Optimus VII - support for two external monitors plus internal?

[Lum]

I have an Optimus VII. I notice it has both MiniDP and HDMI ports on the back. I was wondering if, with appropriate adaptors, I could hook up both my 1920x1200 DVI monitors to the laptop, and use them simultaneously along with the internal screen to create a triple monitor setup.

I do this with my work's Dell E6430 (plus docking station) already, but the Intel HD4000 graphics in that are funny about it and require you to use active DisplayPort adaptors. It doesn't work with DVI, HDMI or VGA for more than two displays. I know the base graphics for this machine are Intel HD530. Does the same issue apply here? Will I need an active MiniDP -> 2xDVI, or can I get away with a passive DP->DVI adaptor and obviously a cheapo HDMI->DVI cable.

Pic of the intended setup:

It's complicated by a dual-DVI KVM switch, but the idea is to have the internal laptop displays monitoring eMail and IMs for both work and personal, with the main monitors for whatever I'm doing.

 

[ubuysa]

Try these Intel graphics FAQs: https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/graphics-drivers/000005580.html

 

[Lum]

Try these Intel graphics FAQs: https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/graphics-drivers/000005580.html

Unfortunately it boils down to "ask your computer manufacturer, as it depends on how it's wired up and what the BIOS is like".

 

[ubuysa]

Unfortunately it boils down to "ask your computer manufacturer, as it depends on how it's wired up and what the BIOS is like".

Ok then, give PCS a call. I doubt anyone one here knows those details.

 

[Lum]

PCS's answer was a little vague. I have an adaptor on the way (found one for 3 quid) will test it myself and report back.

 

[Lum]

Ok, I can confirm that it works, and that a £3 passive Mini-DP to DVI adaptor is sufficient.

However if you like your window animations, it should probably be noted that the onboard Intel graphics do struggle with a desktop this size (1080x1920 + 1920x1200 + 1920x1200). They're fine doing the usual minimise maximise animations, and can even handle Glass8, but going in and out of task view stutters like hell. Though TBH if you're using virtual desktops, on a triple-monitor setup, on a laptop, you may be trying to do too much as it is!

Shiny picture:

 

[Oussebon]

Can you force use of the dGPU to improve performance I wonder? I assume it's not running on battery when you're using it with that setup so power draw shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Lum]

I don't think you can. Optimus on these seems to render individual apps to a framebuffer and then bit it over to a single window on the Intel card.

If there's a way to make it exclusively nvidia that would be awesome for this setup. I already have autohotkey startup scripts to position my apps based on monitor config so switching GPU setup would be a good addition.

 

[Lum]

Well it turns out that the displayport is driven off the nVidia chipset, and the internal display and HDMI are driven off the Intel. Presumably any app being rendered on the "wrong" graphics card is getting blitted across, and so with 3 monitors you're always going to have massive amounts of data being chucked about when entering taskview.

That said, I've swapped it so my middle monitor is running off the nVidia which should in theory give a marginal latency improvement in gaming and finally sort that annoying diagonal tear problem that Optimus has had all year with no fix in sight!