I'm looking for advice on the most cost effective way to connect three 2560x1440 monitors to a T490s laptop.
The monitors all have the following connectivity:
| 1x USB-C Port (Alternate mode with DisplayPort 1.2, USB 3.1 upstream port, Power Delivery PD up to 45W), 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x USB 3.0 Downstream Port (supports up to 7.5W power for battery charging), 1x USB 3.0 Downstream Port |
Thanks in advance for the help.
You need a MST Hub USB-C to 2x HDMI. Connect the MST Hub to the Thunderbolt USB-C port, this is the front most USB-C port.
Then connect the third monitor directly to system's HDMI port.
You can also buy a MST-HUB USB-C to 3x HDMI, but the T490 is not able to drive three QHD displays in such configuration. Two QHD + one FHD would be posible.
It's important, that you connect the MST-Hub to the Thunderbolt USB-C port and not to the other rear most USB-C port. Otherwise you won't be able to enable the 3rd display, because both ports are exclusive.
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Your feedback helps us improve!You need a MST Hub USB-C to 2x HDMI. Connect the MST Hub to the Thunderbolt USB-C port, this is the front most USB-C port.
Then connect the third monitor directly to system's HDMI port.
You can also buy a MST-HUB USB-C to 3x HDMI, but the T490 is not able to drive three QHD displays in such configuration. Two QHD + one FHD would be posible.
It's important, that you connect the MST-Hub to the Thunderbolt USB-C port and not to the other rear most USB-C port. Otherwise you won't be able to enable the 3rd display, because both ports are exclusive.
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Your feedback helps us improve!Thank you for the prompt reply. That's very clear, thank you. One further question (in part due to the lack of immediate availability of the adapter you mentioned); if I connect the 3-HDMI port version of the adapter, would the T490s support 2 x QHD and 1 x FHD through the adapter and an additional (fourth) display at QHD resolution on the notebook HDMI port?
No, this is not possible. The Intel integrated GPUs support up to 3 displays only, this includes also the internal screen! You need to close / deactivate the system's display to enable all three external displays.
The new Xe architecture ( Intel gen 11 or newer CPUs / Thinkpad T14 Gen 2 or newer) support up to 4 displays.
I think there are similar MST hubs available from other vendors. Important here is the key word MST ( multi stream aka daisy chain ). Apple compatible dual port hubs are not the same, Apple does not support MST at all.
If the 45W PowerDelivery of the monitor can supply the T490s with enough power, then you can of course use the USB-C port instead of the HDMI port to connect the third display.
Spot on, once again completely clear. Thank you very much.
