Running 3x monitors on Dell Laptop Docking station

[drjones]

Hi, have a client who has a Dell Precision M6800 Laptop, with the following specs & accessories:
16GB RAM
Nvidia Quadro K2200M w/2GB GDDR5
Intel HD Graphics 4600
256GB 2.5inch SATA Solid State Drive
Windows 7 Professional 64bit
Docking station:
Dell E-Port Plus, 240W Advanced Port Replicator.
Monitors:
3x Samsung Samsung U28D590 Monitors - has 2 HDMI ports and one DisplayPort.


We're simply trying to get all three of his Samsung monitors to run simultaneously. We have two of the Samsungs plugged into the docking station's two DisplayPorts and the third monitor plugged directly into the laptop's HDMI port. The docking station only has a VGA for a third video input.

When I open the nVidia Control panel, go to configure multiple displays, it shows / recognizes all three monitors and has checkboxes next to each monitor you want to configure; it doesn't allow me to check all three boxes.

Best I've been able to do is get one of the monitors running, along with the laptop display, but we'd like to just have all three monitors running.

Please help.
Thanks!!

 

[nlinecomputers]

That unit only has two video out puts. The Display Ports or DVI. If you pick one the other is shut down. You are only going to get two outputs if it is the model I recall correctly.

 

[drjones]

That unit only has two video out puts. The Display Ports or DVI. If you pick one the other is shut down. You are only going to get two outputs if it is the model I recall correctly.

Correct; the dock has a VGA and then two extra outputs; Video 1 and Video 2. There are both DVI & DisplayPort outputs, but they're for the same video output...see attached image.

So....crap...there's no way to do this? Perhaps with a USB to DisplayPort adapter? Bummer, but that's what this guy gets for not ordering the laptop through me. ;-)
He's insistent the Dell rep he spoke with told him this config would run 3x monitors simultaneously...

 

[nlinecomputers]

I think it can using the VGA and both DP outputs. But your monitor does not support VGA.

 

[drjones]

I think it can using the VGA and both DP outputs. But your monitor does not support VGA.

Correct, and VGA wouldn't come close to supporting the resolution of those monitors anyway....so again, the only solution here is a USB graphics adapter, right?

 

[nlinecomputers]

Don't know. Never used one of those before. If he wants 3 large scale monitors he really needs a real desktop PC not some laptop. He is trying use a sedan to the work of dully pickup.

 

[drjones]

Don't know. Never used one of those before. If he wants 3 large scale monitors he really needs a real desktop PC not some laptop. He is trying use a sedan to the work of dully pickup.

Oh I know...again, had he consulted me prior to purchasing this, I definitely would have steered him in that direction....
FWIW, I've installed several of those StarTech USB to DVI / HDMI / whatever adapters and they work really well.
Obviously not a preferred solution, but for some situations they work great.

Thanks for the help.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Can he not return it?

 

[drjones]

I do not believe so, but I'll run it by him. For some reason he's stuck on the idea of having a laptop, even though it's a 17" beast - not at all light or fun to carry around, nor does he travel *that* much....

 

[nlinecomputers]

Yep first thing I tell a client that asks me about a laptop is that buying one is ALWAYS a compromise. One feature or another will be sacrificed.

 

[drjones]

....especially when they make purchases without consulting their IT Pro. ;-)

 

[TAPtech]

It is a laptop, but those Dell M6*** are beasts! Might be able to use the intel HD to drive a monitor and the quadro to drive 2?

In all likelihood the USB adapter is your best bet.

 

[glricht]

I have a customer running a Dell Latitude E6540 that I setup with 3 external monitors plus the laptop's display for a total of 4 monitors. Don't remember the exact resolution of each screen, but it's pretty high as he uses various programs to monitor the stock market in real time.

I used multiple Plugable USB 3.0 UGA Multi-Display Adapters to do it. Comes with adapters to connect using VGA, DVI and HDMI. See
http://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Grap...ds=Plugable+USB+3.0+UGA+Multi-Display+Adapter

 

[allanc]

Hi, have a client who has a Dell Precision M6800 Laptop, with the following specs & accessories:
16GB RAM
Nvidia Quadro K2200M w/2GB GDDR5
Intel HD Graphics 4600
256GB 2.5inch SATA Solid State Drive
Windows 7 Professional 64bit
Docking station:
Dell E-Port Plus, 240W Advanced Port Replicator.
Monitors:
3x Samsung Samsung U28D590 Monitors - has 2 HDMI ports and one DisplayPort.


We're simply trying to get all three of his Samsung monitors to run simultaneously. We have two of the Samsungs plugged into the docking station's two DisplayPorts and the third monitor plugged directly into the laptop's HDMI port. The docking station only has a VGA for a third video input.

When I open the nVidia Control panel, go to configure multiple displays, it shows / recognizes all three monitors and has checkboxes next to each monitor you want to configure; it doesn't allow me to check all three boxes.

Best I've been able to do is get one of the monitors running, along with the laptop display, but we'd like to just have all three monitors running.

Please help.
Thanks!!

I don't know the specs of your notebook or dock.
However, I had a situation where a Lenovo desktop did not live up to its specs in terms of monitors that it supported.
It should have supported 5 monitors including the onboard and added graphics card but only worked with 2!
I did some research. updated all drivers that were graphics related and then all monitors worked as advertised.

 

[drjones]

It is a laptop, but those Dell M6*** are beasts! Might be able to use the intel HD to drive a monitor and the quadro to drive 2?

In all likelihood the USB adapter is your best bet.

Re: Intel HD: I don't think so; I said in my OP that we have 2 of the Samsung monitors plugged into the docking station via DP, and the third plugged in via HDMI; I would imagine the HDMI is being driven by the intel graphics, right?

In any case, there's just no other way to configure this that I can see using any of the native display outputs; seems USB is our only option....but thanks!

 

[drjones]

I don't know the specs of your notebook or dock.
However, I had a situation where a Lenovo desktop did not live up to its specs in terms of monitors that it supported.
It should have supported 5 monitors including the onboard and added graphics card but only worked with 2!
I did some research. updated all drivers that were graphics related and then all monitors worked as advertised.

Thanks; I believe I already checked Dell's site for graphics card driver updates & there weren't any; he's running the most current driver. Unless I should check nVidia's site directly?

 

[drjones]

OK I'm working with the client remotely now; I had him unplug the HDMI from the laptop, keeping only the two DisplayPorts connected to the docking station; when we do this, the nVidia / Intel HD will not allow the laptop screen to show resolution higher than 1920x1080.
Very bizarre....

 

[allanc]

Thanks; I believe I already checked Dell's site for graphics card driver updates & there weren't any; he's running the most current driver. Unless I should check nVidia's site directly?

As long as you back-up your existing drivers first.

 

[drjones]

So we got & installed a Plugable brand, USB 3.0, 4k DisplayPort to USB adapter - works OK but the colors are all messed up & do not render properly; people appear blue, the windows background on other screens is blue, this monitor shows as orange.

I downloaded the latest driver for this device from the site, no help....ideas?

 

[allanc]

So we got & installed a Plugable brand, USB 3.0, 4k DisplayPort to USB adapter - works OK but the colors are all messed up & do not render properly; people appear blue, the windows background on other screens is blue, this monitor shows as orange.

I downloaded the latest driver for this device from the site, no help....ideas?

Pins bent or broken or not seated properly?