Multi-Monitor Guide - Connecting additional monitors to a laptop docking station

Connecting additional monitors to a laptop docking station

Docking stations usually have connections for 2 external monitors, so that when the laptop is docked you can switch off the internal monitor and use up to 2 external monitors.

Some docking stations also support extension cards, for example PCI cards, so you can install an additional video card in the dock.

Dock with DVI and VGA outputs

With a single-monitor PCI video card installed in the dock, a total of 3 external monitors can be connected to the laptop. On my Dell Latitude I had to configure the BIOS to use the onboard video card as primary, otherwise only the additional video card would be available.

Dock with single-monitor PCI video card installed

BIOS primary video option on laptop

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