Common Multi Monitor Questions

What do I need to add more monitors to my PC?

There are three ways to expand your view with DisplayLink technology:

1. USB Monitors: The DisplayLink hardware is built into the monitor for an all-in-one solution. A USB monitor is the easiest way to add an additional monitor to your PC in one product. Just plug in the USB monitor into any available USB port and you’re ready to enjoy the productivity benefits of multiple monitors.
2. USB Graphics Adapters: if you already have an extra monitor collecting dust then you can put it to use with a USB graphics adapter. Simply connect the HDMI/DVI/VGA connector of your existing monitor to the adapter and plug the USB cable from your PC into the adapter. You will need one adapter for each additional monitor you wish to connect to your computer allowing you up to six USB displays – in addition to any you may already have!
3. USB Docking Stations: laptop users often want the extra features and convenience available in a USB docking station. In addition to USB graphics, USB docking stations include an extra array of peripherals that allow you to plug in your mouse, keyboard, printer, iPod, speakers, microphone, network connection and just about any other USB device – including additional USB graphics adapters for even more screen space! All of this can then be connected by just one USB cable to your notebook, making docking and undocking easy.

Before purchasing DisplayLink devices, please make sure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements.

These USB graphics products are available from many major brands and can be found in the DisplayLink shop.

Does it work with Macintosh?

Yes. A driver for Apple Macintosh computers with Intel processors is available now at the DisplayLink Mac downloads area.

Does it work with Linux?

An open source driver is available, which is now built into the Linux kernel. Linux support for DisplayLink devices is supported by the Linux community. More information on the open source driver can be found at displaylink.org.

Does USB provide enough bandwidth for displays?

By looking at the numbers, it may appear that USB cannot provide enough bandwidth to support a high resolution display. This is only correct if you try to send every pixel of the image, but DisplayLink's award winning technology uses the CPU and GPU in your computer to compress the desktop image in realtime. This drastically reduces the bandwidth required to send pixels to the display, resulting in a high quality, low latency USB display. It does not use all the USB bandwidth, and you will notice no difference when using other USB peripherals at the same time.

See "How It Works" for more detail on DisplayLink's award winning technology.

Can I tell I'm using a USB display?

DisplayLink's compression technology has been designed around providing a seamless desktop experience between your traditional displays and USB displays. For the vast majority of PC applications, using a USB display will be just like using your primary monitor.

How many USB monitors can be supported by a single PC?

Up to 6 USB displays are supported on a PC, and up to 4 displays on a Mac. Under Windows Multipoint Server, up to 14 USB clients are supported.

What resolutions can USB displays support?

DisplayLink have a family of ICs that can support resolutions up to 2048x1152, independently of any other screens connected. DisplayLink detects the preferred resolution of your screen to make setup easy!

Can I watch movies using DisplayLink?

Sure! DisplayLink technology delivers full-screen video playback over USB. Just make sure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements for video playback.

Is DisplayLink's video technology suitable for gaming?

While DisplayLink technology is targeted primarily to productivity and video applications, it is suitable for the casual gamer. If you're a "power gamer", looking for every edge possible over your opponents, you might want to go another route.

Is it hard to set up?

DisplayLink makes using multiple monitors easy. Just install the DisplayLink software and connect a USB cable between the DisplayLink enabled monitor/adapter/peripheral and your PC. DisplayLink's software will automatically configure the monitor for optimal picture quality and stores those settings for future use.