Does the new Acer Swift 16 AI SF16-51 with Luna Lake only support TWO external monitors? Seriously?

I recently purchased the Acer Swift 16 AI SF16-51, choosing it for its lightweight design and advanced AI capabilities. What particularly attracted me was not just the CPU performance, but also Luna Lake's AI capabilities and power efficiency at a reasonable price point.

However, I've encountered a frustrating issue. When I tried to connect my external monitors (previously used with my LG Gram 16 12th Gen 16ZD90Q-SX76K), I discovered a limitation. While Windows recognizes all three monitors, one always shows as disconnected. If I try to extend the desktop to that monitor, another one disconnects. This happens regardless of the connection method - whether I use three PD connections or two PD ports plus one HDMI.

What's particularly puzzling is that while the hardware is recognized, I can't use all monitors simultaneously. Is this an issue specific to my laptop, or is it an inherent limitation of the chipset/system? The Intel® Arc™ 140V GPU is supposed to support up to 4 external displays, so why am I limited to just 2? If this is an inherent limitation, shouldn't it be clearly documented in the product specifications or datasheet? Did I miss something? For reference, I purchased this model in Korea.

I invested in what I thought was

a premium Acer model, and this limitation is quite disappointing.

Accepted answers

billsey

I'm not finding any details for the SF16-51 models, they might not be available in the US, too new for the specs to have hit our database, or marketed under a different model number here. Typically we have seen Thunderbolt ports that only support a single video channel, although the TBT spec says they should be able to support multiple channels on a single port. Once I can access the service guide for your SF16-51 I will take a look at the bloc diagram to see what they are doing with video…

billsey

This model seems to be an exclusive for Best Buy, except that is a SF16-51T, which might explain why we don't have access to a service guide or detailed specs. I've escalated the request for that info, but haven't heard back yet. I expect that Acer offers a very similar model, but not exactly the same, that's based on the same motherboard design. I won't know until I can get access to the rest of the specs.

All comments

asomi

Correction to my original post:I need to clarify the monitor connection setups I tried:

Using Thunderbolt daisy chain:

Monitor 1 & 2: Connected via daisy chain to one Thunderbolt port
Monitor 3: Connected to the second Thunderbolt portIn this setup, when I disconnect Monitor 3, both daisy-chained monitors work fine.

Using mixed connections:

Monitor 1 & 2: Each connected to separate Thunderbolt ports
Monitor 3: Connected via HDMI

I forgot to mention these specific connection details in my original post. This information might be crucial for understanding the issue.

Has anyone else experienced similar issues with the new Luna Lake-based laptops? Or is this specific to the Acer Swift 16 AI model?

billsey

I'm not finding any details for the SF16-51 models, they might not be available in the US, too new for the specs to have hit our database, or marketed under a different model number here. Typically we have seen Thunderbolt ports that only support a single video channel, although the TBT spec says they should be able to support multiple channels on a single port. Once I can access the service guide for your SF16-51 I will take a look at the bloc diagram to see what they are doing with video…

asomi

Thank you for your detailed response and for taking the time to help me troubleshoot this issue. Let me clarify some additional details about my setup, including the specifications of the monitors and the tests I conducted.

My Laptop: Acer Swift 16 AI OLED SF16-51

Specifications:
- Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (Lunar Lake)
- GPU: Intel Arc Graphics 140V
- Ports: 2x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), 1x HDMI 2.1
- Memory: 32GB LPDDR5X
- Display: 16-inch OLED, WQXGA+ (2880x1800), 120Hz

Monitors I Connected

BSCONN F6 TX:
- Dual-monitor setup in one device.
- Modes: Independent mode, Extended mode, and Merged mode.
- Resolution:
  - Independent mode: Each monitor runs at 1920x1080.
  - Merged mode: Combines both monitors into one display with a resolution of 1920x2160.
- Ports:
  - USB-C Port 1: Power input only.
  - USB-C Port 2: Used in Extended Mode to connect both monitors with a single USB-C connection.
  - USB-C Port 3: Used in Independent Mode to provide input for the second monitor.
  - HDMI Ports (2): Used in Independent Mode for separate inputs to each monitor.
ZEUSLAP P16KT:
- Single portable monitor.
- Resolution: QHD (2560x1600).
- Refresh rate: 144Hz.
- Connection: USB-C or HDMI.

Tests I Conducted

BSCONN in Extended Mode (USB-C Port 2) + ZEUSLAP (USB-C):
- Windows detects three external monitors, but only two can be connected simultaneously.
BSCONN in Independent Mode (USB-C Port 2 + HDMI) + ZEUSLAP (USB-C):
- Windows detects three external monitors, but again, only two can be connected at a time.
BSCONN in Extended Mode (USB-C Port 2) + ZEUSLAP (HDMI):
- Same result as above—Windows detects three monitors, but only two are active.
BSCONN in Merged Mode (USB-C Port 2) + ZEUSLAP (USB-C):
- Windows detects two external monitors, and both are fully functional.

My Observations

Based on these tests, it seems unlikely that the issue is related to bandwidth limitations because BSCONN in Merged Mode works fine even though it combines two monitors into a single display with a higher resolution of 1920x2160. This suggests that the problem might lie in how the Intel Arc GPU or Thunderbolt controller handles multiple independent displays.

Request for Clarification

I believe this issue may not be unique to my setup and could be related to the design or limitations of this laptop model. It would be helpful if there were clear documentation or guidance regarding multi-display support for the Acer Swift 16 AI OLED SF16-51.Thank you again for your assistance and for sharing your insights as a fellow user. I truly appreciate your help and look forward to any further suggestions or ideas you might have.

billsey

This model seems to be an exclusive for Best Buy, except that is a SF16-51T, which might explain why we don't have access to a service guide or detailed specs. I've escalated the request for that info, but haven't heard back yet. I expect that Acer offers a very similar model, but not exactly the same, that's based on the same motherboard design. I won't know until I can get access to the rest of the specs.

Quick Links

Top Members

Weekly

Puraw 315

Diya1811 145

StevenGen 130

Jack22 95

RenanVilela 85

Swift Series Intel^® Evo™

Game Pass

Acer Corner

Gaming on Chromebook

Swift Series Intel® Evo™

Game Pass

Acer Corner

Gaming on Chromebook

Swift Series Intel^® Evo™