Acer Swift SF314-42 won't detect more than one external monitor at a time?

jpgatica
jpgatica Member Posts: 6

Tinkerer
edited August 2023 in Swift and Spin Series

Hello!

I've owned an Acer Swift for two years now, and today I've tried to add a second external monitor to my setup, but it won't detect it. The computer can detect both of them separately, just not at the same time.

I've tried updating the AMD Radeon drivers, and nothing seems to work. I now wonder if this computer simply doesn't allow for more than one external monitor?

Not sure if this helps, but I'm running the computer on Windows 11.

Please let me know in case of any comments.

[Edited the thread to add model name to the title]

Answers

  • jpgatica
    jpgatica Member Posts: 6

    Tinkerer

    and the model of the computer is: SF314-42 😀

  • jpgatica
    jpgatica Member Posts: 6

    Tinkerer

    and for the docking station I'm using a CalDigit Element Hub connected via usb-c to the laptop…

    Again both monitors can be detected separately via this setup, just not at the same time :(

  • jpgatica
    jpgatica Member Posts: 6

    Tinkerer

    oh seems to be a regular issue with these laptops… I found another question with multiple users experiencing the same issue:

    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/647042/swift-sf314-59-wont-display-second-monitor-thru-tb4-dock


    Just to provide more context in case anyone wonders, the dock with the two monitors works without any issue with my Mac computer

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,219 Trailblazer

    Your SF314-42 is a very different machine than a SF314-59, so comparisons there aren't going to help. You don't have a Thunderbolt port, you have a USB-C gen2. Your port does support DP Alt Mode so video over it ought to work.

    image.png

    As far as I can tell though, the CalDigit Element Hub is Thunderbolt, so it might not work right on a USB-C port… Contact them to see.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • jpgatica
    jpgatica Member Posts: 6

    Tinkerer

    Thank you billsey for your reply. I must say that the dock is working with the usb-c port. The problem is that it seems like the Acer Swift SF314-42 can't handle two monitors coming from the dock, so I was forced to connect one via the dock and the other via the hdmi port in the Acer Swift SF314-42, and then all works as it should 🙃

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,219 Trailblazer

    There is only one video signal on the DP Alt Mode so the dock can only provide the one. Smarter (and more expensive) docks have the ability to generate their own video signals, so can handle multiple monitors off one port.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.

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