Triple Monitor Q&A - USB to VGA solutions?

Is anyone out there familiar with triple monitor setups?

Specifically, anyone on here have experience with these or similar products?
Amazon.com: Plugable USB to VGA Video Graphics Adapter for Multiple Displays up to 1920x1080 (Supports Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, and XP): Electronics

Amazon.com: LinkS SuperSpeed USB 3.0 to VGA Adapter for Windows: Electronics


I've been thinking about building another computer because what I use has only one VGA port and I want a third monitor.
Then I realized, I really don't have to get another computer. I could just get another monitor and a USB to VGA device.

Who even knew these were a thing?

Any experiences, positive or negative? I don't intend to play games on the third monitor, but I will likely watch videos on it, however I'm not picky about the quality. Everyone I know swears they can tell the difference between 720 and 1080p. I'm not sure that I can, and the better quality doesn't enhance the experience for me any. As long as it's at least broadcast TV clear, and the voices are synced I'm happy.

never used a usb to vga, but I do use a hdmi to vga ,for connecting my Raspberry Pi to my multiport monitor, and it works great

badrobot said:

Those USB to VGA stuffs are good only for regular PC tasks like spreadsheets and other documents. It's kind of slow refreshing pages so watching videos through them may not be a good idea. I had one before but I returned it. Instead I just replaced my video card. If you have a 300 watts power supply, this low end video card will solve your problem (provided that you are not going to do gaming):

http://www.amazon.com/HIS-Silence-DisplayPort-PCI-Express-H545H1GD1/dp/B004GL72K0/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1447014348&sr=1-1&keywords=HIS+HD+5450+1gb

Except I have a laptop so that's probably not going to work right?

badrobot said:

Of course you will still need to buy a 3rd monitor and an active displayport to VGA/DVI/HDMI (whatever port you have) adapter to make the third monitor work.

That's not a problem. I got two 24 inch HP monitors last year for $150.

badrobot said:

This is a sample of the displayport to dvi active adapter (keyword: ACTIVE , passive will not work):

http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters%...active+adapter

What's the difference between active and passive?

You could use an old legacy PCI VGA card so you have at least one more monitor output. This is an example of EVGA GeForce 6200 512MB PCI card

WARNING! I'm talking about legacy PCI (plugs into the white legacy 32-bit PCI ports), not the new PCI-Express cards (that plug into a PCI-E 16x port)

In case that running the relevant nVidia Forceware setup conflicts with your newer nVidia card and software, you have to manually install the driver from the Device Manager.

spapakons said:

You could use an old legacy PCI VGA card so you have at least one more monitor output. This is an example of EVGA GeForce 6200 512MB PCI card

WARNING! I'm talking about legacy PCI (plugs into the white legacy 32-bit PCI ports), not the new PCI-Express cards (that plug into a PCI-E 16x port)

In case that running the relevant nVidia Forceware setup conflicts with your newer nVidia card and software, you have to manually install the driver from the Device Manager.

its already been stated that OP is using a laptop

Oops... too fast to reply...sorry. In that case I guess the only option is a USB to VGA adapter, the faster the better.

PlatypusKnight said:

Is anyone out there familiar with triple monitor setups?

Specifically, anyone on here have experience with these or similar products?
Amazon.com: Plugable USB to VGA Video Graphics Adapter for Multiple Displays up to 1920x1080 (Supports Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, and XP): Electronics

Amazon.com: LinkS SuperSpeed USB 3.0 to VGA Adapter for Windows: Electronics


I've been thinking about building another computer because what I use has only one VGA port and I want a third monitor.
Then I realized, I really don't have to get another computer. I could just get another monitor and a USB to VGA device.

Who even knew these were a thing?

Any experiences, positive or negative? I don't intend to play games on the third monitor, but I will likely watch videos on it, however I'm not picky about the quality. Everyone I know swears they can tell the difference between 720 and 1080p. I'm not sure that I can, and the better quality doesn't enhance the experience for me any. As long as it's at least broadcast TV clear, and the voices are synced I'm happy.

your laptop seem it should be new enough to have a hdmi out on it ,you would be able to use a hdmi to vga adapter similar to the usb to vga you have linked,, so are you are saying that your monitors are vga ,or your laptop only has a vga out