If laptop has both Mini DisplayPort & HDMI, can I connect TWO external monitors at same time?

[SYAS2016]

Hi,

I am planning on buying this laptop: http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/N551VW-FW238T-ASUS-N551VW-FW238T_1829315.html

In the description, it says it has both an HDMI port and a Mini DisplayPort. Does this mean I could connect two external monitors to this laptop without needing any other adapter? Specifically, could I buy two of these monitors and connect them both to my laptop simultaneously without needing any other equipment (and also would there be any lag?): http://www.europc.co.uk/professional-p2213-22-monitor-with-led-1680-x-1050-dell-3-year-warranty-112345.html

And if not, how else could I go about connecting those two monitors to that laptop?

Thanks!

 

[Laptop_Nerd]

Hi

The answer is NO if you'll buy 2 of those Dell P2213 monitor since it only has a Display Port but without a HDMI port. I would suggest getting a different 2nd monitor that has HDMI port on it. The ASUS laptop that you're planning to buy only has HDMI and Display port.

 

[SYAS2016]

Hi

The answer is NO if you'll buy 2 of those Dell P2213 monitor since it only has a Display Port but without a HDMI port. I would suggest getting a different 2nd monitor that has HDMI port on it. The ASUS laptop that you're planning to buy only has HDMI and Display port.

Hi - many thanks for this.

When I've been talking about having two screens, I mean for these two screens to be independent as well as simultaneous - by that I mean that I want the two screens to be able to show me two different displays, not just two screens of the same display...do you see what I'm saying? So for example, I want to have my laptop screen showing iTunes, Screen 1 (hooked up through standard HDMI) showing Excel and Screen 2 (hooked up via Mini DisplayPort-to-Display Port cable/adapter) showing Chrome - is ALL of this possible with the laptop I intend to buy? (linked here again for completeness: http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/N551VW-FW238T-ASUS-N551VW-FW238T_1829315.html

Will the following pieces of equipment allow me to do this?:

1. A standard HDMI cable (for Screen 1)

2. Mini DisplayPort to Display Port cable (for Screen 2)
http://www.kenable.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=246_205&products_id=4859

3. TWO of these monitors, (one to be connected via HDMI, the other to be connected via Mini DisplayPort-to-DisplayPort using the cable above)
http://www.cclonline.com/product/115031/I2269VWM/Monitors/AOC-Value-line-i2269Vwm-21-5-inch-LCD-Monitor-1000-1-250cd/m2-1920x1080-6ms/MON2148/?siteID=TnL5HPStwNw-CK2Bp_O10YUBgL_j_Van6w

Do let me know your thoughts on this!

Thanks!

 

[jaguarskx]

You cannot use a standard HDMI cable to connect the laptop to one of the Dell P2213 monitors because they do not have a HDMI port. You need to used a HDMI to Displayport adapter.

Technically, as far as I know you should be able to connect to 2 separate monitor and use them both as extended desktop, thus allowing each monitor to display different information.

The Displayport should have its own RAMDAC chip which allows video to be sent to two different displays (assuming the laptop has two Displayport outputs). It should be separate from the RAMDAC chip that the laptop has which sends a video signal to the laptop's screen and either a VGA, DVI or HDMI port.

 

[SYAS2016]

You cannot use a standard HDMI cable to connect the laptop to one of the Dell P2213 monitors because they do not have a HDMI port. You need to used a HDMI to Displayport adapter.

Technically, as far as I know you should be able to connect to 2 separate monitor and use them both as extended desktop, thus allowing each monitor to display different information.

The Displayport should have its own RAMDAC chip which allows video to be sent to two different displays (assuming the laptop has two Displayport outputs). It should be separate from the RAMDAC chip that the laptop has which sends a video signal to the laptop's screen and either a VGA, DVI or HDMI port.

Ok thanks.

