Connecting room computers and guest laptops

You can connect room computers and guest laptops to the display and view and interact with them.

Tap the buttons below to see the locations of the connectors and the connector and cable information for the display’s input sources:

  • USB-C
  • HDMI 1
  • HDMI 2
  • HDMI 3
  • HDMI 4
  • VGA
SMART Board 7000R series interactive display connectors
USB Type-C connector (on convenience panel)

Connector

Standard

Connection type

Cable

USB Type-C

USB 3.1

Video/audio/touch

USB Type-C

HDMI 1 connectors (on connector panel)

Connector

Standard

Connection type

Cable

HDMI 1

HDMI 2.0

Video/audio

HDMI

Touch 1 (USB Type‑B)

Up to USB 3.0

Touch

USB 2.0/USB 3.0

HDMI 2 connectors (on connector panel)

Connector

Standard

Connection type

Cable

HDMI 2

HDMI 2.0

Video/audio

HDMI

Touch 1 (USB Type‑B)

Up to USB 3.0

Touch

USB 2.0/USB 3.0

HDMI 3 connectors (on connector panel)

Connector

Standard

Connection type

Cable

HDMI 3

HDMI 2.0

Video/audio

HDMI

Touch 2 (USB Type‑B)

Up to USB 3.0

Touch

USB 2.0/USB 3.0

HDMI 4 connectors (on convenience panel)

Connector

Standard

Connection type

Cable

HDMI 4

HDMI 2.0

Video/audio

HDMI

Convenience panel USB Type‑B

Up to USB 3.0

Touch

USB 2.0/USB 3.0

VGA connectors (on connector panel)

Connector

Standard

Connection type

Cable

VGA

VGA

Video

VGA

Audio In (Stereo 3.5 mm)

Stereo 3.5 mm

Audio

Stereo 3.5 mm

Touch 2 (USB Type‑B)

Up to USB 3.0

Touch

USB 2.0/USB 3.0

Warning 

Ensure that any cables that cross the floor to the display are properly bundled and marked to avoid a trip hazard.

Notes 

  • Install SMART software on any computers you connect to the display (see Installing and using SMART software).

  • Your organization’s installers might have connected cables to the display and run the cables behind a wall or under the floor to a desk or table where you can place your computer.

  • As shown above, HDMI 1 and HDMI 2 share the Touch 1 USB Type-B receptacle, and HDMI 3 and VGA share the Touch 2 USB Type-B receptacle (see Sharing USB Type-B receptacles).

  • You can charge devices connected to the USB Type-C receptacle up to 60 W.

Use the Input app to view a connected computer’s input on the display.

To view a connected computer’s input

  1. Connect the computer to the display.

  2. Do one of the following:

    If iQ is enabled

    If iQ is disabled

    Tap Input on the Home screen.

    OR

    Press Input on the remote control.

    Press the Home button or the Input button on the remote control.

    The display shows thumbnails of the devices that are connected to the display’s inputs:

    • A gray thumbnail indicates no device is connected to an input.

    • A blue thumbnail indicates a device is connected to an input but is in Sleep mode.

    • A thumbnail showing a preview screen indicates an active device is connected to an input.

    Tip 

    If iQ is disabled and you want a computer’s input to appear whenever you wake up the display, tap the star in the upper-left corner of the computer’s thumbnail.

  3. Tap the computer’s thumbnail.

The following table presents the recommend resolutions and refresh rates for the display’s input sources:

Input source

Resolution

Refresh rate

USB Type-C

3840 × 2160

60 Hz (YCbCr)

30 Hz (RGB)

HDMI 1

HDMI 2

HDMI 3

HDMI 4

3840 × 2160

60 Hz

VGA

1920 × 1080 1

60 Hz

If possible, set any connected computers to these resolutions and refresh rates. See the connected computers’ operating system documentation for instructions.

SMART Board 7000R and 7000R Pro series interactive displays support full high definition (FHD) 1080p and 4K ultra high definition (4K UHD) resolutions, provided the source device meets the minimum requirements for such resolutions.

Resolution

Pixels

Details

FHD (1080p)

1920 × 1080 (2.1 megapixels)

Most modern video devices (computers, laptops, DVD players and Blu‑ray disc players) support FHD resolutions. Check a device’s specifications to see which resolutions it supports.

SMART recommends a digital HDMI connection for best results with FHD. Although an analog VGA connection might support FHD, the video quality may be degraded, particularly if the VGA cable is longer than 16' (5 m).

4K UHD

3840 × 2160 (8.3 megapixels)

A 4K UHD display has greater pixel density than an FHD display. A 4K UHD display can show up to four times as much visual information as FHD displays.

Notes 

SMART advises against the use of an analog video connection for displaying FHD or 4K UHD because analog video connections can not display high-resolution images with adequate picture quality. If you want to use FHD or 4K UHD resolutions and the source device supports only an analog video connection, you will likely need to upgrade the source device.

Displays can support different refresh rates, typically 30 Hz or 60 Hz. Higher refresh rates can result in smoother, flicker-free video. This is most evident when using 4K UHD.

Most computers support a refresh rate of 60 Hz. Using the highest frame refresh rate possible will provide a better experience when using the display, provided the connected device supports the refresh rate. If it doesn’t, you may need to set the device’s display settings to a lower refresh rate.

SMART recommends the following varieties of cable:

Cable type

Maximum length

Recommendation

HDMI

23' (7 m) 2

Use only certified premium high-speed HDMI cables that have been tested to support the performance standard you require.

VGA

23' (7 m)

Use VGA cables with all pins in their connectors fully populated and wired.

Stereo 3.5 mm

20' (6 m)

[N/A]

USB 2.0

16' (5 m)

Use a USB extender if the distance between the computer and the display is greater than 16' (5 m). For more information, see USB extenders.

USB 2.0 cables support Hi-Speed (480 Mbps), whether connected to a USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 receptacle. For SuperSpeed (5 Gbps), connect a USB 3.0 cable to a USB 3.0 receptacle.

USB 3.0

9' (3 m)

SMART supports only installations that use directly connected video and USB cables, AC‑powered extenders, or USB extenders purchased from SMART.

You might be able to use higher-grade cables that are longer than specified. If you have problems with such a cable or an extender of any type, test the connection with a shorter cable before contacting SMART Support.

USB Type-C

6' (2 m)

To use a USB Type-C cable for video, you need:

  • A cable that supports USB 3.1 (Gen 1 or Gen 2)

  • A computer that supports Display Port Alternate Mode

Passive USB Type-C cables are sufficient for 60 W charging.

You might be able to use higher-grade cables that are longer than specified. If you have problems with such a cable or an extender of any type, test the connection with a shorter cable before contacting SMART Support.

Using cables that exceed these maximum lengths may produce unexpected results, degraded picture quality or degraded USB connectivity.

The HDMI and VGA connectors on the connector panel share USB Type-B receptacles:

USB Type-B receptacle

Video connectors

Touch 1

  • HDMI 1

  • HDMI 2

Touch 2

  • HDMI 3

  • VGA

If two computers are connected to video connectors that share the same USB Type-B receptacle, you must disconnect the USB cable from the first computer and connect it to the second computer if you want to switch from one computer’s input to the other’s. For example, if a room computer is connected to HDMI 1 and a guest laptop is connected to HDMI 2, you must disconnect the USB cable from the room computer and connect it to the guest laptop when you want to switch to the guest laptop’s input.

You can use USB drives, peripherals, and other devices with a computer connected to the display using the USB receptacles on the display.

For more information, see Connecting USB drives, peripherals, and other devices.

For troubleshooting information for connected computers, see Troubleshooting your display.

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