Samsung's UbiSync monitor rig: all USB, all the time

We already knew that Samsung had a 19-inch SyncMaster 940UX ready for display at CeBIT. We also knew that it connected via USB (with appropriate drivers), no graphics card required. So what's new then? Well, Samsung is now telling us that their newly dubbed UbiSync technology will allow for up to 6 -- not a mere "3 or 5" -- of their 19-inch displays to wrap their loving arms around you when daisy-chained from a single USB port on your PC. It can also apparently be configured such that each monitor has it's own USB cable-run back to the PC. The dis/advantages of the two approaches could be not be easily explained by the rep at the booth. However, he did tell us that a rig equipped with 2GB of RAM and a dual-core processor running at 2GHz can easily support up to 6 displays showing pictures "with a little video" -- in other words: a couple of Flash videos (not 6x DivX rips) along side your Office applications. Fortunately for you, the May release date means an early start to your summer freckling.

Gallery: Samsung's UbiSync monitor rig: all USB, all the time

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[Liqwid @ Mar 15th 2007 4:16PM]

Very nice! How much?

[S @ Mar 15th 2007 4:38PM]

Well, it's obviously not going to be for gaming or high definition video (even c2d's struggle with 1080p), but it could be useful for an extra monitor (graphics work, possibly video editing, or just for email/office use) IF they can get the price point right- it should be cheaper than the dvi equivalent.

[TIMMAH! @ Mar 15th 2007 4:41PM]

If it's "connected via USB (with appropriate drivers), no graphics card required", why is the VGA-out connection hooked up in the pictures?

[Dubb @ Mar 15th 2007 4:56PM]

@TIMMAH!
The USB monitors seem to only be extensions of the desktop. You still need to hook up the first monitor via D-Sub (VGA) or DVI.

[Ellie @ Mar 15th 2007 5:06PM]

Anyone else wanna ask Samsung where they hid the Rainbow Brite kids?

[Kevin @ Mar 15th 2007 5:25PM]

This is just speculation, but this is what I figure:

1. Primary monitor tells VGA adapter that it can support 7680x1024
2. VGA adapter sends 7680x1024 signal to primary monitor
3. Primary monitor only displays leftmost 1280x1024 pixels
4. Primary monitor sends remaining display data via USB back to PC
5. PC segmentizes raw data from USB port 1 to various next USB display devices. Since USB devices can be attached via hubs, just like ethernet interfaces, you can 'daisy chain' them via 5 hubs or hang them off 1 hub.

At least that's how I try to reconcile it in my mind. In actuality, I have no idea how how they do this.

[Major Malfunction @ Mar 15th 2007 5:54PM]

We can't even get complete nVidia or Creative Xfi drivers for Vista, how can we possibly drive 6 monitors across USB with any type of performance. I can see my bogged down desktop now. Even with dual core 3.2ghz processors, driving 6 monitors would be a dog with anything more than an icon or two on the primary monitor.

I wouldn't mind what comes in the future though. All these announcements are nothing without them hitting the market at a reasonable price. blah blah blah KITCHEN!

[Rohan @ Mar 15th 2007 6:50PM]

I don't agree.

I remember 16mb video cards running 1280x1024 monitors. A 32mb card could do that plus play fullscreen video. It doesn't take a lot to run a basic desktop, some applications, even a little bit of video.

So think back to those 16 and 32 mb video cards - their chips (GPUs) often clocked in around 200mhz - that's a pretty small chunk of today's Dual Core CPU power.

Take a 200mhz GPU, multiply by 6, and you have 1200mhz
Take 32mb of video ram, multiple by 6, and you have 192mb of ram

Even if you allocate and extra 50% to the overhead of managing such a monstrous mess of monitors, you're still looking at 1.8ghz and about 300mb of RAM.

A Dual Core 2.2ghz, with 2gb ram, could run that with 40% CPU resources, and 15% of it's ram.

[Ekauq @ Mar 15th 2007 8:40PM]

Actually we have this kind of setup where I work, with a pair of TripleHead2Go's and 6 19 inch monitors...works pretty well :)

[Hady @ Jun 9th 2007 12:24AM]

Nice. I like to know what hardware/software you are using to do set up 6 monitors! also can you use monitors in portrait! I like to setup a wide screen presentation display since LCD's are getting really cheap. Cheers. Hady

[clearviewaudio @ Mar 15th 2007 11:38PM]

Very nice indeed.

[E71 @ Mar 16th 2007 8:37AM]

Intriguing but when I think of hooking monitors up via a USB connection, I start thinking of a slow VNC connection to a remote desktop.

[Alan @ Mar 17th 2007 5:09PM]

I normally use a PC, but I have an app that uses a Mac-Mini, which is already in place. How can I use the new Samsung USB Monitor with a MAC? Any suggestions are appreciated!

Thanks,
Alan

[Marc @ Oct 4th 2007 9:29AM]

UbiSync works with either a Mac or PC (no linux support, sorry!)