Type-C USB Port has NO display out capability on Aspire 7 core-i7 9th Generation laptop, Why ????

I understand, only too well. You can have just 1 external monitor through the HDMI port, but having 2 external monitors isn't possible.

All of the manufacturers are pulling these kinds of things to be honest, depends on the model and tier you're buying. Hell even Dell went with soldered RAM for the mid-tier 1 or 2 years ago already. Talking about Acer, think of the A515-54G which is the one I know most, many submodels have 4GB of RAM soldered and then you have 1 slot for sticks of RAM. Mine doesn't have any RAM soldered into it, but I still get only 1 slot for RAM. So, bye bye dual channel and bye bye more than 32 GB of RAM haha.

More things to add to that... there's another PCIe port that is unpopulated and doesn't have a connector in the board, so I only get 1 M.2 port for SSDs (they did retain the SATA one and kindly provide an adapter in the box in case I wanted to add such a drive, of that I'm grateful). Backlit keyboard, there's the connector, but my model doesn't have it sadly

. And same as you with the USB type-C, I can output to 1 external monitor through the HDMI port, be it HDMI or DisplayPort/VGA with adapters (active adapter for VGA).

But I knew it all already before buying it, the price was right for a 10th gen Intel with all it had.

I guess USB type-C has become another marketing point, which is not bad, you can connect many kind of peripherals that are type-C; but many people just expect something else out of that port (me included). Power Delivery and the DisplayPort alt mode are very nice additions, I don't quite care for Thunderbolt 3 though, but I wish I had those two.

Remember to check the specs in the store or online for those you need, unless big bucks are spent (I'm thinking, 800€+ or so) chances are corners were cut somewhere (as in it has the top made of aluminium, but the rest of the chasis is plastic for example) and you won't get it all. But, what can we do?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BPEV1XK/

Your model seems to have a hybrid HDMI output which can switch between the intel & nvidia graphics. So the graphics should support displayport. BUT it does so only by using a HDMI to displayport formfactor adapter. So it apparently doesn't have a physically separate displayport port.

However, other users claim to have successfully gotten around this limitation by using this active adapter which seems to convert a video stream from the graphics adapter to a data stream that a USBA3 or USBC data port can handle, then video out to another monitor. Because this likely involves 3 conversions --- video to data to video --- I'm gonna guess there would be limitations on frame rates. So it's not something to rely on to play hi-speed gpu intensive games on an external display. Jack E/NJ

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All comments

Press WIN+R. Enter 'msinfo32'. In the right pane of the box that pops up, what is the full ACER system model listed? Jack E/NJ

Commodore_1995#

CLICK here to provide the exact model: https://global-download.acer.com/SupportFiles/Files/SNID/APP/SerialNumberDetectionTool.exe

Even if the Cport isn't video-out capble, there are inexpensive active adapters to get around this if you insist on using the Cport. But you also seem to have a displayport port in addition to the HDMI port which gives you even more options. But it would be helpful to know the full A7 model number for example A71x-7xxY? Jack E/NJ

JackE said:

Even if the Cport isn't video-out capble, there are inexpensive active adapters to get around this if you insist on using the Cport. But you also seem to have a displayport port in addition to the HDMI port which gives you even more options. But it would be helpful to know the full A7 model number for example A71x-7xxY? Jack E/NJ

NHQ5SEA00492907EEC3400

Aspire A715-74G

Thank you very much for coming back to me. The I/O Ports information given by ACER indicates a Mini Display Port, what does this port look like.

At the moment all I require is to add an additional display monitor.

egydiocoelho said:

CLICK here to provide the exact model: https://global-download.acer.com/SupportFiles/Files/SNID/APP/SerialNumberDetectionTool.exe

NHQ5SEA00492907EEC3400

Aspire A715-74G

Hi, the specs indicate a Mini DisplayPort, but there isn't one?????

This would solve my problems, who at Acer can I take this up with??

Thank you for your response

I believe the USB Type-C port in your computer is implementing just USB 3.1 Gen 1 without any alternate mode, advanced features like DisplayPort, HDMI or USB Type-C or even charging using that port isn't supported.

Think of it as another USB 3.1 Gen 1 port, except it's using the type C connector instead of the type A one.

