Searching for 5-monitor support laptop

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kr0fdf0276

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Hello .. I'm looking for an MSI laptop that can support 5 monitors when "docked".

As a laptop it needs to support 3D model processing, and have a 16" screen (or so, not over large).

I will want to dock it on my desk when home, and need to support a single 4K monitor (HDMI), and 4x 1920x1200 monitors (HDMI/DP not chainable) ... Ideally without an external eGPU and minimal docking connections. The laptop screen does not need to be operating when the system is docked into the home setup.

Thoughts on MSI models that can support this configuration, and what additional components would be required?
 
kr0fdf0276 said:
Hello .. I'm looking for an MSI laptop that can support 5 monitors when "docked".

As a laptop it needs to support 3D model processing, and have a 16" screen (or so, not over large).

I will want to dock it on my desk when home, and need to support a single 4K monitor (HDMI), and 4x 1920x1200 monitors (HDMI/DP not chainable) ... Ideally without an external eGPU and minimal docking connections. The laptop screen does not need to be operating when the system is docked into the home setup.

Thoughts on MSI models that can support this configuration, and what additional components would be required?
Click to expand...
GE68HX A14V and Vector 16HX A14V will give you a maximum of 4 external displays, the only way I could see you achieving 5, would be using a splitter to duplicate 1 of the displays.
I fail to understand why you need 5 external displays, you want each of your friends to have a display?

www.msi.com

Raider GE68 HX 14V - Light' em up

Powered by Intel® Core™ i9 processor 14900HX and equipped with Nvidia GeForce RTX™ 4090 graphics, the Raider GE68 HX 14V effortlessly merges top-tier computational performance with an immersive gaming environment, making it the perfect choice for gamers.
www.msi.com www.msi.com

www.msi.com

Vector 16 HX A14V - Born for Performance

Powered by Intel® Core™ i9 processor 14900HX and equipped with Nvidia GeForce RTX™ 4090 graphics, Vector 16 HX A14V effortlessly merges top-tier computational performance with an immersive working environment, making it the perfect choice for STEM users.
www.msi.com www.msi.com
 
5 because that's my home setup ... I have a 50" 4k central monitor with two 1920x1200 monitors stacked on each side of it.

Can drive it with the card in my current desktop PC, but it's getting old (12 years now) and needs to be replaced ... Hoping to pull it off with a laptop.

Duplicating a screen isn't feasible, they all need to be extended monitors.
 
kr0fdf0276 said:
5 because that's my home setup ... I have a 50" 4k central monitor with two 1920x1200 monitors stacked on each side of it.

Can drive it with the card in my current desktop PC, but it's getting old (12 years now) and needs to be replaced ... Hoping to pull it off with a laptop.

Duplicating a screen isn't feasible, they all need to be extended monitors.
Click to expand...
Then buy another desktop!
 
kr0fdf0276 said:
Although an option, that isn't an answer to the question. I know I can get another desktop, but I'm attempting to determine is if it's possible to do with a laptop.
Click to expand...
The only way you could achieve this with a laptop, is with a docking port added to it.

www.msi.com

MSI USB-C Docking Station Gen 2

Connect your laptop to multiple external devices and Internet to provides ultimate productivity and efficiency. Integrates data transfer, power delivery and video displays through only one USB-C cable.
www.msi.com www.msi.com
 
kr0fdf0276 said:
Hello .. I'm looking for an MSI laptop that can support 5 monitors when "docked".
Click to expand...

The docking solutions are limited to 3 monitors (not enough bandwidth for more).
So if you need 5 independent video outputs you need a very powerful laptop (Core i9 14900HX + Nvidia RTX 4090) with Thunderbolt 4 plus two other outputs (DisplayPort + HDMI).
Examples:
www.msi.com

Titan 18 HX A14V - Total Dominance

Powered by Intel® Core™ i9 processor 14900HX and equipped with Nvidia GeForce RTX™ 4090 graphics, the Titan 18 HX A14V seamlessly combines professional-grade computational power with an immersive gaming experience.
www.msi.com www.msi.com
www.msi.com

Raider GE78 HX 14V - Light' em up

Powered by Intel® Core™ i9 processor 14900HX and equipped with Nvidia GeForce RTX™ 4090 graphics, the Raider GE78 HX 14V effortlessly merges top-tier computational performance with an immersive gaming environment, making it the perfect choice for gamers.
www.msi.com www.msi.com
 
The GE and GP have 4 video outputs, the GT only 3, so budget choice GP (has i9 & RTX 4090 option), better display, battery, webcam, speakers and higher quality, go for GE.

