Laptop with DisplayPort/VGA to 2 monitors withHDMI/D-SUB/DVI-D

[shadowtrader]

I would like to connect two ASUS VS229H-P monitors to my Lenovo T420s.

The Lenovo T420s has 1 DisplayPort and 1 VGA and the ASUS VS229H-P monitor that has HDMI/D-SUB/DVI-D

Can I get recommendations on how to connect them?

Thanks,

 

[Kari]

DP-to-DVI active adapter,
vga to d-sub (it's the exact same connector)

 

[shadowtrader]

DP-to-DVI active adapter,
vga to d-sub (it's the exact same connector)

Thanks Kari.

Will there any difference in image quality between the DP to DVI active adapter and the vgs to d-sub?

 

[Kari]

Thanks Kari.

Will there any difference in image quality between the DP to DVI active adapter and the vgs to d-sub?

there might be some blurryness on the vga signal, but if you take your time to calibrate that monitor properly the difference shouldn't be too obvious. Since the analog signal doesn't adjust some settings automatically you'd need to set the clock/phase settings on the monitor manually and also adjust the size of the image so it fits the monitor pixel perfectly (either via OSD on the monitor or in the graphic drivers) if the size is even one step off the ideal there will be some blurryness somewhere on the screen since the signal and the physicall pixels dont match. Easiest method is have a light colored background image and then to have the mouse cursor at the very edge of the screen, for example on the right hand side the outermost black line of the cursor should still be visible (rest of the cursor being off screen) and if you move the image one step further that way the line of pixels should disappear so that'd be too far, so back up a step. Rinse and repeat for every side really...
http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/
^^some helpfull test pics to help with the calibration.

edit typos, typos everywhere

 

[shadowtrader]

there might be some blurryness on the vga signal, but if you take your time to calibrate that monitor properly the difference shouldn't be too obvious. Since the analog signal doesn't adjust some settings automatically you'd need to set the clock/phase settings on the monitor manually and also adjust the size of the image so it fits the monitor pixel perfectly (either via OSD on the monitor or in the graphic drivers) if the size is even one step off the ideal there will be some blurryness somewhere on the screen since the signal and the physicall pixels dont match. Easiest method is have a light colored background image and then to have the mouse cursor at the very edge of the screen, for example on the right hand side the outermost black line of the cursor should still be visible (rest of the cursor being off screen) and if you move the image one step further that way the line of pixels should disappear so that'd be too far, so back up a step. Rinse and repeat for every side really...
http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/
^^some helpfull test pics to help with the calibration.

edit typos, typos everywhere

Thanks Kari.

This is a 3 display setup, right? I don't lose the laptop display, do I?

 

[Kari]

Thanks Kari.

This is a 3 display setup, right? I don't lose the laptop display, do I?

not sure on that one, depends on the gpu used in your laptop...
let me google that model number..

 

[Kari]

from the datasheet http://www.lenovo.com/shop/americas/content/pdf/system_data/t420s_tech_specs.pdf

Intel HD Graphics 3000 in processor,
external analog monitor support via VGA DB-15 connector and
digital monitor support via DisplayPort (supports single-link DVI-D via cable 45J7915);
supports dual independent display;
Maximum external resolution: 2560x1600 (DisplayPort)@60Hz;
2048x1536 (VGA)@75Hz; 1920x1200@60Hz (single-link DVI-D via cable 45J7915)

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/laptops/thinkpad/t-series/t420s

looks like it can only drive 2 displays at once...


edit too hasty, if your laptop is one of the optimus models (has nvidia chip as well) then it can drive 3 displays

NVIDIA® Optimus™ technology, auto-switch between discrete and integrated graphics,
Intel HD Graphics 3000 in processor, and
NVIDIA NVS™ 4200M, PCI Express® x16, 1GB memory,
external analog monitor support via VGA DB-15 connector and
digital monitor support via DisplayPort (supports single-link DVI-D via cable 45J7915);
supports three independent displays;
Maximum external resolution: 2560x1600 (DisplayPort)@60Hz;
2048x1536 (VGA)@75Hz; 1920x1200@60Hz (single-link DVI-D via cable 45J7915)

 

[shadowtrader]

So it looks like I need to buy one of those USB to DVI adapters if I want a 3 display setup...

Thank you so much for your help.

 

[shadowtrader]

Best answer selected by shadowtrader.

 

[Kari]

I hope you saw the edit about optimus models? ^^