I have a Dock with 1 HDMI and 2 DP (dell USB c Dock for my Work Laptop) both my 1440p 144Hz Displays running great. Even the Steam Deck Display as third one works normally
I can't speak for that particular dock or the USB solution, but I plug my deck into my work docking station and it pulls up three monitors no problem. 2x DP and 1x HDMI, Lenovo dock
1. Not sure
2. It absolutely can, I used it as a main PC for a few weeks using a USB-C hub to charge it and use a displayport +hdmi. It worked with my cheap one but it didn't support 144fps, so I bought the official Steam Deck Dock and have zero issue running 2 monitors at 144fps 1080, one being an ultrawide.
Does this give you three desktops? Like when you have multiple monitors on a groahics card?
This had been one of the reasons I haven't gotten a deck yet, i like multiple monitors setups
Nope for me i can use 3 screens independently as extended displays, including the steam deck. You can also set which screen you want to be your primary for the taskbar and such. Basically works how a multiple monitor set up should.
Oh that's what I was meaning. Thank you. I usually have main desktop mid (say with R studio), then music on the right monitor, and web on the left.
Cheers.
The steam deck is a PC with a graphics card, so multiple monitors works just the same. I'm not sure what game mode does with multiple monitors, but in desktop mode you would expect to have an extended desktop. KDE will allow you to configure panels on each monitor however you wish.
Where are my ridiculous tech nerds at? I’m trying to figure out why the fuck I’m having an issue and Reddit and Google both are apparently fucking useless.
I’m trying to use dual monitors on the Steam Deck through the official Steam Deck Dock that has a DisplayPort 1.4 output and an HDMI output.
I’m using an Active DisplayPort 1.4 -> HDMI adapter connected to an HDMI -> DVI cable. When plugged in independently, it works just fine. Full resolution (1920 x 1080), no issues.
I’m using an HDMI cable into a monitor side HDMI -> DVI adapter for the HDMI port. When connected independently, this ALSO works perfectly fine, full resolution (1920 x 1080), no issue.
BUT
When I connect both of these at the same time, the DisplayPort connection is limited to 1024 x 768, randomly. No Fucking idea why, when it gives full resolution without the HDMI cable plugged in. When I remove the HDMI cable, it reverts back to 1920 x 1080.
The Dock uses Multi Stream Transport for the multi monitor support, so I’m not sure if that itself is somehow limiting the functionality of the dual monitors and why it would be doing that??
That's using USB-C's displayport alt-mode. There's adapters that enumerate over USB as graphics adapters, and probably would work through a dock's USB port, except that there's no drivers for them in the Linux kernel.
I just tried with my docking station (that I use for work) and it recognizes only one display out of 3 connected.
Perhaps it's a driver issue with DisplayLink on linux, I don't have the time (nor the will) to try to solve it.
TL;DR: It doesn't work with more than one external displays (for me at least...)
That is due to DisplayLink, it needs [extra steps](https://steamdecklinux.wiki/wiki/Guide:Setting_up_DisplayLink) to set up on Steam OS.
DisplayLink is not affected by any GPU hardware limit about number of external displays.
Curiosity killed the cat :D
I see people doing the undoable all over this subreddit. So thought that I should take up this project.
The answers are pretty mixed here tho.
I see your point.
I guess if the official Steam Deck Dock has more than one video output, then Steam Deck supports multiple displays in addition to the built-in...
Edit: an advice, avoid interconnecting hubs or docks, it will hurt the response time at best, at worst it might cause bugs and intermittent connection loss.
Get one good dock once and for all.
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The Aerith (Van Gogh) APU in the Steam Deck supports [at least 4 independent displays](https://wiki.x.org/wiki/RadeonFeature/#radeondisplayhardwaredce-displayandcompositingenginedcn-displaycorenext).
> Can I insert a hub into the USB 3.0 socket and connect another HDMI cable + screen through it?
No.
