Connecting external monitors to laptop

[GeekGirlInFurs]

Hi. I am using a Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 with Windows 10 Pro with one external monitor attached. That monitor is set to expand the desktop, rather than just duplicate the image on the built in screen. I would like to add a second external monitor that would add another expansion of the desktop. I have so far only been able to connect one external and have it do what I want.

The laptop is USB 3 with one USB-A and one USB-C connector. The external monitors have VGA and and DVI connectors. I am using this USB-C interface to connect the monitors: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08XX ... title?th=1

When I plug in just one monitor to either the VGA or the DVA port of the adapter, everything works as expected: Windows sees both monitor and lets me extend the desktop.

When I add the second monitor to the adapter (either via VGA or DVI, depending on which has been attached first), Windows responds by sending the same "duplicated" image to both the connected external monitors, with the resolution settings of the second one attached. Windows does not see three monitors, only two — its native built-in screen and the one external.

I wouldn't think it matters, but the resolution of the laptop's screen is 2496 x 1504, and the two externals are 2448 x 1152, and 1920 x 1200.

Is there any way of doing this? Is it a limitation of the laptop, the adapter, Windows 10 itself?

Thank you!

[HansV]

The description mentions "HDMI DVI VGA can work simultaneously, but the maximum resolution is 1080P or 720P, and all monitors display Same content".
So I assume that it is a limitation of the adapter.

[GeekGirlInFurs]

Hmm.... Duh on my part. Thank you for the reply, Hans.

So then, in principle, this should work, assuming the adapter is not limited, and this is not a limitation of Windows or the device.

Can you recommend an adapter or adapter type I might use?

[HansV]

Perhaps you can daisy-chain the monitors - see the "Connect monitors in series" section in How to use a laptop with multiple monitors: The ultimate guide.

[HansV]

I have no experience with this setup myself, but a quick search turned up this USB C Docking Station with dual monitor adapter.

[stuck]

When my workplace was shutdown by the pandemic (in 2020), our team all worked from home using laptops and at least one external monitor. In my case, I had two external monitors and Windows had no trouble extending the Desktop from the laptop panel across both monitors, i.e. I had three screens in total.

My setup was:
    a Dell (Latitude) laptop
connected via its USB-C port to:
    a Dell Docking Station
connected to:
    two identical Dell monitors

I think both of my monitors were connected to the docking station using Display Port cables (but they might have used HDMI or even one of each). The USB-C port on the laptop both received power in from the docking station, keeping the laptop running, and delivered video out, via the dock to the external monitors, i.e. it was the docking station that was key component. Sorry, I can't remember which Dell docking station it was I had.

When the pandemic lockdowns were all over, our team never went back to the office so I continued to work from home until I retired in 2022, when, sadly, I was obliged to return the laptop etc. to the office. it would have been nice to have been allowed to keep the kit.

Ken

[GeekGirlInFurs]

Thanks again, Hans, and Stuck/Ken for your replies.

Looks like the issue is the adapter, as I kind of expected and hoped.

Now to find an adapter that will support what I want to do AND that has outputs for the two "pre-existing" monitors that I want to use with it, which have only VGA and DVI ports.

[stuck]

A quick search found this dock:
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/d/surfa ... verviewtab
It's not cheap but is the sort of thing I had (only mine was Dell flavoured, probably one of the WD19S models: https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/docks/a ... ents=31465).

Ken

[stuck]

If you need VGA and DVI, another search finds this:
    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Surface-Micros ... B0BNK8RCRG

Ken

[BobH]

Hmmm.

Thanks for this post GGIF. I use a Dell Inspiron laptop with a single Acer 24" LED monitor. I have a couple of others that I could set up. I must confess that I don't know how that would be an advantage for me and the way I use the computer.

Could you explain how having 3 or more monitors is more beneficial to you?

Thanks again for provoking the thought.

[GeekGirlInFurs]

The way I have the second monitor set up now, it sits directly behind the laptop, and the Windows display setting is set up so that the extended monitor is above the native screen, rather than to the side. So I drag things between them up and down. (There is a edge margin where they don't align and where the mouse can't transition, as the "bigger" extended monitor has a lower resolution and is in fact smaller than the lappy's screen, as far as how Windows displays the configuration. Not really a problem.)

This works well. But another monitor of roughly the same physical and display specs would let me extend the "rear" desktop horizontally. I often have many windows, toolbars, plugins, etc open, being dragged from place to place. So more screen real estate is always good.

