Considering their rarity and newness, I thought I would start a thread where we could mention the laptops we come across that are capable of 4-7 high resolution displays (including the internal display). I'd like us to leave out "low resolution" USB connected monitors and stick to greater than 1024x768 capable laptops and displays. This will mean the external displays will be connected via VGA, HDMI, and/or DisplayPort.
Fully integrated into Windows XP™, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and MAC OSX
1080p output picture resolution
Supported Windows Aero mode
Stand alone device
Fully USB 2.0 bus powered
Compatible with all flat panel monitors
Compatible with all CRT monitors, up to 2048x1152 resolution
Standard and wide-screen ratio aspects
High-definition displays
Easy plug and play installation
Mirror or extend in any direction
Supports up to six displays 1 display per device. Maximum 6 devices per system
80% less power than a dual-head video card
It might depend on your overall hardware/software environment, but the USB 2.0 display adapters can be quite hit-and-miss, including stability and reliability. Due to the much lower bandwidth of USB 2.0 screen redrawing can be noticeably slow even with something as relatively static as charts, and the more of these USB 2.0 adapters you try to add, the more possible it might be for Windows to sputter and die.
If you have at least 1 USB 3.0 port (or can install one some way), you can much more reliably get at least 5 external monitors running, with little to no performance hit, and with fairly solid reliability.
And this video demonstrates 6 such adapters/monitors running; I've talked to folks who are pushing 4 or more external monitors via USB 3.0 from a laptop, that were endlessly frustrated in a USB 2.0 environment.
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Do the USB adapters use the CPU for processing power to the external displays, instead of a graphics card? Would a discrete graphics card solution be more stable/reliable than using adapters? It would seem logical that adapters are inherently less stable. I am looking to buy or build a new system, and considering stability, and even the cost of multiple adapters likely not being cheaper than a graphics card, seems a dedicated card may be better.
I think it entirely depends on the particular device that is being used. If the device is only using USB as the OS/driver interface and physical connection then in theory it shouldn't be using the CPU to implement hardware functionality (which is what you're referring to).
In the video they show 3 cores being very active and I suspect that is a result of the 3 videos being played without a dedicated hardware decoder. My thinking is that majority of the hardwares rendering functionality is built into the device and a driver is being used to interact with that hardware.
Another interesting comment they made is that the driver is provided by Windows Update (which I'm in favor of: convenient, reliable, single source for updates). So either they are using their third-party vendors driver (which customers would rely on for bug fixes) or they are providing their proprietary driver to Microsoft for distribution (ideal). You might give that particular manufacturer a call. I would ask them about CPU overhead and whether the Windows Update driver is a driver provided by a third-party or their proprietary driver.
Either way, so far, these devices and the manufacturer look very promising and more appealing compared to a docking solution like those provided by Lenovo. Unfortunately the W540 mentioned above and other Lenovo laptops, compared to their previous versions, have not been getting very favorable reviews by IT professionals. Maybe I'll consider another vendor or I'll have to settle, not sure. At least these USB 3.0 devices give us many more options to choose from. My search continues.
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What is the benefit of such a solution using multiple additional adapters, ports, and drivers vs a simple docking station or discrete graphics card which seems more proven/stable/simple?
Also with the docking station/discrete graphics card options, how do they physically connect to multiple screens using a laptop?
Also, same question as above with multiple screens on the Thunderbolt solutions?
@tigertrader, are you using one of these laptops? I tried to configure one and it looks like they come with two monitor outputs, ie an HDMI, and either a DisplayPort or Thunderbolt. Additional screens would still need an adapter/hub solution.
Is this how all multiple monitor laptops are set up, or are there any that support multiple outputs natively without adapters?
I wouldn't consider these 4-7 display capable laptops and docks "proven". They use the latest and greatest GPU hardware and drivers and docking connections. I have read that some IT professionals have had issues with some LCD displays being recognized by the dock for multi-display capability, others have no issues. Which means you would have to seek out specific tested displays or go through trial and error and hope you get lucky.
They may be considered more simple in the sense that all you need to do is slide your laptop into the dock, but that also has the potential to break or become damaged. Then you're stuck.
One thing about docks that doesn't appeal to me at all is that the multi-display laptop + dock PC solutions I have come across require the usage of multiple adapter type connections. Meaning, you may have two or so screens connected by DisplayPort, two or so by DVI/HDMI, and two or so connected via VGA (Source: Lenovo W540 documentation). I've yet to come across a laptop 5-7 display solution that allows you to use only one or even two digital connection types. Given I don't know if this also applies to the USB 3.0 solutions, but I doubt it. I suspect the reason the dock solutions do this is to accommodate customers still using VGA displays.
Most multi-display capable laptop PCs (as opposed to certain Macbook Pros) only allow up to two daisy chained mini-DisplayPort conected displays without a dock.
As mentioned above they provide multiple displays using multiple adapter types via the dock: DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI, VGA (Source: Lenovo W540 documentation) . The only alternative and the only way to connect a display via multiple mini-DisplayPort connections is to use a dock that provides a PCI slot which you could install a graphics card. These seem pretty rare.
Just to clarify, most PC laptops, docks, and PCI graphics cards do not provide Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt and mini-DisplayPort connection types are compatible, but Thunderbolt allows DisplayPort to traverse the wire, but DisplayPort alone doesn't not allow Thunderbolt to traverse the wire.
i have 2 of their desktops and have not purchased a laptop from them, yet. i would imagine you could get a laptop with multiple video cards and hence multiple ports, but i am no techie. give them a call -they are great to work with.
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Due to complications/issues with adapters and such, decided to stick with a desktop for primary trading workstation, and a simple laptop with just one external output for backup and travel purposes.