www.msi.com

Raider GE68 HX 14V - Light' em up

Powered by Intel® Core™ i9 processor 14900HX and equipped with Nvidia GeForce RTX™ 4090 graphics, the Raider GE68 HX 14V effortlessly merges top-tier computational performance with an immersive gaming environment, making it the perfect choice for gamers.
www.msi.com www.msi.com

www.msi.com

Vector 16 HX A14V - Born for Performance

Powered by Intel® Core™ i9 processor 14900HX and equipped with Nvidia GeForce RTX™ 4090 graphics, Vector 16 HX A14V effortlessly merges top-tier computational performance with an immersive working environment, making it the perfect choice for STEM users.
www.msi.com www.msi.com
 
Thank you both ... That's been helpful. The main issue would seem to be which video ports are services by which GPU. MSI publishes a document showing the bus assignments for all their laptops, and the only way to get to 5 would seem to be a laptop than can run both GPU's simultaneously .... With monitors on TB4, and the other running off a single HDMI on the other bus.

Might be possible, may have to experiment.
 
kr0fdf0276 said:
The main issue would seem to be which video ports are services by which GPU.
Click to expand...

The routing is automated.

kr0fdf0276 said:
MSI publishes a document showing the bus assignments for all their laptops, and the only way to get to 5 would seem to be a laptop than can run both GPU's simultaneously ....
Click to expand...

Yes, that's true.
Up to 4 outputs via GPU (Nvidia 4090) and an additional 2 outputs via IGP (Intel 14900HX).
So for 5 outputs you need them both active at the same time!
Your best bet here is the Titan laptop (the most expensive :biggrin: ) because it provides 2 independent Thunderbolt 4 outputs.
So you'll need 2 docking systems via Nvidia 4090 + the HDMI output via CPU IGP.
Talking about the distributed bandwidth, (2 + 2 + 1) is better than (3 + 1 + 1).
Also, Raider GE78 HX is another very good option, because you can get (2 + 1 + 1) from Nvidia and (+1) from Intel (HDMI).
 
kr0fdf0276 said:
Thank you both ... That's been helpful. The main issue would seem to be which video ports are services by which GPU. MSI publishes a document showing the bus assignments for all their laptops, and the only way to get to 5 would seem to be a laptop than can run both GPU's simultaneously .... With monitors on TB4, and the other running off a single HDMI on the other bus.

Might be possible, may have to experiment.
Click to expand...
Here are the video otutputs in more detail.
So as per these detailed video outputs, you can clearly see, it would be better with the GE or GP!

 
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kr0fdf0276 said:
Thank you both ... That's been helpful. The main issue would seem to be which video ports are services by which GPU. MSI publishes a document showing the bus assignments for all their laptops, and the only way to get to 5 would seem to be a laptop than can run both GPU's simultaneously .... With monitors on TB4, and the other running off a single HDMI on the other bus.

Might be possible, may have to experiment.
Click to expand...
Here are the video otutputs in more detail.
So as per these detailed video outputs, you can clearly see, it would be better with the GE or GP!

https://storage-asset.msi.com/global/picture/faq/10019380@2024-0619-0123-008239@kb_10116_en.pdf
 
Atnn said:
or if your monitors support it you could daisy chain few of them
Click to expand...

He already mentioned that this is not an option: "need to support a single 4K monitor (HDMI), and 4x 1920x1200 monitors (HDMI/DP not chainable)"

drek4 said:
So as per these detailed video outputs, you can clearly see, it would be better with the GE or GP!
Click to expand...

Yes, it seems that Raider GE78 HX would be the best option (2 + 1 + 1 + 1).

P.S.
In that table they say Titan cannot use the IGP and that's not correct.:biggrin:
 
RemusM said:
He already mentioned that this is not an option: "need to support a single 4K monitor (HDMI), and 4x 1920x1200 monitors (HDMI/DP not chainable)"



Yes, it seems that Raider GE78 HX would be the best option (2 + 1 + 1 + 1).
Click to expand...
Yes I agree the Raider GE68HX/78HX and Vector 16HX/17HX would be the best options, unless you want a better display, battery, webcam, speakers and higher quality, then go for GE.
Of course, if you are willing to pay for those.
RemusM said:
P.S.
In that table they say Titan cannot use the IGP and that's not correct.:biggrin:
Click to expand...
Agreed, for some unknown reason they put TBT under dGPU instead of iGPU, go figure.:bonk:
 
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Amazing, this was exactly what I was hoping to get. Thank you all for the input and analysis.
 
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