ProBook 450 G5 - how many external monitors are supported?

[ssmith131]

I'm looking at buying this laptop but I want to make sure it can drive two external displays in addition to the built-in screen display.

It has three external video connectors: VGA, HDMI, and USB 3.0 type C (DisplayPort) but can two of them/all three be used concurrently?

I want to drive multiple older projectors so my first choice would be to use the VGA and HDMI connectors.   I suspect I would have to buy an adapter to use the DP/USB-C connector but that wouldn't be a show-stopper.

Thanks for any information you can provide!

[anyoldhuman]

HP ProBook 450 G5 with Windows 10, purchased in Australia October 2018

My personal experience is that two external monitors are natively supported in addition to  the ProBooks own screen. With a display (older monitor, or a data projector) connected to the VGA port and a HDMI monitor connected to the  HDMI port all screens are available.

- the Windows desktop can be duplicated on all three screens

- the Windows desktop can be extended to use all 3 screens

- the Presenter v4 software that I wish to use works as desired to have

 * its control screen on the ProBooks internal screen

 * its "Front of House" display to the VGA device

 * its "Back of House"display to the HDMI device

Comments:

- the Presenter v4 software only recognises that there are 3 monitors available if the Windows desktop is being extended, not duplicated

- text display is our main intended use, especially for the Back of House display. At this point no testing has been done with video usage, but no problems are anticipated for its usage with the Front of House display

- in my testing the VGA port and the USBC port could not both be used at the same time.  With a VGA monitor connected and turned on,  a HDMI monitor using a USBC adaptor could not be detected/function.  But it worked fine with the VGA monitor disconnected

Question:

The external monitor identification number, presumably assigned by Windows, can change? When it does the Presenter software sends FOH and BOH to the wrong devices.  Maybe the startup and order of device connection is important? 

Windows says that both the external monitors are using the Intel graphics adaptor, and perhaps that contributes to the problem