Dell Alienware M17x (Mid 2009) - Manual (Page 21)

021
021
/
CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES
Connecting External Displays
If you want to enjoy your computing environment on a bigger scale visually, or
extend your desktop area, you can connect an external display such as a standalone
monitor, an LCD TV, or a projector.
NOTE: The external display connections in your Alienware notebook are
connected to your discrete graphics card(s). When you want to use an
external display device, turn off the integrated graphics (<Fn><F7>). This
will active the discrete graphics in your computer, and enable the external
display interfaces.
Connecting a Display
For the best picture quality, use the DisplayPort or HDMI connector on your digital
display. If your display does not have a DisplayPort or HDMI connector, you can
connect to the display using either a VGA cable from the notebook’s 15-pin VGA
connector or a DVI cable via a DisplayPort-to-DVI adapter. This adapter can be
purchased through Alienware, Dell, or other electronics retailers.
Turn off your notebook. 1.
Turn off the digital display and unplug it from the power supply. 2.
Connect one end of the display cable to the DisplayPort, HDMI, or VGA 3.
connector on your Alienware notebook.
Connect the other end of the cable to the same connector on your display.
4.
If you are using a DisplayPort-to-DVI adapter, first connect this adapter to 5.
the DisplayPort connector on your Alienware notebook and then connect a
DVI cable to the DVI connector on the adapter and tighten the thumb screws.
Connect the other end of the DVI cable to the DVI connector on your display.
If necessary, connect one end of the power cord to the display’s power 6.
connector.
Connect the other end of the power cord to a grounded three-prong power
7.
strip or wall outlet.
Turn on your notebook, and then turn on your display.
8.
Extending the Desktop
With the external display connected, right-click on the desktop and select 1.
Personalize.
Select
2. Connect to a projector or other external display in the upper left
portion of the screen.
Click
3. Connect Display.
Select from the below options that appear on the screen: 4.
Duplicate my display on all displays (mirrored) •
Show different parts of my desktop on each display (extended) •
Show my desktop on the external display only •
Click
5. Apply to apply your changes and then click OK to exit the Display
Settings control panel.
NOTE: When using NVIDIA Graphics with SLI enabled, only a single display
may be active at a time.