Computer Guru's: Dual Monitor system

Outlaw99

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the laptop I plan on getting will have at least one HDMI output. So you are saying that one HDMI output, plugged into a docking station, I can run 2 monitors?
 

rotor_powerd

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You will have USB out to the docking station, which has 2 display outputs. You can use the HDMI output on your laptop (If it has one) to have a third output. Then you could additionally use the laptop as a fourth display as long as the graphics card will support 3 or 4 displays.
 

robvas

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The new USB-C docks suck, IMO. They're flaky and have too many gotchas. Thunderbolt docks are a little better but still not as good as the old docks that you could just snap your laptop into.

I would go with a Lenovo ThinkPad P-series. They have the P15 or P17 depending on how big of a screen you want. And there are 3 video outputs (two Thunderbolt and one HDMI 2.0), so you can plug up to 3 monitors in. No dock needed!

Also, being a P-series you can cram all the memory and storage you want into it.

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BOOGIE MAN

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the laptop I plan on getting will have at least one HDMI output. So you are saying that one HDMI output, plugged into a docking station, I can run 2 monitors?
Through my nothing fancy laptop from 2016 I run two monitors through docking station, the laptop screen, plus a 32" tv plugged in through hdmi on laptop for a total of 4 screens

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Outlaw99

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Am I the only one that feels that you're making this too complicated than it is?

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LOL you are most likely correct, however, I am 50 years old now and techy stuff sometimes makes my brain melt a little. Back in the 70's my dad thought I was going to be a genius and own the world because I could hook up his huge ass VCR up and play tapes. I could also program it to record a show on a different channel and he thought that was out of this world. Theres too many darn variables for this stuff in my head. People are telling you just simply cant have 2 monitors for a single HDMI output of a laptop...but it my head I know it can be done I just dont know how being I have never done it before. Google search results can be more confusing when people start adding tech items in-between, and wires and port and docking stations and all kinds of crap. The techy stuff I am good at is multimedia high end video processing and editing...not so good at the actual hardware machine to do it on. Here is the VCR we had when I was a kid. We also had a big-ass microwave that my dad couldnt figure out how to operate because it had 2 huge knobs.

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ur bittn

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I’m not a PC guy either but we use NVIDIA at work. I think it’s a card so not sure if they have Laptop software.
 

RES0574

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the laptop I plan on getting will have at least one HDMI output. So you are saying that one HDMI output, plugged into a docking station, I can run 2 monitors?
I am running a Dell Precision 5510. I spend a decent amount of time in ACAD-Mechanical, Inventor Pro, SolidWorks, Rhino, and ShipConstructor. I have my laptop connected to a Dell Thunderbolt Dock WD19TB, with two Dell U3415W 34" Curved Monitors, with a couple of USB-3 items, network and speakers. It also provides power (130W) to my laptop while connected and running. At one of my clients facilities where I have a small office, I have the same arrangement except I am pushing two 27" Dell U2717D monitors with that set-up. I have a third set-up at my house in the OBX except I am using a Dell TB16, with two of the same U3415W 34" Monitors. I use either DisplayPort or Mini-DisplayPort connections for the monitors, and I have not had any issues with these arrangements.

If you would like more specific information, you can send me a PM. I prefer the ThunderBolt connection as I only have a single USB-C cable to plug in at all of these locations, and do not have to shed multiple connections when it is time to go. I rarely open my laptop anymore, so I have to remind myself to clean the dust off of the screen and vents every so often.
 

Outlaw99

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I am running a Dell Precision 5510. I spend a decent amount of time in ACAD-Mechanical, Inventor Pro, SolidWorks, Rhino, and ShipConstructor. I have my laptop connected to a Dell Thunderbolt Dock WD19TB, with two Dell U3415W 34" Curved Monitors, with a couple of USB-3 items, network and speakers. It also provides power (130W) to my laptop while connected and running. At one of my clients facilities where I have a small office, I have the same arrangement except I am pushing two 27" Dell U2717D monitors with that set-up. I have a third set-up at my house in the OBX except I am using a Dell TB16, with two of the same U3415W 34" Monitors. I use either DisplayPort or Mini-DisplayPort connections for the monitors, and I have not had any issues with these arrangements.

If you would like more specific information, you can send me a PM. I prefer the ThunderBolt connection as I only have a single USB-C cable to plug in at all of these locations, and do not have to shed multiple connections when it is time to go. I rarely open my laptop anymore, so I have to remind myself to clean the dust off of the screen and vents every so often.
Do I need to have USB-C output on the laptop?

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