Question

Multiple Monitors with Dell Latitude D630 and Docking Station

Asked by: edk012

Please reference Question 22652169 for background.
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Displays_Monitors/Q_22652169.html

I'm really interested in this thread.  My company is about to send me a Dell Latitude D630 with docking station and I have two other monitors that I want to connect to it so I'll have 3 monitors (2 external plus the laptop screen).  The two external monitors are hp1530 models (15" flat).  What do I need to do to make this setup work once I get the computer and docking station?  From the post above it sounds like I need to buy a video card or something like that.  Let me know.

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Asked On
2008-04-17 at 10:57:05ID23331897
Tags

Dell

,

Lattitude (laptop)

,

D630

,

Multiple monitors with docking station

Topic

Computer Displays / Monitors

Participating Experts
3
Points
250
Comments
10

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Answers

 

by: alikaz3Posted on 2008-04-17 at 11:14:29ID: 21379774

Honestly, I wouldn't get a video card. The main problem is that a laptop almost never accommodates a video card upgrade. Very few models take them, and its usually proprietary to the laptop model. You are also only doing 15" monitors which probably provide 1024x768 max resolution. You could just spend your money on a new screen with double the resolution. I personally am in love with the Samsung 2253BW

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001268

and this will work with your single video output on the laptop, at a HUGE 1680x1050 resolution, 22" diagonal. I think you would like this alot better than the alternative.

 

by: alikaz3Posted on 2008-04-17 at 11:15:53ID: 21379792

If you still want the video card, here is an external:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812225007

But again, not my first choice.

 

by: edk012Posted on 2008-04-17 at 12:50:00ID: 21380675

Great options.  Thanks for giving me the external video card option because that is more what I'm looking for...cheapest way to get a third monitor that I can open IE or an Access DB on.  Nothing fancy since it is just for work.  Thanks for your help.

If I have problems with the external card and the 3rd monitor once I get it should I just reply to this thread or start a new question?

 

by: PUNKYPosted on 2008-04-17 at 13:17:49ID: 21380923

There is nothing much you can do with a dock station. I dont know what dock part you have, but Dell dock should have 2 video outputs (VGA and DVI). You might review the Matrox products see if it helps you.

http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/corpo/products/home.php

 

by: alikaz3Posted on 2008-04-17 at 13:42:25ID: 21381161

I'm glad I found something you can work with. The reviews seem pretty solid on that USB video card, I don't think you will have problems if you download the newest drivers for it. I'd appreciate some answer points if you could close this up. I'll keep monitoring this thread so just add a comment with a link to your new question, should you have any trouble. Good luck!

 

by: edk012Posted on 2008-04-17 at 13:51:14ID: 21381234

One last question...I did a search for "external video card usb" to check out any competing devices and came up with this one.

http://sewelldirect.com/USB-to-DVI-External-Video-Card.asp

Any experience with this device or thoughts on whether it is better than the I/O Gear device?

 

by: alikaz3Posted on 2008-04-17 at 14:06:36ID: 21381361

Hmm I kinda like the one you brought up there as well. I'm sure you noticed the IOgear has VGA D-SUB connector, and the sewell direct one is DVI. Your monitor is probably a D-SUB, but you can use a DVI to D-SUB adapter to make the sewell one work with it (those adapters come with most modern video cards, you can probably get one for free from a friend). As far as functionality/performance, there are no clock speeds or memory mentioned of, for either model. I would assume the DVI version is better (newer style), but thats just an assumption. Good luck!

 

by: alikaz3Posted on 2008-04-17 at 14:08:58ID: 21381376

Also your sewell direct site has a couple good reviews, as well as an informative FAQ.

 

by: alikaz3Posted on 2008-04-21 at 08:30:07ID: 21402917

Sounds like it worked, good deal!

 

by: jasontomlinson1Posted on 2008-07-17 at 12:09:18ID: 22028962

Also, do a search on Matrox DualHead2Go. With that hardware, you can split the VGA output to two other screens, and use extended desktop. Be careful, make sure your system is compatible with it.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=136123

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