Do I need an onbard GPU to use Display Link?

danny · 12-01-2011, 10:00 PM

I have a laptop with nVidia 8600M GS graphics card. However, the graphics card got fried and is no longer functional. I was hoping to use Display Link USB adapter to get my laptop output its display to an external monitor so that I can use the laptop. It is not clear to me if it is necessary to have a working GPU in order to use Display Link. Will Display Link work with a non-functional GPU in the computer? Any clarification is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Danny

danny · 12-03-2011, 11:39 PM

I am sure DisplayLink support staff knows answer to this. Can anybody on the staff let me know so that I can make a decision whether to buy DisplayLink device or not?

Thanks.
Danny

Wim · 12-04-2011, 09:45 PM

DisplayLink does need a working GPU, as we use it to do the 3D acceleration effects in Windows Vista and 7. It depends how "fried" your graphics card is. If the driver is still there, and its just a corrupted screen (ie just the video output is screwy), it may still work, and we can use it, but I couldn't guarantee it.

So we do need a GPU and this one may work enough. The only thing to do would be to try it... might be cheaper than a new computer!

Wim

mick · 08-12-2012, 12:50 PM

Danny - did you end up trying this with your fried GPU?

Wim - would the same apply to a Mac?

I have a MacBook Pro (early 2008 model running OS X 10.7.4) that just lost its internal graphics card (green static lines on display while booting, display freezing just before the log-on screen). It is otherwise still fully functional via remote desktop VNC.

It would be great if I could use a DL-195 adapter with external monitor to get some more use out of this laptop.

Cheers,

Mick

Wim · 08-13-2012, 12:41 PM

This might be OK on the Mac, as we don't use the GPU in our driver today, but I cannot guarantee this will be the case in the future.

You can try it at your own risk... :-)

Wim

mick · 08-14-2012, 02:13 AM

Thanks Wim. It's definitely worth a try and I'll post an update hopefully with good results later this week.

Cheers,

Mick

12-01-2011, 10:00 PM	#1
danny Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 2	Do I need an onbard GPU to use Display Link? I have a laptop with nVidia 8600M GS graphics card. However, the graphics card got fried and is no longer functional. I was hoping to use Display Link USB adapter to get my laptop output its display to an external monitor so that I can use the laptop. It is not clear to me if it is necessary to have a working GPU in order to use Display Link. Will Display Link work with a non-functional GPU in the computer? Any clarification is greatly appreciated. Thank you. Danny

12-03-2011, 11:39 PM	#2
danny Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 2	Any response from DisplayLink Support? I am sure DisplayLink support staff knows answer to this. Can anybody on the staff let me know so that I can make a decision whether to buy DisplayLink device or not? Thanks. Danny

08-12-2012, 12:50 PM	#4
mick Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Australia Posts: 3	MacBook Pro with Broken Graphics Card? Danny - did you end up trying this with your fried GPU? Wim - would the same apply to a Mac? I have a MacBook Pro (early 2008 model running OS X 10.7.4) that just lost its internal graphics card (green static lines on display while booting, display freezing just before the log-on screen). It is otherwise still fully functional via remote desktop VNC. It would be great if I could use a DL-195 adapter with external monitor to get some more use out of this laptop. Cheers, Mick Last edited by mick; 08-12-2012 at 12:52 PM.

12-04-2011, 09:45 PM	#3
Wim Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,561	DisplayLink does need a working GPU, as we use it to do the 3D acceleration effects in Windows Vista and 7. It depends how "fried" your graphics card is. If the driver is still there, and its just a corrupted screen (ie just the video output is screwy), it may still work, and we can use it, but I couldn't guarantee it. So we do need a GPU and this one may work enough. The only thing to do would be to try it... might be cheaper than a new computer! Wim

08-13-2012, 12:41 PM	#5
Wim Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,561	This might be OK on the Mac, as we don't use the GPU in our driver today, but I cannot guarantee this will be the case in the future. You can try it at your own risk... :-) Wim

08-14-2012, 02:13 AM	#6
mick Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Australia Posts: 3	Thanks Wim. It's definitely worth a try and I'll post an update hopefully with good results later this week. Cheers, Mick