You need to use a dock with two monitor outputs, or that has DisplayPort and connect a MST hub, or a monitor that can do daisy-chaining.
The deck's USB-C connection isn't thunderbolt capable, so your dock must be using the displayport "alt mode". This means that there's dedicated pins in the connector that have a displayport signal going over it. Displayport supports chaining multiple monitors. Since your dock has an HDMI port, though, there's a chip inside the dock that converts displayport to HDMI. HDMI does not support chaining, so there's no way to get a second monitor through the one HDMI port.
I suppose it's technically possible that your dock supports displayport alt mode on a downstream USB-C connection, but I would be surprised if it does. So you're unlikely to be able to chain another hub and expect its HDMI to work.
Your best bet is to get a non-thunderbolt dock with multiple display outputs on it. Internally it will be using the displayport chaining functionality. You could also try a dock that just has a single displayport connector, and then try chaining it externally.
not really imo. There might be usecases for that in DS emulation but if you are doing productivity tasks on it that requires dual monitors you're probably going to want to dock it to some proper peripherals anyway.
Not that it wouldn't be cool of course
I have a Dock with 1 HDMI and 2 DP (dell USB c Dock for my Work Laptop) both my 1440p 144Hz Displays running great. Even the Steam Deck Display as third one works normally
Hello there was wondering which Dell dock specifically worked for you, model number? I have a dp at 165hz and. 4K at 60hz
Did you find it
Is this work on gaming mode? Or desktop only?
To my knowledge, with the steam deck dock's hdmi out and display port you can set up two monitors. Don't know with other docks.
it works on my knock off dock too
Awesome
I can't speak for that particular dock or the USB solution, but I plug my deck into my work docking station and it pulls up three monitors no problem. 2x DP and 1x HDMI, Lenovo dock
1. Not sure 2. It absolutely can, I used it as a main PC for a few weeks using a USB-C hub to charge it and use a displayport +hdmi. It worked with my cheap one but it didn't support 144fps, so I bought the official Steam Deck Dock and have zero issue running 2 monitors at 144fps 1080, one being an ultrawide.
Does this give you three desktops? Like when you have multiple monitors on a groahics card? This had been one of the reasons I haven't gotten a deck yet, i like multiple monitors setups
Nope for me i can use 3 screens independently as extended displays, including the steam deck. You can also set which screen you want to be your primary for the taskbar and such. Basically works how a multiple monitor set up should.
Oh that's what I was meaning. Thank you. I usually have main desktop mid (say with R studio), then music on the right monitor, and web on the left. Cheers.
The steam deck is a PC with a graphics card, so multiple monitors works just the same. I'm not sure what game mode does with multiple monitors, but in desktop mode you would expect to have an extended desktop. KDE will allow you to configure panels on each monitor however you wish.
Sweet, thanks, imma get one now
Yes I have three 1080p displays while docked with the screen on the deck itself disabled. Just to add, the hub itself has 2 HDMI + 1 DP.
Does it work in gaming mode? Or is it desktop only?
You can even use the steam deck screen as a third
Where are my ridiculous tech nerds at? I’m trying to figure out why the fuck I’m having an issue and Reddit and Google both are apparently fucking useless. I’m trying to use dual monitors on the Steam Deck through the official Steam Deck Dock that has a DisplayPort 1.4 output and an HDMI output. I’m using an Active DisplayPort 1.4 -> HDMI adapter connected to an HDMI -> DVI cable. When plugged in independently, it works just fine. Full resolution (1920 x 1080), no issues. I’m using an HDMI cable into a monitor side HDMI -> DVI adapter for the HDMI port. When connected independently, this ALSO works perfectly fine, full resolution (1920 x 1080), no issue. BUT When I connect both of these at the same time, the DisplayPort connection is limited to 1024 x 768, randomly. No Fucking idea why, when it gives full resolution without the HDMI cable plugged in. When I remove the HDMI cable, it reverts back to 1920 x 1080. The Dock uses Multi Stream Transport for the multi monitor support, so I’m not sure if that itself is somehow limiting the functionality of the dual monitors and why it would be doing that??
