Two monitors into one HDMI port ...?

[5pitfire]

Just that, really.

At the moment, my laptop PC has one (newer) monitor plugged into the only HDMI port and another (older) into the only displayport mini port.

Is it possible to plug two monitors into a single HDMI port - using some kind of doubler? Would the image not just be duplicated?

The displayport mini port cable needs a wiggle now and then so I don't want to use it if at all possible.

Many thanks!

[Watchman]

You can't do it. Evidence in the Q & A here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Splitter-Female-Support-M...

[eltawater]

What's the model of laptop? I use a USB dock which provides an additional HDMI and DVI output, but it relies on a USB 3 connection.

[5pitfire]

It's a Lenovo Thinkpad from 2017

[Sheepshanks]

5pitfire said:

It's a Lenovo Thinkpad from 2017

Bit overkill but see if you can get a docking station - got the high-end one for my T470 off eBay for £60, brand new. It's dead handy, if you do move the laptop around, to just be able to drop it back on the dock.

Edited by Sheepshanks on Tuesday 28th April 16:54

[QuartzDad]

I've got a 2017 ThinkPad and a regular USB docking station which drives two monitors, one via HDMI and one via DVI. You can get a DVI to HDMI cable if neither of your monitors has DVI.

[akirk]

DisplayPort / MiniDisplayPort can be used to daisychain monitors...
So, I have DP out on the computer -> DP in on monitor 1 / DP out on monitor 1 to DP in on monitor 2 / DP out on monitor 2 to DP in on monitor 3
all work as separate monitors

you can't do this on HDMI as it can't daisychain
it also depends on video card / monitor capability

[eltawater]

5pitfire said:

It's a Lenovo Thinkpad from 2017

Do you know specifically which one? Txxx or an Lxxx or a Pxxx or an Xxxx?

[5pitfire]

eltawater said:

5pitfire said:

It's a Lenovo Thinkpad from 2017

Do you know specifically which one? Txxx or an Lxxx or a Pxxx or an Xxxx?

It says "X1 Carbon", "4th Generation", "TYPE 20FB-003TUK" - if this means anything...?!

[eltawater]

5pitfire said:

It says "X1 Carbon", "4th Generation", "TYPE 20FB-003TUK" - if this means anything...?!

Yes, the dock supports to allow additional display connectivity are going out either via the dedicated Lenovo dock connector or via USB3.

You can use an official Lenovo OneLink+ dock like this one on ebay:
https://ebay.co.uk/itm/Lenovo-ThinkPad-OneLink-Doc...

You should have a OneLink+ connector next to your power port here:



This will give you two displayport outputs, hopefully your monitors have displayport given that you say your existing mini-displayport needs to be wiggled.
This dock will need its own power supply to function, you can either use the existing one from your laptop or buy another lenovo one to leave plugged in. The ebay item here is very affordable compared to a brand new third party one as below.

The other alternative is a third party USB dock like this one which I'm using, it does the same job using a USB3 connection to break out into the docking box for additional display connectors (DVI and HDMI in my case).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ClimaxDigital-CUD390-Univ...

The downside of the third party one is that it doesn't go to 4K resolutions and is more expensive, but it does give you a direct HDMI if that's all you've got available to plug into.

Edited by eltawater on Tuesday 28th April 20:15

[sparkyhx]

akirk said:

DisplayPort / MiniDisplayPort can be used to daisychain monitors...
So, I have DP out on the computer -> DP in on monitor 1 / DP out on monitor 1 to DP in on monitor 2 / DP out on monitor 2 to DP in on monitor 3
all work as separate monitors

you can't do this on HDMI as it can't daisychain
it also depends on video card / monitor capability

Well I didn't know you could do that. You learn something new every day.

[akirk]

sparkyhx said:

akirk said:

DisplayPort / MiniDisplayPort can be used to daisychain monitors...
So, I have DP out on the computer -> DP in on monitor 1 / DP out on monitor 1 to DP in on monitor 2 / DP out on monitor 2 to DP in on monitor 3
all work as separate monitors

you can't do this on HDMI as it can't daisychain
it also depends on video card / monitor capability

Well I didn't know you could do that. You learn something new every day.

It is brilliant - my graphics card will run up to four off each port and has several ports (4 possibly?) so up to 16 monitors...

[sgrimshaw]

You could try a USB HDMI Adapter, much cheaper than a full dock:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adapter-Graphics-Converte...

[5pitfire]

Thanks, guys. I think I'll try to keep things simple and just try a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI cable.

Fingers crossed!