Dual Screen Help

[Andy_con]

just *borrowed* a couple of old HP desktops from work and I want to run dual screen on one.
sorry to sound stupid but whats needed to run dual screen?

 

[Rob]

A graphics card that can run two screens.

 

[Andy_con]

ok, think the current screen is ran off the mother board

 

[Gareth]

You just need a video card in the PCI-E slot (long black slot) to attach the second monitor to (or alternatively a video card with two outputs on it and then don't use the motherboard output)

 

[Andy_con]

ok thanks, again without sounding stupid what should I be searching ebay for?

its only to run my cnc machine so doesn't need to be anything fancy. mach3 on one screen autocad on the other

 

[Andy_con]

this??/
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NVIDIA-Qu...raphics_Video_TV_Cards_TW&hash=item1c39edba3f

 

[Andy.]

If it's a small form factor PC, you'll need a smaller card than standard. Worth checking.

As long as you are not playing games, then pretty much any card will do the job.

 

[Goodj]

If you have 2 different outputs (say, a VGA and a DVI / HDMI) already, you dont NEED a new card at all, but you will put more load on your exsting kit

 

[Gareth]

It's unclear from the picture whether you need a full height or SFF (low profile) card, it looks to me like SFF (low profile), but something like this covers you for either option:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Asus-GeFo...raphics_Video_TV_Cards_TW&hash=item486f7d3ebc

 

[Addicted]

As Gareth has linked, you need something with multiple outputs on the back, the first card is no good.

Would also be worth checking if you are running VGA or DVI as the connection, if DVI you could get one with 2x DVI instead of having to convert it.

 

[Darius]

If its the same as the HP desktops at work, you can use a displayport to VGA adapter along with the onboard VGA for dual screen goodness. Correct me if im wrong but it appears to be the same as HP DC7900 SFF, if so it will have a DP port. can you take a snap of the connection on the back ?

 

[Andy_con]

like I say I want autocad on one screen mach3 on the other, its not for gaming or anything
hope these photos help?
I just want another blue connected to plug the second screen into

 

[Goodj]

OK.
If you have a DVI-port on one of your monitors, use the big white DVI socket, that will output to one monitor.
The VGA (blue port) can then service the other monitor.
No need for new graphics cards etc. once you have 2 monitors connected the PC should recognise them automatically, then you can configure them through right-click options on your desktop

 

[Andy_con]

one monitor has vga and dvi, I just need a dvi cable now.

many thanks for ya help

 

[Addicted]

Yep as above, easy :]

 

[Goodj]

I do the same, except a VGA and HDMI setup.
A boon for running CAD

 

[Andy_con]

just found a dvi to vga connector, so once windows installs ill give it ago

 

[Goodj]

ah, you may struggle there.

The DVI output on your PC doesn't appear to support DVI-VGA connections.. else there'd be 4 little pin-holes surrounding the long hole on the DVI socket. (I learnt this the hard way).

You need a DVI-D lead to go from PC to monitor.

 

[Darius]

If you give me some pennies for postage i can post you one for free lol.

 

[Andy_con]

ah this will be why the second screen isn't working, thanks for the offer but am going to go computer shop shortly to grab a proper cable

 

[Goodj]

yeah, I went through several connectors and leads before I actually asked google and found what I needed, instead of what I thought I needed

 

[Andy_con]

both desktop and screen are DVI-D dual link

 

[Gray]

If you give me some pennies for postage i can post you one for free lol.

I was just about to give the same offer... We've got boxes of VGA, DVI and DP cables in the office.

 

[Andy_con]

my efforts at a local computer shop have failed, so who can post one tomorrow?

 

[Andy_con]

can either of you post tomorrow?

 

[Goodj]

how did manage to fail?
get up PC world, you know what connectors you need now

Hell, you can probably get one from tesco, or wilkos!

 

[Andy_con]

cos they didn't have the right one
maplins want £25 for the bloody cable!! ebay they are like a fiver

 

[Addicted]

Yeah I think Tesco do them, probs a tenner. If you don't need it immediately just grab one from eBay - couple of quid will get you one.

 

[Andy_con]

will try tescos later thanks

 

[roryb]

If you can wait get it off ebay, a lot cheaper.

 

[Andy_con]

tescos have nothing do ebay it is

I don't like waiting, I want things now now now

 

[Rob]

tescos have nothing do ebay it is

I don't like waiting, I want things now now now

Don't be so ridiculously tight then? You spent £5 in fuel to get nothing, and will get a cable £10 cheaper.

You may aswell have bought the £15 one ffs!

 

[Andy_con]

lol maplins is £5 fuel plus £25 for cable

found a chap on ebay £5 cable £5 cable

 

[Rob]

So good you bought two?

I thought you said £15 earlier also, not £25

 

[Andy_con]

when?

 

[Goodj]

there

 

[Andy_con]

got the cable today thanks

 

[Rob]

How are you getting on with your setup Andy?

I remember when you first started off with the idea, has it become a full time job as such?

 

[Andy_con]

sadly I still have a full time day job
bits and bobs coming in but not enough to even consider giving up or going part time yet
when I do get jobs the money helps pay the bills so cant be that bad

 

[Addicted]

Ooo what's that next to it?