2 (big) screen set up - better configuration anyone?

[DeLorean75]

Would anyone care to review my set up which is failing to deliver double large screen connection?
It did work for a while but seems to have decided not to play ball

-Both monitors tested
-Both adapters tested
-Both USB C sockets tested
-All cables tested and HDMI cables replaced and swapped around to check compatability
-Power into either adpater tested

Works perfectly with a single large screen extension
Once a second large screen / second adapter introduced into the system it becomes unstable
(Though confirm settings can see the 3rd display)

I'm not wedded to the two adpater thing by the way, I just couldn't see a way to get the connectivity I desired without them, in particular 2 x HDMI connectors.

Grateful for any alternative plumbing. I teach remotely from home and I need the multi-screen set up.

Many thanks

[DeLorean75]

[DeLorean75]

[Dave.]

Do both screens work if you shut the laptop?

Might have to change settings so the laptop doesn't go to sleep when closing the lid.

[DeLorean75]

Dave. said:

Do both screens work if you shut the laptop?

Might have to change settings so the laptop doesn't go to sleep when closing the lid.

....

No - that puts everything to sleep

I changed settings so that it didn't - still throws a wobbly when second adapter introduced


thanks though

[imck]

What model of Laptop? Looks like some kind of Yoga.
It may not be capable

A USB-C dock with dual HDMI out would be worth a try.
Are your monitors HDMI only?
Genuine Lenovo docks are expensive. Some cheaper ones on Amazon (easy to return if no good)

Mrs Imck has 3 x 22"/24" external + Laptop display on a very recent ThinkPad via a Lenovo dock.
That can be a bit flaky

[DeLorean75]

imck said:

What model of Laptop? Looks like some kind of Yoga.
It may not be capable

A USB-C dock with dual HDMI out would be worth a try.
Are your monitors HDMI only?
Genuine Lenovo docks are expensive. Some cheaper ones on Amazon (easy to return if no good)

Mrs Imck has 3 x 22"/24" external + Laptop display on a very recent ThinkPad via a Lenovo dock.
That can be a bit flaky

Sorry:
Lenovo Yoga 920 Win 10
Monitor 1 has 2 x HDMI
Monitor 2 has HDMI, DVD-D In and a DP port

[paulrockliffe]

What's the instability? Is it monitors disappearing and reappearing?

My experience is that if the spec supports the screens they will work as expected, if unexpected things are happening the issue has always been resolved by replacing a cable that isn't to spec, so that's where I would start looking first. DisplayPort has higher bandwidth than HDMI, so USB-C to DisplayPort cables may be worth testing if the monitors work with DisplayPort.

But if you're running the USB-C to HDMI via those hubs, then they also need to be compatible with the version of HDMI you're sending down the wire. I would start with removing the Hubs, USB-C to HDMI or to DisplayPort should work without the hubs. If you can get that to work I would look at whether you have an alternative method of hooking up the other cables, eg a USB-A port?

If you have to use the USB-C to cover all of this, then a USB-C splitter that has two Display Port Outputs is likely to be a better option, so one USB-C for the two monitors the other for the other bits and pieces. These work by splitting the refresh rate between the two monitors, so if you want to run both at 60Hz, it needs to support that, otherwise it'll give you 2 x 30Hz instead. Worth checking the max refresh rate you can run without the splitter, as you don't want to drop to 30Hz if you could have 60.

[DeLorean75]

Very thorough thank you.

Yes monitors flicking on and off unstably

Challenge is I only have
2 x USB C
1 x USB A
On that laptop. Power cable is USB C

Only one monitor has DisplayPort - other is HDMI only, though if I guess I knew I needed Display Port i could consider changing last resort.

Do u think running one on DP one on HDMI will work or likely conflict?

Plus assuming you think both monitors connected to one adapter / splitter is a better way to go in above case, if such an adapter exists. Quite expensive those things!