What about for this monitor (see link below), it has both HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, so if I buy two of these monitors then I can connect one to the laptop using an HDMI cable and the second to the laptop using a MiniDisplayPort-to-DisplayPort cable, is that correct?

http://www.cclonline.com/product/115031/I2269VWM/Monitors/AOC-Value-line-i2269Vwm-21-5-inch-LCD-Monitor-1000-1-250cd/m2-1920x1080-6ms/MON2148/?siteID=TnL5HPStwNw-CK2Bp_O10YUBgL_j_Van6w

I would need a MiniDisplayPort-to-DisplayPort cable for this obviously, and would this do the job?: http://www.kenable.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=246_205&products_id=4859

Thanks!

 

[hang-the-9]

Keep in mind that many laptops have a two display limit, so you may not be able to use the laptop screen along with the two monitors. And for a system without a docking station that means you need to setup an external mouse and keyboard, and disable the system from going to sleep when you close the lid unless you want to just keep the lid open with no display. I find that it gets in the way pretty badly that way though.

 

[jaguarskx]

Yes, you can one of those monitors to the laptop with a standard HDMI cable. The mini-displayport to displayport cable should be fine.

 

[SYAS2016]

Keep in mind that many laptops have a two display limit, so you may not be able to use the laptop screen along with the two monitors. And for a system without a docking station that means you need to setup an external mouse and keyboard, and disable the system from going to sleep when you close the lid unless you want to just keep the lid open with no display. I find that it gets in the way pretty badly that way though.

Thanks for this - I didn't think about that actually, good point. I'm not too concerned with having to have the laptop up (even if its blank screen), but if it goes to sleep after a while then any mouse/keyboard attached to it would also go to sleep, is that what you are saying? IF the monitors also had USB ports, could I connect the mouse to one of the screens, and the keyboard to the other screen? Would this setup work?

The monitor I was thinking of getting is either this one: http://www.cclonline.com/product/115031/I2269VWM/Monitors/AOC-Value-line-i2269Vwm-21-5-inch-LCD-Monitor-1000-1-250cd/m2-1920x1080-6ms/MON2148/?siteID=TnL5HPStwNw-CK2Bp_O10YUBgL_j_Van6w

or this one: http://www.cclonline.com/product/192769/G2260VWQ6/Monitors/AOC-G2260VWQ6-Gaming-Series-21-5-inch-LCD-Monitor-1000-1-250cd/m2-1920x1080-1ms/MON3440/?siteID=TnL5HPStwNw-3nCVnPEHsEJkEk21NRtNhg

Now, neither of them have USB ports - but they both have 3 methods of connecting to the monitor; HDMI, DisplayPort and VGA. Now, for one screen, I'll be using HDMI to connect it to the laptop and for the second screen I'll be using DisplayPort to connect it to the laptop, but can I use the other available inputs of the montors to connect the mouse and keyboard to the monitors? Or does the mouse and keyboard have to be connected to the laptop only for it to work?

 

[hang-the-9]

Keep in mind that many laptops have a two display limit, so you may not be able to use the laptop screen along with the two monitors. And for a system without a docking station that means you need to setup an external mouse and keyboard, and disable the system from going to sleep when you close the lid unless you want to just keep the lid open with no display. I find that it gets in the way pretty badly that way though.

Thanks for this - I didn't think about that actually, good point. I'm not too concerned with having to have the laptop up (even if its blank screen), but if it goes to sleep after a while then any mouse/keyboard attached to it would also go to sleep, is that what you are saying? IF the monitors also had USB ports, could I connect the mouse to one of the screens, and the keyboard to the other screen? Would this setup work?

