Enabling multiple monitors

[DW148]

I have one monitor set up via a HDMI cord and works fine. I want to add a second monitor to my laptop. I have tried a USB and USB-C connector, and both do not work with the second monitor. Does this mean I cannot connect a second and just have to make do with the one monitor? Any tips on a way around this please? Thanks

Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5500U with Radeon Graphics 

[BeemerBiker]

Your laptop has USB-C but it is not thunderbolt and does not support video.

You can project (or cast) your laptop to any Wi-Fi enabled system such as TV or Monitor with Wi-Fi adapter
Some TV are smart but others need a dongle such as ROKU or Microsoft.

This link here gives instructions on adding a laptop to desktop as a monitor or vice-versa using Wi-Fi
Android can also do this as shown here
Once you are projecting on the screen you can select 'mirror' or 'extend'

This will either duplicate the screen or give you a third display.
Note that Wi-Fi will lag. A USB2/3 adapter will also lag but not as bad as Wi-Fi.
You would not want to project a game to a larger monitor using Wi-Fi but it would work nicely for web browsing, Office apps or anything other than a first-person-shooter game.

If you get a USB adapter be sure to read the reviews. Do not get an adapter that mentions thunderbolt as that means your laptop needs to have a thunderbolt port.  Get a USB2/3 to HDMI adapter or get a Wi-Fi adapter for your second monitor.  The USB2/3 adapter will come with a driver to make it work.

Let me know what you find out.

[DW148]

Hi there, thanks for your response. I have tried USB adaptors and been told they won't work. I have since purchased 2 smart monitors. The second monitor (being screen 3) connects via Wi-Fi fine however it drops out occasionally and lags a bit. 

Do you think the USB 2/3 adaptor or Wi-Fi adaptor would make a difference? Thank you

[BeemerBiker]

I suspect Wi-Fi will lag more then a USB2/3 adapter. With documents open in 3 screens I suspect dragging the mouse across all three you will see lag on the 3rd screen no matter what device you use.   

lag can be a function of the bandwidth available.  The following may be interesting, if not useful. as the charts show possible resolutions, bandwidths and refresh.  Pick the lowest for the best efficiency.

HDMI DisplayPort, USB-C Docking, splitters Possible resolutions click here



Using this bandwidth calculator you can find the bits per second minimum required throughput for the video signal.

USB types and speed explained here


Let me know if this was useful or not.