Has anyone run a Dell Precision M6500 on a docking station and run 2 monitors from it? I need a mobile workstation and love the Dell Precision M series, but I also love having two 24" monitors when at my desk. It looks like they only have 1 monitor out...
I was thinking about the 1.0 GB NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800M Graphics Card.
Thanks so much for the help!
-Jared J Huffman
AFAIK, it will only have one digital video out.
That being said, there might be a way to split the output signal into two monitors from one signal. The card should be able to output 2560 x 1600 with a displayport connector. So depending on what resolution your monitors are, if you can split that L/R it might work. I must confess though, I don't know how to do that.
I have DELL 17" M6400 and run sw on dual monitors using the VGA connector (most the laptops have it for projector connection)
If the video card supports the dual monitors, then connect your laptop to the second big screen monitor and enjoy it
Chris
Do you use the VGA connector and the Display Port simultaneously?
Good question - I haven't tried to connect the VGA and Display Port simultaneously - I should
However, I did connect my M6400 to the 46" LCD TV using Display Port connection and it works great !!!
Chris
| 12:35:45 PM |  | SMB_matthew_webb | Welcome to Dell US Medium and Small Business Sales Chat. |
| 12:35:45 PM | | SMB_matthew_webb | My name is Matthew Webb. I hope you are doing well today, how may i help you? |
| 12:36:05 PM |  | Jared | I am looking at the Precision M6500 Mobile Workstation. |
| 12:36:25 PM | | Jared | with the Quadro 3800M 1GB Graphics Card |
| 12:36:39 PM | | Jared | Can it run dual monitor output? |
| 12:37:25 PM | | SMB_matthew_webb | yes it can |
| 12:37:35 PM | | SMB_matthew_webb | both by the docking station and through th system itself |
| 12:38:05 PM | | Jared | without the docking station, can it run dual digital monitors? |
| 12:38:20 PM | | SMB_matthew_webb | it can run one analog and one digital monitor |
| 12:38:25 PM | | SMB_matthew_webb | w/ out the dock |
| 12:38:31 PM | | SMB_matthew_webb | vga + DP |
| 12:38:42 PM | | Jared | Oh, ok. And with the dock? |
| 12:39:55 PM | | SMB_matthew_webb | two digital monitors |
| 12:39:57 PM | | Jared | Also, is there a dock that supports the full 220 W power supply? |
| 12:40:31 PM | | SMB_matthew_webb | SMB_matthew_webb pushes page, http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Docking_Station/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku=430-3312 |
| 12:40:36 PM | | SMB_matthew_webb | almost it woudl be 210w |
| 12:40:58 PM | | Jared | excellent |
| 12:41:25 PM | | Jared | How does the dock affect video performance? I am running SolidWorks and it's very intensive. |
| 12:42:06 PM | | SMB_matthew_webb | it does not affect overall system performance |
| 12:42:45 PM | | Jared | so the system would still utilize the video processing power of the 3800M even through the dock? |
| 12:44:11 PM | | SMB_matthew_webb | no it would use the system resources, but unless you are powering very high end monitors it should not affect your systems performance greatly |
| 12:45:17 PM | | Jared | I'm running two 24" widescreen Samsung SyncMaster 2333, and I am running an intensive CAD application. |
| 12:45:42 PM | | SMB_matthew_webb | at what resolution? |
| 12:45:54 PM | | Jared | 1920x1080 |
| 12:46:07 PM | | SMB_matthew_webb | if its not more than 1920x1080 then my answer would probably be the same |
| 12:46:59 PM | | Jared | I see. Thanks for the information! |
| 12:47:12 PM | | SMB_matthew_webb | i Anything else i may help you with today? |
| 12:47:50 PM | | Jared | That's it for now. Very helpful! I've been looking everywhere for this information. Have a great day! |
| 12:48:12 PM | | SMB_matthew_webb | Our Chat team strives to provide the very best levels of customer service. If you have a minute, we would really appreciate your feedback on a 1 minute survey that will appear above this chat once the session ends. My manager gets all the feedback and we use it to help our customers. Thank you for choosing Dell's Sales Chat and have a wonderful day! |
Running a dock bypasses the video card, so I don't think I'll be going that route. VGA and DP looks like an interesting method to me. At least then I can use my video card.
Thanks for the responses!
Jared,
I've been using my M6400 with 2 monitors and a dock for about 2 1/2 years. I don't have Identical monitors since one of them is a Wacom Cintiq 21inch and the other or standard SW issue HP 19". I have identical setup between work and home and am constantly working at home and work. Unless they've changed the M6500 dock, you won't be able to get above 1280x1024 on both monitors since my M6400 dock has one HDMI connector and one VGA.
Warning - the dock sometimes gets confused when trying to auto configure itself between when I just my M6400 stand alone and when it is dock, but for the most part, if I just turn off my Cintiq Power Button and then on again, it syncs fine. - this could be a Wacom problem.
Regards
Mark
Jared,
I have used an M6500 with a dock and dual Dell 24" monitors for about a year now. I also have the Quadro FX 3800M video card.
I run 1920 x 1200 on both screens all the time without many issues. I have used the dual DVI ports and the dual Diplay Ports on the dock and they work just fine. The power brick is plugged into the dock and keeps everything happy. I was never told that the dock bypasses the video card...very interesting. I don't know how the internal video could keep up with this.
I don't work with very many large assemblies, as I spend most of my time in Simulation and Flow. The only time that I run into problems is when I have to mesh something very fine (it creates hundreds of thousands of surfaces to be displayed). I found that it performs a lot better if I go down to a single external monitor for that.
I second what Mark said, the dock gets the monitors confused all the time. Most of the time, after the PC falls asleep after a Simulation run (overnight) it wakes up and forgets that there are two monitors. I have to un-extend the screen, then re-extend it to get it return. Small price to pay for the mobility when you need it and the extra screen space when you don't.
Bottom line: A little frustrating, but it works well overall.
Best regards,
Steve
I agree with Steve, It is a minor annoyance. Steve I find that if I turn off and on my monitor, it autodetects most of the time and I'm good to go.
Mark
I'm running an M4400 with NVIDA M1700. The dock has two DVI outputs and I'm running one 1920x1200 and one 1600x1200. Since upgrading to WIN7 64bit Profeesional I no longer have any issues between running at home with just the laptop screen, and my docked work set up. Everything is remembered. I was having issues SW running slow in sketcher and with the machine slowing down after quitting KeyShot; but I've since upgraded the video driver and now everting is running fine.
I have DELL 17" M6400 and run sw on dual monitors using the VGA connector (most the laptops have it for projector connection)
If the video card supports the dual monitors, then connect your laptop to the second big screen monitor and enjoy it
Chris