We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Multi-Monitor Setup using Laptop

Options
Hello,

I want to connect my Lenovo laptop to TWO Dell monitors, so that will be 3 screens in total including the laptops screen. However I only need the laptop to act as a PC, I don't need its screen.

As my Lenovo laptop only has a single HDMI output I purchased a Techole HDMI Splitter (Model: HS306) to enable me to connect to both Dell monitors.

The problem I have found is that I cannot get the 2 Dell monitors to be the main displays that can both display 2 different windows applications at the same time, e.g. MS Word on one monitor and Gimp on the other monitor, even with the laptop screen OFF. I only seem to have the choice of:

1) Laptop screen only.
2) Laptop showing MS Word + 2 Dell monitors showing Gimp.
3) Laptop screen OFF + 2 Dell monitors showing identical applications.

It may be that Windows 10 only seems to detect 2 monitors, 1 for the laptop, and 1 for BOTH Dell monitors. Or it may be that the Intel(R) UHD Graphics 620 on-board graphics chip does not supports enough monitors. 

If anyone knows what could be going on please let me know. The image below shows exactly what I am trying to achieve.

Many Thanks.


«1

Comments

  • fwor
    fwor Posts: 6,861 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    An HDMI splitter is a simple device. It simply takes a single HDMI output and replicates it so that two monitors can display the same thing. It cannot be configured as two separate displays showing two different things.
  • debitcardmayhem
    debitcardmayhem Posts: 12,689 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 16 October 2020 at 2:20AM
    has your laptop got a usb-c / usb 3.x port? Tell us what model it is that may help
    4.8kWp 12x400W Longhi 9.6 kWh battery Giv-hy 5.0 Inverter, WSW facing Essex . Aint no sunshine ☀️ Octopus gas fixed dec 24 @ 5.74 tracker again+ Octopus Intelligent Flux leccy
  • Emmia
    Emmia Posts: 5,578 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    How have you got the "display settings" set up? Does windows detect there that there are 3 devices e.g. your laptop + screen 1 + screen 2?

    I use "extend display" with my laptop + 1 screen with the bigger screen as my "main display" but i can have different windows open (and maximised) on each with different applications running e.g. email on one, and MS Word on the other - does that offer the functionality you need?
  • Sandtree
    Sandtree Posts: 10,628 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper
    fwor said:
    An HDMI splitter is a simple device. It simply takes a single HDMI output and replicates it so that two monitors can display the same thing. It cannot be configured as two separate displays showing two different things.
    I think you are overselling the sophistication of most splitters... they are generally just dual wired and no active elements at all though in the case of the OP's device it is marginally better to deal with HDCP.

    OP - you need to confirm what model your laptop is so that people can advise. There are a few box of tricks that allow two monitors to connect to one HDMI port and show unique content (though your computer will still show it being connected to one monitor but an ultra widescreen one) but their cost is north of £100 and therefore there may be cheaper options depending on what ports your laptop has.
  • IQ225
    IQ225 Posts: 9 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture First Post Combo Breaker
    fwor said:
    An HDMI splitter is a simple device. It simply takes a single HDMI output and replicates it so that two monitors can display the same thing. It cannot be configured as two separate displays showing two different things.
    Yes, that is correct. However the only other available device I can see is an HDMI switch but this only allows you switch to either one display or the other I think, and that wouldn't work either. If you know of any other "HDMI only" devices that would sort the problem please let me know. The monitors ONLY have HDMI connections unfortunately.
    Thank you.
  • IQ225
    IQ225 Posts: 9 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture First Post Combo Breaker
    Emmia said:
    How have you got the "display settings" set up? Does windows detect there that there are 3 devices e.g. your laptop + screen 1 + screen 2?

    I use "extend display" with my laptop + 1 screen with the bigger screen as my "main display" but i can have different windows open (and maximised) on each with different applications running e.g. email on one, and MS Word on the other - does that offer the functionality you need?
    Hello,
    I have gone through all the display options listed below (results shown), however it may be the on-board Intel(R) UHD G620 Graphics chip or its driver (version: 26.29.100.7323) that is causing the problem.

    DUPLICATE THESE DISPLAYS

    Under this setting the laptop and 2 Dell monitors display exactly the same image. I also see [1I2] in the "Rearrange your display" window.

    EXTEND THESE DISPLAYS

    Under this setting the laptop can display MS Word and the 2 Dell monitors display can display GIMP (so the 2 Dell monitors are acting as one screen). I also see [1] [2] in the "Rearrange your display" window.

    SHOW ONLY ON 1

    Under this setting the laptop screen is ON only, the 2 Dell monitors have gone OFF. I also see [1] [2] in the "Rearrange your display" window.

    SHOW ONLY ON 2

    Under this setting the laptop screen is OFF and the 2 Dell monitors are displaying exactly the same image. (so the 2 Dell monitors are acting as one screen). I also see [2] [1] in the "Rearrange your display" window.
  • IQ225
    IQ225 Posts: 9 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture First Post Combo Breaker
    has your laptop got a usb-c / usb 3.x port? Tell us what model it is that may help
    The laptop has 1x HDMI connection 1x USB-C connection, however the 2 Dell monitors only have HDMI connections.
  • Were_Doomed
    Were_Doomed Posts: 699 Forumite
    500 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 16 October 2020 at 11:48AM
    You've failed to answer the most important question:
    has your laptop got a usb-c / usb 3.x port? Tell us what model it is that may help
    Depending on the model it may be feasible to use a USB C port as a video output via a suitable converter. (My work Dell laptop has 2x USB C ports which connect to a docking station - this dock connects to 2x monitors, and I can use all 3 screens ... laptop and 2x monitors. These USB C connections are the only links between my laptop and the dock, so the screen driving is using those links).
  • stragglebod
    stragglebod Posts: 1,324 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    Get a docking station. There are loads of cheap Lenovo docking stations on ebay. Make sure the dock allows you to use 2 digital video outs simultaneously - some of the older ones only allow you to use one analogue and one digital simultaneously.
  • TrickyDicky101
    TrickyDicky101 Posts: 3,529 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    edited 16 October 2020 at 9:19PM
    A cheap(er) option might be to try a USB C to HDMI cable - or just name the model of laptop so others can confirm whether the C can output video.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.8K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.8K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.8K Life & Family
  • 257.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.