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Started by adamwilliams10 | | 3 answers
USB Dock/Hub to provide two monitors from a Laptop. Will it work? Which one?
Hi,

I'm not technical and I am here seeking advice from professionals :) 

As i am undertaking more and more work from home i've been wanting to set myself up with a Desktop as since school I have been reliant on Laptops.

Now tasting dual screens at work (2 x 22" inch), I want a home setup mainly for that reason. I only have very small amounts of data stored so big hard drives are not a problem. It's literally just for improving my productivity, multi-tasking and nothing too labour intensive programme wise (no gaming, no hardcore photoshop or rendering etc.).

I have just realised that a laptop I got given by a year ago, has an i7 processor and 8gb of RAM, ok, it is a Sony, but nonetheless I was thinking that it could possibly save the need for buying a desktop and power my home system?

This brings me to the main point - USB hubs/Docks, I saw a collegue use one once to get an extra screen, and I know I could just use the HDMI output to get one extra screen but i'm looking at getting two and a wireless keyboard so that I can plug this in, shut the lid and work away on the desk system.

Would this work?
Any recommendations?
Any thoughts on anything i've said?
How Would my laptop know to manage the screens? would i need to get anything extra internally?
Could I mix the inputs, ie one HDMI as I have a spare lcd telly for one monitor and buy another which would probably be DVI?

I work for a small IT Support company but i'm too ashamed to ask any of our resident geeks :) 

Thanks in advance!!!
Adam
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June 4, 2014 4:41:22 PM

Thanks for the quick reply.

I have a HDMI Out on the Laptop and HDMI LCD TV Screen so would connect that probably via HD cable.

I was thinking more along the lines of one of these http://www.computerworld.com/slideshow/detail/70173#sli... .

That way- if that is a feasible option- I could have all peripherals, such as wireless mouse, keyboard, two screens, possibly even speakers, set up through that, and just one cable would be required to go the laptop, which makes it easier IF i did ever need to take the laptop mobile for any period of time. It would just be usb plug out and away I go?

Thoughts?
a b D Laptop
June 4, 2014 4:25:22 PM

Monitor#1 - HDMI via HDM cable (if HDMI monitor) or DVI (use HDMI->DVI cable or HDMI cable with HDMI->DVI adapter)

Monitor#2 - USB http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=101&cp_id=10114&c...

I've never used the USB device, but I'd imagine all three monitors are setup with your video control panel (Intel, AMD, or NVidia as appropriate).

The best setup is probably:
Monitor#1 - HDMI->DVI cable

Monitor#2 - USB->DVI adapter

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