Computer hardware
Connect two monitors: This is how it works with just one HDMI connection
Concentrated gaze, increased productivity – if you want to connect two monitors, you need a splitter in most cases.
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One laptop, two monitors, one problem: How do I get the image on both screens? Easier than expected thanks to the HDMI splitter!
Sitting at the kitchen table in front of the laptop is 2020: In the meantime, the last employee should have set up a comfortable home office workplace. And little offers more comfort in the workplace than a lot of picture space. It is logical that this is why most home office workers connect their laptops to a screen. And because more is better in this context, there are quite a few who need two screens at the same time. It becomes problematic if the laptop only has an HDMI or USB-C port.
Don’t worry, it is still possible to connect two monitors to the laptop. This is achieved via HDMI or USB-C splitters, which turn one input into two. But before you rush to buy such a splitter, you should check which and how many outputs your laptop offers and how many and which inputs the monitors to which you want to transmit a picture have. Then you have to decide which type of connection you want to use to connect the laptop and screens and which splitter you need.
Connect two monitors: HDMI splitter
If your laptop has an HDMI output and both screens have HDMI inputs, then a simple one will do HDMI splitter to get a picture on both monitors quickly and easily. Make sure that both the splitter and HDMI cable support 4K at 60 frames per second.
This should give you enough data throughput for smooth image reproduction. Most office monitors only offer a refresh rate of 60 frames per second – regardless of the resolution. But if you have a 4K monitor and the splitter only offers a data throughput of 30 frames per second, working on the PC can quickly become uncomfortable and uncomfortable.
USB-C dongle
Manufacturers like to use USB-C for particularly modern and slim laptops 3.2 Generation 2. Computers not only receive data via the interface, they also forward image signals or charge themselves. This saves a lot of cluttered cables on the one hand is a problem on the other: If you connect the laptop to the monitors via USB-C, all USB-C ports are quickly used up and the notebook can no longer be charged.
This scenario prevents one USB-C dongle. Make sure that it has two HDMI inputs if you want to connect the laptop to two monitors. Alternatively, you can connect a USB-C dongle with only one HDMI input to an HDMI splitter. This option is only advisable if you already have a dongle.
DVI splitter
If both monitors only have DVI inputs, you have two options: Either, you bet on one DVI splitter. In order to connect both monitors to the laptop, the laptop either needs a DVI input or you need one DVI to HDMI cable. Alternatively, you can buy two DVI-HDMI cables for the monitors and connect them to an HDMI splitter for the laptop if the notebook has an HDMI input.
Which option you choose is up to you. But it makes more sense, two DVI-HDMI cable to buy and connect them to the HDMI splitter, because HDMI is more widespread than DVI and you will be able to do more with cables and splitters than with the DVI splitter.
There are these types of transmission for laptops and monitors:
- HDMI: Probably the most widespread monitor connection in the meantime. Most consumers know it from television. It offers the most extensive convenience features and converters to VGA and DVI. Transmits audio signals and is therefore a true all-rounder.
- DisplayPort: Is mainly used for the connection between PC and monitor. Enables high frame rates and is therefore of interest to gamers. Transmits audio signals.
- USB-C: If the USB-C connector uses the USB protocol 3.2 Generation 2 can usually be used to transmit image signals. This is usually the case with newer laptops, but not mandatory for monitors with USB-C. If the monitor or laptop has a USB-C interface, consumers can tell by a “DP” above the socket whether it is transmitting image signals. If the monitor has no USB-C interface but only HDMI or DVI, a USB-C to HDMI dongle is usually suitable. Read, wor you have to pay attention to anything else with USB-C monitors.
- VGA: Analog connection that is still present on many laptops and monitors, but should no longer be used if there are more modern alternatives. Unfortunately, it does not transmit audio signals. Can transfer signals to HDMI by changing the connector.
- DVI: Analog connection that harmonizes with HDMI by changing the connector. Thanks to the connector, it is possible to connect older screens to the laptop via HMDI. Unfortunately, DVI does not allow audio transmission.
Here you will find a detailed overview of the individual monitor connections.
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