Anyone box with a laptop + external monitor?

[ShadowKntSDS]

It seems like gaming laptops are getting pretty powerful these days, and i know several people have 5 boxed on laptops using the built in screen. Do the gfx cards on high end gaming laptops have enough umph to run an external monitor in addition to the built in LCD? Instead of cramming all clients on 1 screen, i was hoping to put my lead on my main screen, and my slaves on an external monitor. If this is a no go, a may nix the whole laptop idea.

Also, i don't really know a good way to gauge laptop gfx cards compared to desktop cards. Occasionally, i can find sites with benchmarks on the same game, but those are few and far between.

[EaTCarbS]

My laptop runs 1 wow flawlessly, and could probably run 2. From time to time I will run a character on it, figure that's better than letting it sit there =P

[ShadowKntSDS]

I have no doubt you can get a laptop to run multiple clients. I've seen it done. However, I know most mobile gfx cards are not nearly as strong a desktop card.

My question is more: "Can a laptop gfx card handle running multiple clients displayed over multiple monitors?" I know they are capable of running multiple clients, but doing over 2 screen is twice as many pixels to push.

[DLoweinc]

the short answer is yes, but I am not personally doing it this way.

mobile products have come a LONG way and are pretty damn powerful right now compared to a few years ago.

Some better questions are whether or not you are ok with having to turn stuff down if it can't handle what you are asking of it.

[ShadowKntSDS]

I'm am perfectly fine turning things down for boxing.

This is for LOTRO btw, which may have different requirements than wow.

[fleaplus]

Mobile graphics card are typically a generation behind their desktop counterparts. The Radeon Mobility 5870 is actually based on the Radeon 5770 and is underclocked. For Nvidia, the GTX260M, GTX280M and GTS360M are all based on older 9800GTX desktop cards, and are all behind the Radeon in performance. The GTX480M is an underclocked GTX460 as well.

[ShadowKntSDS]

Any idea what is comparable to a 8800GTX (my current desktop card)? Ideally I'd be able to test something on a desktop setup first, and then I'd have an idea if I can accomplish what I want on a mobile part.

[RobinGBrown]

I'm running two copies of EVE on my Dell Inspiron 1750 on an external monitor as I type this very message. Hopefully I haven't typed it into chat too...

Edit: Oops...

[tripleboxed]

I'm running two copies of EVE on my Dell Inspiron 1750 on an external monitor as I type this very message. Hopefully I haven't typed it into chat too...

Edit: Oops...Hmm what software are you using? if your using keyclone (which cloud make this type of thing happend within add window option) anyway you must have selected your browser as in keyclone for this kinda thing to be happening im not sure if this is what your interests are in keyclone but, i thought you should know this.

[Ellipsis]

I've actually considered this, as my primary boxing computer is a laptop. The best thing to do is check the specs on your gfx card itself, or one you're looking to buy.
Some of them are specifically built to be able to handle two/multiple monitors, especially newer ones, such as the new ATI Radeon/Mobility cards that were mentioned.

Here's what I'm boxing on:

http://rog.asus.com/Product.aspx?PId=32#product_tab

Asus G73JH-A2
i7 720QM up to 1.6-2.66Ghz (BIOS options can safely OC this to 3.06Ghz)
8GB DDR3 1333mhz RAM
ATI Radeon 5870 1GB DDR5 VRAM

Now I run 5 accounts (WoW) on this @ultra (w/o shadows) and it is a beast. It does have an HDMI port for an external monitor as well, which is why I've been considering another screen.

Now lets look at the video card specs:

http://www.amd.com/US/PRODUCTS/NOTEBOOK/GRAPHICS/ATI-MOBILITY-HD-5800/Pages/hd-5870-specs.aspx


Excerpt:

ATI Eyefinity multi-display technology2,3

Six independent display controllers

Drive up to six displays simultaneously with independent resolutions, refresh rates, color controls, and video overlays


Display grouping

Combine multiple displays to behave like a single large display



2: Driver version 8.66 (Catalyst 9.10) or above is required to support ATI Eyefinity technology.. Actual number of attachable monitors will vary by notebook model.

3: ATI Eyefinity technology works with games that support non-standard aspect ratios which is required for panning across multiple displays.
GULP! Six!? :eek: Well I don't think that'd go over too well with a laptop PSU and cooling fans, hehe, but I can dream.
You can also port the video from the display via the HDMI cable to an HDTV, too bad I don't have one of those either...:(
Also, of course I'm not sure if upgrading is even an option for you; but Like what DLoweinc said, the tech is there if you want to go mobile, that's for sure.

Happy Gaming. :)

One more Smilie, because I can. :D

[soloisforkids]

Im using a Dell Studio XPS 16 (ATI 4870 1 GB) and a Macbook Pro (9600 M GT)

I have 1 external monitor in the middle (hooked up to the Dell) and one laptop on each side.

The dell runs my main and my healer at the same resolution (1680*1050) so I can do mouseover healing. The macbook pro runs the 3 dps at a lower res.

I use isboxer for multiboxing and Input Director for mouse control over the Macbook pro.

All I can say is that this works like a charm for 5 boxing, and I can take all my stuff on the road to :D