Multi Monitor Laptop Guide
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Multiple monitor systems are no longer anchored to the desktop. Newer laptops with dual-core processors, advanced graphics, and lots of system memory are helping laptops become a viable alternative to desktops in terms of performance. However, most laptops only have one external monitor port, which is just not enough for users who have come to appreciate the advantages of multiple displays. Fortunately, there are options for laptop users who want to run multiple displays. This guide compares the options that are currently available for laptop users who want to use two or more external displays.
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| CinePort and CinePort Express Laptop Graphics Expansion |
 The CinePort and CinePort Express are portable, external expansion systems that connect to your laptop. In terms of features and performance, these devices are unmatched by other external expansion systems for multiple displays. Since these devices add an additional high-end graphics processor to your laptop, you get all of the features of a mainstream graphics processor from NVIDIA or Matrox.
The CinePort uses a standard Type-II CardBus (PCMCIA) to connect an additional graphics processor to your PC. Using the full bandwidth of the expansion slot, the CinePort is the equivalent of adding a desktop PCI graphics card to your laptop. Since the CinePort uses high-end graphics processors from NVIDIA and Matrox, it can deliver the performance that one would expect from a desktop multi-monitor system. However, the limitations of the PCMCIA expansion slot mean that 3D graphics performance is limited. The CinePort is ideal for people who want to have up to five external displays connected to their laptop for 2D applications such as spreadsheets, charts, word processing, e-mail and web browsing.
The CinePort Express uses the newer ExpressCard slot, which means that the CinePort Express can communicate with your laptop at ultra-high speeds. The CinePort Express provides performance equivalent to adding a desktop PCI Express graphics card to your laptop. This increased bandwidth allows the CinePort Express to support 3D acceleration for applications such as CAD and other types of 3D modeling. Like the CinePort, the CinePort Express can also allow your laptop to support up to five external displays at high resolutions.
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| Port Expansion Systems |
 This category includes the DualHead2Go and TripleHead2Go. These devices are designed to allow two or three external displays to connect to one external monitor port on a laptop. Rather the being a true multi-monitor solution, these devices convince the laptop's graphics processor that the two or three external displays are actually a single ultra-widescreen display. The end result is that the external displays form a single desktop.
The advantage of this kind of system is that it is compact and relatively easy to install. However, since the device uses the laptop's graphics processor without adding any additional processing power, some users may experience poor performance as the laptop's graphics is pushed to its limits. Also, multi-management software such as CineMastery will not function properly with these devices because the laptop does not detect the individual displays. Also, these devices are not compatible with all laptops and can't be connected to high resolution displays.
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| USB 2.0 Laptop Graphics Expansion |
These devices are designed to allow you to quickly and easily add a monitor via a USB 2.0 expansion port. Unfortunately, these devices over promise and under deliver. The limitations of the USB 2.0 interface mean that only low resolutions are supported with 32-bit color and that performance can become choppy if there is any movement on the screen. Some products are even promising to support multiple displays over a single USB 2.0 port, but the limitations of the USB interface will create a real strain on performance. Although these devices may be tempting because of their convenience and wide compatibility, many users may be disappointed by performance.
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| Low-end PC Card Laptop Graphics Expansion |
 These products use a standard Type-II CardBus (PCMCIA) in order to add a low-end graphics processor to a laptop. Since this particular port was specifically designed to allow hardware to be added to a laptop, performance is not limited in the same way as with USB 2.0 expansion devices. These products can support one or two external displays, typically with resolutions up to 1280x1024 (which is the standard resolution on a 17" display.)
These devices can offer decent performance for 2D applications on small and medium-sized displays. However, these devices may have compatibility issues with some displays due to the fact that low-end graphics processors often have compatibility issues. Also, be skeptical of claims that one of these devices can support high resolution displays or high definition televisions. Although the device may technically operate the display, you may be sorely disappointed with performance.
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| Recommended Hardware |
 No matter what you use to connect your laptop to external displays, you will have the best experience if you have a laptop that can handle running several programs at once. Consider going with a dual-core laptop with at least 2GB of RAM. And as anyone who uses a lot of 3D programs probably already knows, the more RAM the better for 3D applications.
The CinePort requires a Type-II CardBus slot, which is standard on mid-range and higher-end Laptops.
The CinePort Express requires an ExpressCard/34 or ExpressCard/54 slot which can be found on most mid-range and high-end laptops currently in production.
CineMassive Displays technicians are available Monday through Friday from 9am to 7pm (Eastern) to assist you with your multi-monitor laptop concerns.
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