CakeAlexS


Yep. Its a limitation of the onboard graphics card. Two displays at any one time and that includes the LCD display.

Same here, FWIW.

Same here. Currently I use the Laptops LCD and two 1600x1200 on a matrox dualhead2go, seen by the system as one 3200x1200 screen.

I about to buy a u3011 2560x1600 and try to drive the two 1600x1200 via delock usb3 to displayport to dvi adapters in portrait.

Yep. Its a limitation of the onboard graphics card. Two displays at any one time and that includes the LCD display.

That's odd, I have a Dell Vostro 3750, and I can use the laptop display, AND the VGA AND HDMI .. so that makes 3 video outs.. 
but then, I have 2 video chips (on-chip intel+Nvidia), and both can run at the same time. 


One thing for sure, to answer the initial question, make sure you have a dedicated video chip if you intend to run dual monitors. choose wisely !


Cheers ! 


V

I have an Asus. It work well, but warning, they have TERRIBLE customer service and they have install a bunch of junk that totally hoses up your computer if you try and uninstall. working with two monitors does work well though and you get a lot of computer for the money.

i did this for awhile a few years ago but i used this:
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/Toshiba-dynadock-U3.0-Universal-USB-3.0-Docking-Station/2589172.aspx?cm_mmc=ShoppingFeeds-_-GoogleBase-_-Notebook/Mobile%20Devices-_-2589172_Toshiba%20dynadock%C2%AE%20U3.0%20Universal%20-%20USB%203.0%20Docking%20Station_TOS-PA3927U-1PRP

a docking station,and i used 2 monitors and not the laptop screen at all unless i needed 3 monitors for large projects.
a docking station has 2 outputs 1=vga / 1=dvi
it uses a usb port and gives you 4 more usb ports as well.
i acutally had great results with that mobile unit.

vlab

One thing for sure, to answer the initial question, make sure you have a dedicated video chip if you intend to run dual monitors. choose wisely ! 

After hours of reading reviews & searching for deals I ended up going for a refurbished Inspiron 15R with an i5 3210M, 6GB & a Radeon 7670M.

Should be alright for £350 I think ( or hope )

I've been wondering about my Win7hp 64 bit, ASUS G74sx i7-2670qm, with a docking station. The 4 usb ports (3-usb2 and 1- usb3) are now routed to Tascam US1641 I/O, usb mouse, Virus Ti2 (though I am just installing this and have other issues to solve), and the usb 3 port is for my 1Tb external library and backup drive (+ 2 internal drives). I just bought a vga cable to hook up my old P4 XP setup's 2nd Dell FP1703 to the laptop, and haven't read anything on dual monitors, yet(I assume that is easy enough).
    The laptop will have to be my X2PE machine for a bit (I intend to build a new studio desktop as budget is available), and since I just got, both a Fender Super Champ X2 and Mustang Floor with usb options, the "one unit per port" idea is going to be a matter of "one (unit)at a time".  Any suggestions-advice, will be very much appreciated. I am still adjusting to 64 bit Win7hp, and the leap from Sonar 5.2PE to X2PE. Well..... "adjusting" is a bit of a stretch..... trying to find my way is more like it! LOL 
Thanks Michael
Most of what I own now, is "new", as in recently aquired and I find myself wondering how to best set it up without a mixer and patchbay, which I can imagine how to use.
     

I appreciate there's a budget, second hand laptops though I wouldn't recommend. Often asking for trouble. Laptops never last as long as desktop PCs by a long way. Any PC or laptop I would buy new to be honest.  Not what you wanted to hear, sorry....

CakeAlexS


I appreciate there's a budget, second hand laptops though I wouldn't recommend. Often asking for trouble. Laptops never last as long as desktop PCs by a long way. Any PC or laptop I would buy new to be honest.  Not what you wanted to hear, sorry....

That's alright  I have a 1 year warranty with it, so if it lasts that long hopefully I'll be able to replace it with something better.


I won't be using it every day, as I have my desktop for that. 3-4 times a week at most I expect. That might stretch its' lifespan a little.

Im using a Hp Pavilion laptop about 4 years old i5 (this puts paid to Alexs theory, sorry Alex), with my 80cm TV as my monitor (you dont need duel monitors when you have an 80cm TV and yes its very clear).  This is fed out of the HDMI port and if I wanted I could run as a duel monitor setup.  I think HDMI is the key here.

Ben