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Low end hardware setup for multiple displays

Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2015 14:29
by vldmr
Hello everyone!

First of all I would like everyone to know that I'm quite new in VJ-ing, so I might ask stupid questions or questions that have already been answered. I'm quite established as an architect and graphic designer, and I would like to explore VJ-ing more...
Here is the thing.
I'm wondering if I can create several outputs, actually 4 will work for me, and like this:
1 VGA output, 1 HDMI output, 2 USB outputs to VGA, for which I intend to buy Startech (or some other manufacturer) converter USB to VGA.
So, with this in mind, I suppose that I can have now actually 4 Displays, which I can organize in Resolume's Advanced Output and position them, scale them, transform as needed.

This is my hardware that I have (please, again, keep in mind that I'm new in this and that I would like to try these settings for trial purposes and some quite low budget club events or some video installations):
-Laptop Toshiba Satellite
-Intel Core i5-4200M 2.5GHz
-CPU @ 2.5GHz
-4GB RAM (installed)
-Intel R HD Graphics 4600
-NVIDIA GeForce 710M
-VGA, HDMI outs
-2x USB 2.0
-1x USB 3.0

Re: Low end hardware setup for multiple displays

Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2015 14:50
by Zoltán
It is very unlikely that you will be able to get a signal from hdmi and vga on your laptop at the same time.

usb vga adapters are not guaranteed to work either. see here :viewtopic.php?f=7&t=11395&hilit=usb+vga+adapter

I personally use a matrox triple head2go digital edition with my laptop to get 3 screens running.

Re: Low end hardware setup for multiple displays

Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2015 17:37
by vldmr
Thanx a lot!
I'm just curious how can I organize 3 screens in some other layout, other than "landscape"?
I am looking to make 4 projectors in 2x2 configuration.
Something like that can be done with Datapath x4. I just saw that as one of the options for multiple screens.

Re: Low end hardware setup for multiple displays

Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2015 18:50
by Oaktown
If you can afford to get a Datapath X4, the hardware is amazing and rock solid so look no further!

The X4 can easily handle four 1920x1200 no problems from one 3840x2400 @ 30Hz DVI DL output on your computer.

Re: Low end hardware setup for multiple displays

Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 11:00
by vldmr
Thanx a lot!

Re: Low end hardware setup for multiple displays

Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 09:36
by Joris
That computer is so low specced, it's already asking for a lot to do a single 1080p output with it.

Using USB extenders, a Datapath or magic fairy unicorn dust is not going to make a difference. It's just not going to handle four 1080p outputs or a 3840x2400 texture.

Re: Low end hardware setup for multiple displays

Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 16:18
by Oaktown
Joris, you're absolutely right! I guess I focused on the output issue and didn't look at the computer specs close enough!

One of the great advantages of the Datapath X4 is that you could easily scale up inside the unit. So if the computer can handle one 1920x1080 you could split it into four 960x540 regions that get rescaled to 1920x1080 @ 60Hz on the output. That would work also with any resolution/scaling depending on the computer and projectors.