Dual Monitor Questions & Help

[shuki]

I just got one of my employess a new computer for their home office and I gave her 2 of my older Sony 19 inch displays so she could do the dual monitor thing.

I had it working perfectly with these two monitors on a Dell but that shit the bed recently so I got her a cheap Asus from Bestbuy

model: Asus - Essentio Desktop with Intel® Pentium® Processor
Model: CM5570-AP003 | SKU: 9541766

I have a vga splitter so it is going from two vga intot he vga port but it is just mirroring the desktops now. It has a dvi port but I can't seem to find the right splitter for that. I have dell splitters and it won't take that type.

Do you think that the mirroring of the desktops is a good indication that the onboard graphics card is not capable of driving dual monitors?

Thanks in advance

[UniqueD]

im gonna take a stab at this, but using a splitter i dont think theres any possibility of extending the display, there is only one signal going out of the video card, if i understand what you are saying correctly.

[shuki]

I think your right...I just wanted to check with you guys before I added a separate card.

Thanks for the feedback

[AaronM]

I've had multiple dual monitor set ups over the years and never heard of splitting a single DVI port to do it.

[Waddymelon]

I have a nvidia card that has a weird port with 60 pins. It kinda looks like DVI and it splits into 2 vga plugs, for running dual monitors.

But its not an actual DVI port, its just kinda looks like one. I dont know what the fuck its called. But it splits into dual VGA plugs and dual monitors work perfectly on it.

[V_RocKs]

Go to Bestbuy or what ever you have near you and buy a $50 graphics card with 256MB Ram and Dual DVI outputs.

Her eyes will thank you. A VGA signal is meant for analog monitors... DVI (digital) makes a lot more sense on an LCD display and the clarity difference is going to reduce her eye strain and allow her to work longer hours.

[Elli]

You'll need a graphics card with two outputs. Some older cards have one DVI, one RGB port, but I do recommend dual DVI if your monitors can handle it.

[grumpy]

lol......this is funny

[potter]

yup, you need two outputs (ie; a second vid card or vid card with two outputs).

if you split 1 output, you just get that 1 single output on two monitors (ie; two monitors showing the same thing)

[shuki]

Maybe it is a Dell thing but I have had 3 different rigs one that I am currently using and I have always used a splitter. I am typing on a Dell Precision T3400 and I have two 24 inch lcd monitors attached to a single port with a Y splitter.

I couldn't get it to work on her machine so just went to Staples and got an $80 card and now I can drive her two monitors.

I am puzzled though. Can Someone explain how I am doing what I am doing off one port? I mean I know I am doing it but I would like to know how or why. Weird!

[shuki]

Originally Posted by Waddymelon

I have a nvidia card that has a weird port with 60 pins. It kinda looks like DVI and it splits into 2 vga plugs, for running dual monitors.

But its not an actual DVI port, its just kinda looks like one. I dont know what the fuck its called. But it splits into dual VGA plugs and dual monitors work perfectly on it.

I think that is what I have

[2MuchMark]

You can't use a splitter.

All of the computers in our office all have dual monitors. What you need is a "Dual Head" video card from ATI or NVIDIA. Dual hard cards are made to drive 2 monitors for an "expanded desktop".

You can run Photoshop on 1 screen, and place all of your tools on the other for example, or a web design program on one screen with a browser on the other. Or my favorite: A video editor with a full screen preview on the other.

If you plan to use extra large monitors at extra high res, make sure the video card has lots of memory. Don't skimp out at buy a cheap card - you'll get cheap performance.

[Deej]

yea, you need to verify that your card can handle it, splitting will only achieve what you have now... mirrors...

You need 2 cables running from your card itself...

Then of course adjusting the settings within your CP

[JarvisEncoding]

Originally Posted by **********

You can't use a splitter.

All of the computers in our office all have dual monitors. What you need is a "Dual Head" video card from ATI or NVIDIA. Dual hard cards are made to drive 2 monitors for an "expanded desktop".

You can run Photoshop on 1 screen, and place all of your tools on the other for example, or a web design program on one screen with a browser on the other. Or my favorite: A video editor with a full screen preview on the other.

If you plan to use extra large monitors at extra high res, make sure the video card has lots of memory. Don't skimp out at buy a cheap card - you'll get cheap performance.

Right! I agreed.

[clubchics]

Originally Posted by potter

yup, you need two outputs (ie; a second vid card or vid card with two outputs).

if you split 1 output, you just get that 1 single output on two monitors (ie; two monitors showing the same thing)