As to why it doesn't implement any alternate mode... I'd like to know as well, but my guess is that by being geared towards the mid-tier market Acer chose to cut some features out of it. Still you get 2x M.2 (PCIe) connectors, 2x RAM slots, 2x fans, 2x copper pipes which is double what I get in my A515-54G (in all counts).

aphanic said:

I believe the USB Type-C port in your computer is implementing just USB 3.1 Gen 1 without any alternate mode, advanced features like DisplayPort, HDMI or USB Type-C or even charging using that port isn't supported.

Think of it as another USB 3.1 Gen 1 port, except it's using the type C connector instead of the type A one.

As to why it doesn't implement any alternate mode... I'd like to know as well, but my guess is that by being geared towards the mid-tier market Acer chose to cut some features out of it. Still you get 2x M.2 (PCIe) connectors, 2x RAM slots, 2x fans, 2x copper pipes which is double what I get in my A515-54G (in all counts).

Thank you for your input. The fact remains that ACER claim a Mini DisplayPort within their specs but, there isn't one???? I believe a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI will solve my problem!!!!

I don't see a mini DisplayPort port in there... maybe I'm looking at the wrong submodel?

In any case, if you just need DisplayPort I believe there are adapters HDMI<->DP you could use, but as far as I know there's only HDMI out in your machine.

aphanic said:

I don't see a mini DisplayPort port in there... maybe I'm looking at the wrong submodel?

In any case, if you just need DisplayPort I believe there are adapters HDMI<->DP you could use, but as far as I know there's only HDMI out in your machine.

Hi, thanks for your prompt reply. The list of I/O's that Acer support gave me are listed in my initial post. The Mini DisplayPort is mentioned there??
It is obviously not on the laptop!!!
So basically there is no way to add an additional monitor (unless I use a HDMI splitter and get a duplicate screen which defeats the purpose).
Please understand my frustration in being a bit peeved but, I could have bought a laptop for a 5th of the price with more functionality.
I should have taken my son's advise and got the ASUS !!!

I understand, only too well. You can have just 1 external monitor through the HDMI port, but having 2 external monitors isn't possible.

All of the manufacturers are pulling these kinds of things to be honest, depends on the model and tier you're buying. Hell even Dell went with soldered RAM for the mid-tier 1 or 2 years ago already. Talking about Acer, think of the A515-54G which is the one I know most, many submodels have 4GB of RAM soldered and then you have 1 slot for sticks of RAM. Mine doesn't have any RAM soldered into it, but I still get only 1 slot for RAM. So, bye bye dual channel and bye bye more than 32 GB of RAM haha.

More things to add to that... there's another PCIe port that is unpopulated and doesn't have a connector in the board, so I only get 1 M.2 port for SSDs (they did retain the SATA one and kindly provide an adapter in the box in case I wanted to add such a drive, of that I'm grateful). Backlit keyboard, there's the connector, but my model doesn't have it sadly

. And same as you with the USB type-C, I can output to 1 external monitor through the HDMI port, be it HDMI or DisplayPort/VGA with adapters (active adapter for VGA).

But I knew it all already before buying it, the price was right for a 10th gen Intel with all it had.

I guess USB type-C has become another marketing point, which is not bad, you can connect many kind of peripherals that are type-C; but many people just expect something else out of that port (me included). Power Delivery and the DisplayPort alt mode are very nice additions, I don't quite care for Thunderbolt 3 though, but I wish I had those two.

Remember to check the specs in the store or online for those you need, unless big bucks are spent (I'm thinking, 800€+ or so) chances are corners were cut somewhere (as in it has the top made of aluminium, but the rest of the chasis is plastic for example) and you won't get it all. But, what can we do?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BPEV1XK/

Your model seems to have a hybrid HDMI output which can switch between the intel & nvidia graphics. So the graphics should support displayport. BUT it does so only by using a HDMI to displayport formfactor adapter. So it apparently doesn't have a physically separate displayport port.

However, other users claim to have successfully gotten around this limitation by using this active adapter which seems to convert a video stream from the graphics adapter to a data stream that a USBA3 or USBC data port can handle, then video out to another monitor. Because this likely involves 3 conversions --- video to data to video --- I'm gonna guess there would be limitations on frame rates. So it's not something to rely on to play hi-speed gpu intensive games on an external display. Jack E/NJ