[paulrockliffe]

You can at least test them both on USB-C while it's running on battery.

I wonder if it's possible to use a USB-C to 2x USB-C cable to inject power without losing the use of the second port? I had a USB-A cable for that that I used with an Amazon Firestick, so you can probably get those. That, plus everything else onto USB-A might be a winner.

I'm fairly sure you can just use a DisplayPort to HDMI with a splitter and it'll work.

I have a Startech splitter that I used to split a single DP output to two monitors, it was about £60 from memory, but it's capped at 30Hz. I remember there was a solid price jump to get 60Hz and I'm not 100% on whether they always work as to split down to 60Hz the output from the laptop has to support 120Hz. I did work on 30Hz screens and didn't really find it a problem, but best to avoid if you can.

[Condi]

How old is the laptop? Looking at the current specs the 2 USB C ports are Thunderbolt, but if yours is older it might be USB C Gen1 or whatever they call it, which isn't as capable. I would check you have all the latest drivers for the graphics chip, but from looking at the specs there is no reason why it wouldn't run 2 QHD screens as its got Intel 620 graphics.

[DeLorean75]

Hi.

It's a June 2018 purchase (new)

[Condi]

They won't be Thunderbolt ports then. I would start with the adapters, especially the one which is more like a dock, with the ethernet cable in. In my experience they're st at doing video, and didn't really get good until Thunderbolt came out in 2021 (ish?). With a similar ish spec to your laptop I did have success with 1 HDMI cable plugged into the laptop and a second one running through a USB-C dock, but it never worked with 2 monitors plugged into a single dock.

Does 1 screen work if a single USB adapter is plugged in? IE, 1 of the 2?

EDIT - just seen that you said in your original post that it's fine with 1 screen plugged in. In which case I'd try using Display Port if you can, if not/if it doesn't work I think you're going to struggle. There are 2 options, either get an older laptop which has a proper docking station. I had a HP G3 something or other which must be getting on a bit now, but combined with an official HP docking station (not USB, actually plugged right into the PC), that will happily run 2 screens. Or get a newer laptop with a Thunderbolt USB C port and an appropriate USB C dock, which will also run 2 screens.

Edited by Condi on Wednesday 23 August 23:51

[DeLorean75]

Both screens works perfectly alone with either adapter in either usb c post and with either HDMI cable, so to be clear 1 monitor and laptop screen = 2 screens. 3 screens is just not happening at all. Curiously....it did work just fine up until fairly recently but not now! (No specific driver update I can recall)

[Condi]

DeLorean75 said:

Curiously....it did work just fine up until fairly recently but not now! (No specific driver update I can recall)

Interesting. It worked in the configuration you have it now? (added some stuff above, which may not be relevant any more)

[DeLorean75]

It did work for months in the config I have now, then wobbled and I isolated a hdmi hdmi cable issue. I replaced this and all was fine for about a minute, then lost the plot again never to return.

Is there any validity in trying
A) a dual monitor dock into one usb c eg w 2x hdmi ports on the dock

B) as above but with 2 x USBC ports to try USBC to HDMI cables (more $$$)

Or C
One monitor directly into a port using new HDMI USBC or indeed DP USB C

Other monitor in via a dock that will take the laptop power cable

(And get a usb a dock for everything else)

Or stop spending money and concede defeat?!?

[Condi]

Maybe there are others who are better to answer, all I will say is that I've never had much success running screens via USB docks/adaptors, until USB-C Thunderbolt standard came along. That said, if it did work previously you would think it could work again, so maybe someone else can advise how!

[DeLorean75]

Thanks very much for taking time to answer. Much appreciated

[Dave.]

Can you get a usbc to dual hdmi out (without going for a full on dock)?

Something like this perhaps....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175777999699

Edited by Dave. on Thursday 24th August 06:24

[DeLorean75]

I can get, question is whether it's likely to work!

You're right it's Thunderbolt 3 on the specs

Thanks