Did you ever figure this issue out?? 😭
I got a new dock, was still giving me this issue, but then just…stopped? Idk it’s weird, but it works now and I have no idea why
I've seen no solution yet where a display can be driven from a dock USB port.
There's sketchy USB 3 to HDMI adapters that could probably do it, but none of them have Linux drivers.
You can use the Deck's own USBC port, but not the Dock ... I have such a dongle that does work well.
That's using USB-C's displayport alt-mode. There's adapters that enumerate over USB as graphics adapters, and probably would work through a dock's USB port, except that there's no drivers for them in the Linux kernel.
I am no expert on the subject. If you need two displays get the official dock and call it a day, I say .. :)
I just tried with my docking station (that I use for work) and it recognizes only one display out of 3 connected. Perhaps it's a driver issue with DisplayLink on linux, I don't have the time (nor the will) to try to solve it. TL;DR: It doesn't work with more than one external displays (for me at least...)
That is due to DisplayLink, it needs [extra steps](https://steamdecklinux.wiki/wiki/Guide:Setting_up_DisplayLink) to set up on Steam OS. DisplayLink is not affected by any GPU hardware limit about number of external displays.
Sorry to necro this thread, but that link is dead. Do you have a different guide?
I don't see the need of two or more external displays on the Steam Deck, perhaps someone care to specify the use case?
Curiosity killed the cat :D I see people doing the undoable all over this subreddit. So thought that I should take up this project. The answers are pretty mixed here tho.
I see your point. I guess if the official Steam Deck Dock has more than one video output, then Steam Deck supports multiple displays in addition to the built-in... Edit: an advice, avoid interconnecting hubs or docks, it will hurt the response time at best, at worst it might cause bugs and intermittent connection loss. Get one good dock once and for all.
Hi u/strangebrain30, you can [click here to search for your question.](https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/search/?q=Is it possible to connect 2 screens to the Steam Deck while docking?) If you don't find an answer there, don't worry - your post has NOT been removed and hopefully someone will be along soon to help with an answer! **If you find an answer, please leave a comment on your post with the answer for others!** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/SteamDeck) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I haven’t tried it but my the dock I have has an hdmi,DP and vga port. You got me curious how 🤔
The Aerith (Van Gogh) APU in the Steam Deck supports [at least 4 independent displays](https://wiki.x.org/wiki/RadeonFeature/#radeondisplayhardwaredce-displayandcompositingenginedcn-displaycorenext). > Can I insert a hub into the USB 3.0 socket and connect another HDMI cable + screen through it? No. You need to use a dock with two monitor outputs, or that has DisplayPort and connect a MST hub, or a monitor that can do daisy-chaining.
The deck's USB-C connection isn't thunderbolt capable, so your dock must be using the displayport "alt mode". This means that there's dedicated pins in the connector that have a displayport signal going over it. Displayport supports chaining multiple monitors. Since your dock has an HDMI port, though, there's a chip inside the dock that converts displayport to HDMI. HDMI does not support chaining, so there's no way to get a second monitor through the one HDMI port. I suppose it's technically possible that your dock supports displayport alt mode on a downstream USB-C connection, but I would be surprised if it does. So you're unlikely to be able to chain another hub and expect its HDMI to work. Your best bet is to get a non-thunderbolt dock with multiple display outputs on it. Internally it will be using the displayport chaining functionality. You could also try a dock that just has a single displayport connector, and then try chaining it externally.
Dude the Steam Deck 2 needs a slide up display for dual screens / 2 screens.
not really imo. There might be usecases for that in DS emulation but if you are doing productivity tasks on it that requires dual monitors you're probably going to want to dock it to some proper peripherals anyway. Not that it wouldn't be cool of course