
Then there is the Matrox TripleHead2Go
Matrox Graphics - Products - Graphics eXpansion Module - TripleHead2Go
but it's really expensive, and I don't know that it offers an advantage to be worth the cost.
I've read great advice here from others with similar problems, so before I waste any more money, thought I'd see if anyone has any suggestions.
Thanks for any thoughts.
My Computer
- Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
- Dell Precision M6400
- OS
- Windows 7 64-bit
- Graphics Card(s)
- NVIDIA Quadro FX 2700M
- Monitor(s) Displays
- Samsung SyncMaster XL2370 LCD 1920 x 1080