Of course, when I disconnect the laptop and use it remotely, all of that stuff collapses onto the single screen. Not sure if there's any way of preventing that... or of restoring a previous layout upon reconnection. Hmm... is it possible that switching to a second Windows "Desktop", and disconnecting the laptop from there, would somehow retain the layout? I would guess not... since the display settings are more global or deeper.... might be worth trying though....

[stuck]

...Could you explain how having 3 or more monitors is more beneficial to you?...

In my case, having so much Desktop space meant I could arrange multiple applications in such a way that I could switch between them with minimal effort.

The laptop panel was my right hand monitor and I kept MS Teams on it, vital for incoming calls / chats. The centre monitor was my main workspace, most often Excel but Word and the front end to our business db system (which ran in Firefox) were close seconds. The left hand monitor had Outlook and Explorer.

A typical work scenario went like this...

An email arrives on the left hand monitor and was very quickly noticed. Its contents required me to access a particular file. One click to bring Explorer to the front, browse to the file in highly organised hierarchical folder structure. Double click to open file and the relevant application opens on the centre monitor. I do what had to be done, perhaps digging into the VBE, which would open on the left hand screen. Often I'd need to speak to someone about what I'd done, a matter of moments to turn to my right and contact the relevant person via Teams. If I needed to share / demo something I would share the centre screen, the person I was speaking to was still visible on the laptop panel.

It was a very efficient way of working.

If I had space in my home study I would set up a second monitor there. Such an arrangement would allow me to have all my photo editing tools on the secondary screen while the image I'm working on, maximised, on the main screen. Or, run my genealogical db system on the main screen, with an interactive family tree, to allow easy navigation, on the secondary one.

If you regularly use / switch between multiple applications then once you've used a multi-monitor set up you'll never go back to a single monitor.

Ken

[GeekGirlInFurs]

Thanks again for these replies, suggestions, and discussion.

It's been years since I've had to concern myself with monitor and display matters. The two external monitors I have are VGA and DVI only. No HDMI, no USB. When I upgraded my computers to be Surface laptops with USB-C-only, I got a couple of adapters (the ones mentioned in my OP) and all was well. But I now find myself in less than blissful ignorance of more modern display tech when it comes to adding a second monitor to further extend the desktop on one of the devices.

As I understand it, this adaptor and monitor combination should let do what I want.

USB C to Dual HDMI VGA Adapter
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXPMR5J6/?c ... dp_it&th=1

Sceptre 4K IPS 27" 3840 x 2160
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098HQ8YRX/?c ... _lig_dp_it

The adaptor would let me connect both the 4K monitor and my current 1920 x 1200 24" 16:10 VGA monitor at the same time, in extended mode, and have both monitors operating at their maximum resolution, where neither interfered with or limited the operation of the other.

Does that look right to you all? If not, what am I missing?

How about these alternate items?
ADAPTOR:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHW61Y3K/?c ... dp_it&th=1

MONITOR:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081PSV6CC/?c ... _lig_dp_it

I don't anticipate much need for the additional connections of the larger adaptor, as I already have USB hub to cover that.

[HansV]

Also see Can Surface Laptop 3 power dual 4K external displays?

[stuck]

I think, but don't know for sure, that the adaptors you suggest will do the job. However, the much more expensive dock that I found is likely to be better. It has both DVI and VGA sockets and will probably power your device as well. The multiple USB sockets would also let you connect mouse and a full sized keyboard.

See how easy it is to spend other people's money?



Ken

[GeekGirlInFurs]

Spending other people's money is the best!

I actually have an official Microsoft Surface Docker, now that I think of it. But it's old enough that all its got is some USB-2 A ports and 2 Mini DisplayPorts. Plus an ethernet port. No VGA or DVI, one of which I need if I want to use my current display in the new configuration. That docker is is from an old Surface Pro, the first of several Surface devices I've got (limited connectivity being my main complaint with the Surface line.) I should see if the DisplayPorts are of any use for my purposes. All I've ever used them for is via a DP to HDMI adapter cable to connect to a TV.

I will probably just buy the combination adapter/monitor pair I posted above and see what happens. Because even easier than spending other people's money is returning stuff to Amazon. :/ But there's only so much pre purchase research you can do. Maybe I'll get lucky.

I will update the results!