Anybody tried a USB graphics card?

[Nope.]

Ok, so im just about to start a new job and will be provided with a laptop. Ideally I need 2 or 3 monitors so I can have multiple windows open at once. Ive got the monitors, thats not a problem. The problem comes that the laptop im getting only has one VGA port (Not that I'd expect any different), thereby limiting me to one extra monitor.

Then I came across these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000HCXA62/ref=asc_df_B000HCXA626593144?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B000HCXA62


They sound just like what I need, what I do Isn't particularly graphically tasking, I'll only be working in IDE's and database applications, so I dont think it would cause many issues (especially as I doubt the laptop has USB 3 so I can therefore assume that the adaptor will only go as fast as the USB 2 bus).

What I actually wanted to know is, has anybody used one? Any opinions? Brand recommendations?

Thanks!
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Former: Derbi GP1 50, Sachs XTC 125, Suzuki GSXR 400 GK73A, Kawasaki ZX7R, Suzuki DR250, Yamaha RD350
Current: 2011 Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré, 2003 Yamaha YZR-R1 5PW (In Build), 2009 Kawasaki ZZR1400

[CaNsA]

How about.....

VGA Splitter
https://www.cartft.com/image_db/VGA_Splitter_Cable.jpg

[Nope.]

[CaNsA]

possibly.

do u know what make/model lappy you'll be getting?

[Alpha-9]

[Nope.]

[CaNsA]

See what happens then.
Might be worth getting a docking station for it

[J.M.]

Over USB 2.0 I would guess that it would be really slow, but that depends on how it works. If the drivers do all the graphics calculation from the built-in CPU/GPU then pass it along to the USB graphics card to display it then I reckon that it would do the job just fine.

Reviews on the link that you provided though: one guy is claiming that the device doesn't work with HD resolutions - so that may not actually be the best bet for you. I know you're not doing anything graphic intensive, but I can't imagine you like blurry code/text in your IDEs!

Wait until you find out your laptop before you buy anything. My laptop has a HDMI port and a VGA port. VGA works just fine with monitors and so does HDMI*.

I remember when I tried 3 monitors at once (1 in built and 2 external) I could only get 2 working at a time. You may need 3rd party software to use any more than 2 monitors.

* I used to play my PS3 on a LCD computer monitor. So my setup looks like: HDMI -> DVI-D -> HD Fury (to strip HDCP) -> VGA. Still got HD quality though Not sure if a computer would require the HD Fury or not, I've never tried it without because I'm too lazy to unplug it.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[duhawkz]

They may provide you with a docking station or a port replicator, our dell docking stations have a VGA and a DVI port which allows you to run two monitors
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"The guy is a worthless cunt and I honestly believe I would be a slightly happier person if he died." - Chris-Red

[weasley]

I run 2 monitors off my Dell laptop at work; at my desk I have a port replicator with DVI and VGA output; the native graphics card and driver can run both. However, it will only ever run 2 monitors, so if I open the laptop then the digital monitor shuts down.

A colleague using the same laptop runs 3 monitors, with one being a USB 2 adaptor. It runs the 3rd monitor as well as the VGA one.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[herulach]

My work fujitsu laptop can support (in theory) 4 displays including the builtin whilst docked. 1 VGA, 1 DVI one on the displayport. I've only ever tried it with 3 though.

I'd be surprised if most business laptops aren't the same.
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YBR 125>FZS600

[Frost]

Eclipse in one
File browser, Web browser and console in two

Works fine for me. Generally you only need to see the code + whatever is helping you code at once. So reading up a guide in one window, code in the other etc