The monitor I was thinking of getting is either this one: http://www.cclonline.com/product/115031/I2269VWM/Monitors/AOC-Value-line-i2269Vwm-21-5-inch-LCD-Monitor-1000-1-250cd/m2-1920x1080-6ms/MON2148/?siteID=TnL5HPStwNw-CK2Bp_O10YUBgL_j_Van6w

or this one: http://www.cclonline.com/product/192769/G2260VWQ6/Monitors/AOC-G2260VWQ6-Gaming-Series-21-5-inch-LCD-Monitor-1000-1-250cd/m2-1920x1080-1ms/MON3440/?siteID=TnL5HPStwNw-3nCVnPEHsEJkEk21NRtNhg

Now, neither of them have USB ports - but they both have 3 methods of connecting to the monitor; HDMI, DisplayPort and VGA. Now, for one screen, I'll be using HDMI to connect it to the laptop and for the second screen I'll be using DisplayPort to connect it to the laptop, but can I use the other available inputs of the montors to connect the mouse and keyboard to the monitors? Or does the mouse and keyboard have to be connected to the laptop only for it to work?

Don't worry about the mouse and keyboard attached to the laptop, it will act the same was as a computer when it goes to sleep. You can connect the mouse and keyboard to a USB hub on the monitor but that is a bit of a round-about way of connecting things. The only benefit would be that you will need to unplug one less cord from the laptop to move it, which is pretty much 0 extra effort with having two monitors attached to it.

There is also something like this you can use, but the USB docks are a bit on the hacked side of things rather than a real docking station that attaches to a dedicated port https://www.asus.com/us/Notebooks-Accessory/USB30_HZ1_DOCKINGSTATION/

For a more robust solution, a business class model with a real dock is best for multiple monitor setups for a laptop, like this one http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&cs=04&l=en&sku=331-6307 with the Dell Latiude E series. I think the E5550 is in the same price range as the ASUS you want and will have a real dock connection.

 

[cwai90]

Hi,

I am planning on buying this laptop: http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/N551VW-FW238T-ASUS-N551VW-FW238T_1829315.html

In the description, it says it has both an HDMI port and a Mini DisplayPort. Does this mean I could connect two external monitors to this laptop without needing any other adapter? Specifically, could I buy two of these monitors and connect them both to my laptop simultaneously without needing any other equipment (and also would there be any lag?): http://www.europc.co.uk/professional-p2213-22-monitor-with-led-1680-x-1050-dell-3-year-warranty-112345.html

And if not, how else could I go about connecting those two monitors to that laptop?

Thanks!

Hi

The answer is NO if you'll buy 2 of those Dell P2213 monitor since it only has a Display Port but without a HDMI port. I would suggest getting a different 2nd monitor that has HDMI port on it. The ASUS laptop that you're planning to buy only has HDMI and Display port.

Hi - many thanks for this.

When I've been talking about having two screens, I mean for these two screens to be independent as well as simultaneous - by that I mean that I want the two screens to be able to show me two different displays, not just two screens of the same display...do you see what I'm saying? So for example, I want to have my laptop screen showing iTunes, Screen 1 (hooked up through standard HDMI) showing Excel and Screen 2 (hooked up via Mini DisplayPort-to-Display Port cable/adapter) showing Chrome - is ALL of this possible with the laptop I intend to buy? (linked here again for completeness: http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/N551VW-FW238T-ASUS-N551VW-FW238T_1829315.html

Will the following pieces of equipment allow me to do this?:

1. A standard HDMI cable (for Screen 1)

2. Mini DisplayPort to Display Port cable (for Screen 2)
http://www.kenable.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=246_205&products_id=4859

3. TWO of these monitors, (one to be connected via HDMI, the other to be connected via Mini DisplayPort-to-DisplayPort using the cable above)
http://www.cclonline.com/product/115031/I2269VWM/Monitors/AOC-Value-line-i2269Vwm-21-5-inch-LCD-Monitor-1000-1-250cd/m2-1920x1080-6ms/MON2148/?siteID=TnL5HPStwNw-CK2Bp_O10YUBgL_j_Van6w

Do let me know your thoughts on this!

Thanks!

Hi,
yes you can connect 2 or even 3 displays to your laptop.
Asus advertises its trinity support on their overview of the N551VW. Just type in the laptop's model into Google and its on Asus website