Is it possible to do the above?
I have connected a VGA monitor and an HDMI monitor to the system.
When I try using all three outputs, I am given the option of Graphics Options: Output To
and then have options of using any two of the three possible output options.
Thanks!
You need a video dongle connected to a USB port. Even then, I seriously doubt the laptop has the grunt to power all three.
Given your unit is actively and intelligently avoiding letting you select on three devices at once I’d have to guess no.
I concur with Astro, if your system were capable of it, it’d let you do it. It’s not, so it won’t.
That’s not uncommon with laptops. I’ve known some Dell models that can run two external monitors, but only if they were plugged into a docking station. And IIRC those models were pretty rare, the feature probably cost extra.
What grunt power would it need, exactly?
It’s running an i7 and a fairly serious laptop gaming video setup.
AFAIK, laptops can drive:
- the built-in display
- the built-in display + 1 external display
- 1 external display + 1 external display
Nothing more. It isn’t so much a question of “grunt” as it is the graphics card can only drive two outputs at one time.
There is no generic answer, it varies with each laptop model. Try posting the question on the Lenovo forum and the Notebook Review forum, you’ll have a much better chance of finding someone who can answer the question authoritatively.
p.s. One response on this thread claims that the Y580 only supports 2 displays.
Lenovo does make a “USB 3.0 Dock” which has 2 DVI outputs. It’s basically a separate USB-connected video card. This should allow you to connect a 2nd external displays in addition to the 2 you have working already. Of course it will be much slower - perhaps unacceptable for any type of video playback.
I did some digging and your Y580 has 2 set of graphics - http://www.lenovo.com/psref/pdf/ipbook.pdf look for your entry and then your specs.
The i7 chip has it’s own on board GPU (video card - basically) that is the equivalent of an Intel HD 4000.
That card can handle 3 outputs but only with a certain chipset (Z75/Z77).
At least that was my reading. All versions of your models seem to have the HM76 chipset (whatever that is - I’m sure it’s good though since it’s a high end rig).
In the review I just linked too, they test the HD4000’s performance so I guess some manufacturers are going to use the onboard GPU. But it looks like Lenovo wanted to go with nvidia.
Normally, you’d just go into the bios, enable the onboard GPU, enable dual GPU’s and then let the operating system sort things out. You’d just have to set one as the primary.
Here though, you have 3 ports. My guess is 2 are for nvidia and one is for the HD4000. I’d look into that if you find that the GT660M doesn’t support 3 displays.
[URL=“The 7 Series Chipset & USB 3.0 - The Intel Ivy Bridge (Core i7 3770K) Review”]
On high performance gaming laptops, the usual configuration is a low-power graphics adapter for battery use, and a high-power graphics adapter for on-power gaming, and some suitable switching between the two. They are not capable of dual GPU operation, and the physical outputs are connected to whichever is active at the time.
I’m pretty confident you will only get dual output (although you might manage dual output with one screen also cloned on to the laptop display).