W520 - why only two external monitors? Anyone from Lenovo?

[ColonelONeill]

@sundaram,
Are you running in Optimus mode? You can only drive three in Optimus mode.

Also try updating your driver.

[sundaram]

Thanks for the advice.

Questions:

1. How do I confirm whether my W520 is capable of running in Optimus mode?

2. How do I confirm whether my W520 is already running in Optimus mode?

3. How do I turn on/off Optimus mode?

Lots of online info describing what Nvidia Optimus mode is and how it works.

I have yet to come across something that answers my questions above.

Thanks in advance.

[Commander]

I believe it is not possible. If you are docked, your machine is optimus disabled = two monitors max. It is a limitation of many nVidias. You should go ATI if you want more monitors (Precisions with eyefinity can have 3 digital, 1 VGA and 1 interna screen). How cool is that

[ThorsHammer]

---

sundaram wrote:

Thanks for the advice.

Questions:

1. How do I confirm whether my W520 is capable of running in Optimus mode?

2. How do I confirm whether my W520 is already running in Optimus mode?

3. How do I turn on/off Optimus mode?

Lots of online info describing what Nvidia Optimus mode is and how it works.

I have yet to come across something that answers my questions above.

Thanks in advance.

---

1. In the BIOS, the Display setting includes an Optimus setting.

2. If the BIOS is set to Optimus and you see the Intel chipset in the Windows 7 display properties, it's Optimus.

3. You cna turn it off in the BIOS

[jayce996]

Hi Everyone,

i've search through the internet a solution without finding it.

to what i've read the W520 is able to drive 2 monitors and its screen.

I'm not able to make it running, can you help me please.

my W520 is powered with the Quadro 1000M, my 2 external screens are plugged with the DVI connectors

with the NVIDIA interface i'm able to have 2 displays (internal + 1 external), but i have "this GPU supports up to 2 displays" when i try to connect the third one.

with the other one (don't remember its name) i can even not have 2 screens !!!

my driver version is 275.54

my 2 screens are DELL 1908FP (1280*1024)

i've the dock with the 170 power unit

i've tried quite all possibilities in the BIOS, and i don't know what to do, please help me :-(

[Dan_Falk]

Hi, Jayce,

I have a similar configuration to yours. I am natively running two external monitors plus the laptop monitor. In truth, I run a third external monitor using a Displaylink driver device, for four total.

I had no need to fiddle with the BIOS settings to do this. My O/S is Windows 7 Pro, btw.

The main beef I have with Lenovo over the W520 is that it is not possible to drive 3 or 4 External monitors natively (well, using the docking station anyway) as IS possible with the T520. I've yet to get a technical explanation from Lenovo about this.

So, now that you know it IS possible to drive 2 externals and the notebook screen, we can compare settings if you like.

Regards, Dan

[ThorsHammer]

The supported monitor configurations are documented at http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail.page?LegacyDocID=MIGR-76617

If you are unable to achieve 2 external monitors plus the W520 LCD panel, then you don't have the proper drivers installed or something is mis-configured. Most likely the later.

You do not need a third party product for two external monitors and the W520 LCD panel.  You don't even need the Lenovo dock.

[wolfindersteppe]

I have just found this document ThinkPad Multiple Configuration and it is clearly written that W520 can run with 4 monitors configuration with the Mini Dock Series 3 model 4337! Unfortunately I have purchased the more expensive Mini Dock Series 3 model 4338 believing that double the number of ports will allow me to run 4 monitors configuration. If it is not about the documentation error, I will try to contact Lenovo and see if I could get the replacement of model 4338 for model 4337.

[Dan_Falk]

Hi,

   Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I reviewed the technical brief. I'm guessing that the brief is in error, as much as I wish it isn't. Please let me know if you do get the 4337. I will be very suprised and delighted if you can drive 4 monitors with the W520 in that setup.

[ThorsHammer]

The W520 won't run in the 90W 4337 dock.  The stupid PDF is in error.

Lenovo, get your act together.