Two monitors on my HP pavilion x360 ba183nd

[Michaelmb29]

Hello,

My laptop is a HP Pavilion x360 ba183nd and I would like to know if it is possible to connect two monitors on my laptop. One monitor, ofcourse, is connected through my HDMI port. Is it possible to connect the other one through an USB port with for example a external videocart adapter? I have tried several adapters, but without succes.

Thanks,

Michael 

[erico]

Not as far as I am aware.

The higher end Spectre models have USB Type-C (Generation 2 with Thunderbolt™) ports which can produce video output.

Your ultrabook is more of a mainstream model.

It has 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Data transfer only) and 1 USB 3.1 Type-C™ Gen 1 (Data up to 5 Gb/s) ports. They are not capable of producing video utput. That is why you are not having success with the adapters.

Compare the port  specifications on your Pavilion and the Spectre 15-ch000 model notebooks.

[Michaelmb29]

Thanks for your reply, but shouldn't it be possible with a device like an display adapter?:

https://www.diamondmm.com/product/bvu5500-video-graphics-adapter/ 

Michael

[erico]

Not if a laptop is not capable of producing video through the adapter.

The adapter won't make things happen if they are outside the capabilities of the device it is connected to.

Currents gaming notebook, premium business or premium consumer edition notebooks don't have the problem you have encountered. They are equipped with USB ports that are capable of producing video. Your notebook does have an HDMI port which can be used for an additional display or an HDTV with HDMI input ports.

That is the downside of owning an entry or  mainstream notebook instead of a premium featured device. It would have been the same no matter which brand you purchased. I recommend always considering what you will be using a notebook for and performing research and comparison between features before a purchase. As a minimum, ask someone you know who you consider knowlegeable on PCs and notebooks, which notebook would be the best for what you want to use it for. Future proof what you want by spending a little bit more for more features, if it is within your budget.

[kevin-bcn]

Hi Michael,

Did you get it sorted out already? I have a new Pavilion 15-ck0xx  with USB-C Gen 1 so data only, and an HDMI port. I bought a StarTech USB32DP4K that connects to a standard USB3 port and outputs DisplayPort video at 4k, works like a charm and even works through a cheap Amazon Basics USB3 hub -- videos look perfect to me. That and the HDMI port gives me two external monitors, and surprise even the portable's display works as a third monitor, Windows recognizes them all and allows me to move them around as desired, extended desktop across all three.

I couldn't ask for a better solution for a mainstream computer, spent just 100$ and have a multi-monitor solution that would have cost over 700$ to have it all natively in the portable. This adapter is small and light and I don't even notice it behind the portable. Still have the USB-C port free and will buy a StarTech hub for that port. 

This adapter uses DisplayLink technology, works out of the box with no installation on my part, it downloads what it needs as soon as you connect it and then bang the 4K DisplayPort monitor was alive.

Let me know if you have any questions about this solution, I hope it works for you.

Regards, Kevin

[Michaelmb29]

Hi Kevin,

A few weeks ago i bought this:

https://www.i-mania.nl/usb-3-0-to-hdmi-adapter-met-vga-adapter-support-full-hd-1080p-expandable-up-t...

The first day i used it (after i installed drivers from http://www.displaylink.com/) it worked, but i had no usb slots left for my keyboard. After i bought a USB hub my laptop didn't recognized the device any more. Nothing it tried seem to work and i returned it. 

This week i bought a HP USB-C to HDMI 2.0 adapter and it also didn't work. 

My monitor is a HDMI (not a display port), so i can't buy your StarTech USB32DP4K. 

What Erico says sound reasonable/logical but i have seen that it could work, so i'm still trying te find a solution..

Thanks.

Michael

[kevin-bcn]

Hi Michael,

Thanks for reply, Startech makes the same model with HDMI output, here is the link to several options:
https://www.startech.com/AV/USB-Video-Adapters/?filter_AVINPUT=USB+3.0&filter_USBPASSTHRU=No  

If you need 4K output then it doesn't seem to offer a USB pass-through port, if you need that then select YES to that option in the drop-down box. I chose DisplayPort just to have that option even though any monitor that's DP I imagine also has an HDMI port as well.

I bought mine on Amazon and the price was lower than what you see here. Startech has lots of hub products if you're short on USB ports like I am, I'll buy one of their powered USB hubs soon to connect to the USB-C port. I sent them an inquiry online and their sales support was good, product performed exactly as he said it would.

Let me know how it goes!

Regards, Kevin