2 Monitors 1 Desktop

[cableone12]

someone gave me another lcd monitor so i would like to use them both together side by side. i have a dell (i know anthony, i know...) with an integrated intel video card. I am aware that i can upgrade to a vid. card that supports 2 monitors but i dont know what to get or if its difficult to install.
Also, is there an alternative to installing a video card? is there some type of USB adapter that i can connect my second monitor to?

[Digital_Trauma]

http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,108738,00.asp found this link on google, might help
I'd like to do a similar setup, maybe even have a tv tuner on one of them

[BCH]

No. No Usb Solution.

Answer these questions and I can point you in the right direction.

1. Do you want to play games with the settings turned up to high.
2. Analog Or DVI Inputs on your flat panels?
3. How much money do you have.

[cableone12]

No. No Usb Solution.

Answer these questions and I can point you in the right direction.

1. Do you want to play games with the settings turned up to high.
2. Analog Or DVI Inputs on your flat panels?
3. How much money do you have.


1. no, this is not going to be my gaming pc(gonna get alienware for that)
2. hmm i dont know which is which, but its the standard blue connector with 15 pins
3. not much. i think 100 bucks is my limit.

[Arc Lite]

I don't think you can go USB. But it's really pretty darn easy. I got the set up at work.

http://tinyurl.com/75rut This should work with an adapter for the second (Like this: http://tinyurl.com/be8q7 )

I'm not sure how, but I think you'll need to disable your onboard vid card.

I also think there's a way you can install a single output video card and also use your onboard but I don't know how to do that.

[Warfarer]

With owning a dell i don't know how tough it would be to upgrade a component. A normal pc only consists of a couple screws and putting it in. But a dell may run a system scan like gateway. They make it real tough to upgrade components.

[BryaninJersey]

i know that DELL has several PC's and at least one Laptop (Inspiron XPS) that come with two video out's (SVGA & DVI) but i'm sure they're gonna fucking **** you for this feature...

i'm currently working with 2 monitors (nView) but does anyone know if Windows supports splitting the screen up between 3 or 4 monitors?

i know this is totally overkill but i didnt know if any of you fellas knew if this was possible

[cableone12]

i found this:

http://www.everythingusb.com/tritton_see2_usb_2.0_svga_adapter.html

any thoughts?

[Mindriot]

Just get a new Video Card. Most new cards have Dual Video outputs, DVI and DB9. Like this Nvidia should suit your needs since you said it won't be for gaming etc....
http://images10.newegg.com/productimage/14-121-542-01.JPG

Nvidia 6200 128Mb (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814121542&CMP=OTC-pr1c3watch&ATT=Video+Cards)


Pretty Cheap, and should do the job.

[Arc Lite]

i found this:

http://www.everythingusb.com/tritton_see2_usb_2.0_svga_adapter.html

any thoughts?

Sweet. Definately looks worthwhile and you don't have to mess with cracking open the case.

(BTW: Dell isn't nearly as strict as Gateway on opening the box)

[TaZMaNiaK]

I would definitely give that USB video card a try. HOWEVER, you have to have USB 2.0. f your Dell is more than 2 or 3 years old, it probably has USB 1.1, which is not compatible.

Other than that, there is really no way to do it. First, since you have integrated video, there is no AGP slot, which means you would be limited to using a PCI graphics card, and those stink on ice. You can't add a PCI card to work with integrated video, because in dual-card, dual display setups, the cards have to be identical. That means you have to disable the onboard video (which is not easy), and shift all graphics to a PCI card (MUCH less graphics power). To put the icing on this one, I don't even think they make a dual-head PCI card, because the slot is not capable of driving it.

[cableone12]

I would definitely give that USB video card a try. HOWEVER, you have to have USB 2.0. f your Dell is more than 2 or 3 years old, it probably has USB 1.1, which is not compatible.

Other than that, there is really no way to do it. First, since you have integrated video, there is no AGP slot, which means you would be limited to using a PCI graphics card, and those stink on ice. You can't add a PCI card to work with integrated video, because in dual-card, dual display setups, the cards have to be identical. That means you have to disable the onboard video (which is not easy), and shift all graphics to a PCI card (MUCH less graphics power). To put the icing on this one, I don't even think they make a dual-head PCI card, because the slot is not capable of driving it.
thanks everyone. i think im gonna go with the usb thing. my dell is only a few weeks old so it has usb 2.0

taz thanks for the explanation, you prob. saved me a lot of frustration.

[TaZMaNiaK]

thanks everyone. i think im gonna go with the usb thing. my dell is only a few weeks old so it has usb 2.0

taz thanks for the explanation, you prob. saved me a lot of frustration.

:action-sm

Let me know how it performs.. I might be interested in one of them.. :icon_wink Basically you wanna put some stress on it and look for flickers, dropouts, wavy lines, etc. (and make sure the site you get it from has a no-hassle return policy!)

[DoughBoy]

1. no, this is not going to be my gaming pc(gonna get alienware for that)
2. hmm i dont know which is which, but its the standard blue connector with 15 pins
3. not much. i think 100 bucks is my limit.

Answers 1 and 3 are conflicting. You're going to piss money up a tree on an overpriced PC, but then you're going to limit yourself to 100 bucks on this? Why not just build your own machine (it isn't really hard these days, the connectors only fit one way and most of them are color coded) and buy TWO machines for the price you would pay to alienware?

[aberge30]

I know you don't want another Video card but that is the cheapest, best option.
If you are just going to do simple 2D desktop stuff, just get a cheap $30 PCI Video card, if the AGP is integrated without a real port. Install the drivers and enable it via the Video properties. Simple. Go to Office Depot and get their el-Cheapo Business no-frills video card.

[Mindriot]

I don't even think they make a dual-head PCI card, because the slot is not capable of driving it.

PCI is capable of dual output graphics.


Pic (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.asp?image=14-102-447-01.jpg,14-102-447-02.jpg,14-102-447-03.jpg,14-102-447-04.jpg,14-102-447-05.jpg&CurImage=14-102-447-01.jpg&Description=SAPPHIRE%20100945L-BK%20Radeon%207000%2064MB%20DDR%20PCI%20Video%20Ca rd%20-%20Retail)

I'll be interested to see how well that USB thingy works as well. Personally, I wouldn't have gone that route. I think your going to get some lag, artifacting or something with it. Hopefully it works for you. I would have just gotten a new Card. It isn't that hard to disable Onboard Graphics. It's been a while since I messed around with a Proprietary machine like a Dell, Gateway, HP etc. but I used to install new Video cards in those types of machines all the time. It was actually very easy.

[Red_State_Rube]

I would definitely give that USB video card a try. HOWEVER, you have to have USB 2.0. f your Dell is more than 2 or 3 years old, it probably has USB 1.1, which is not compatible.

Other than that, there is really no way to do it. First, since you have integrated video, there is no AGP slot, which means you would be limited to using a PCI graphics card, and those stink on ice. You can't add a PCI card to work with integrated video, because in dual-card, dual display setups, the cards have to be identical. That means you have to disable the onboard video (which is not easy), and shift all graphics to a PCI card (MUCH less graphics power). To put the icing on this one, I don't even think they make a dual-head PCI card, because the slot is not capable of driving it.

Most mobos with integrated video do have AGP, so you can upgrade. And the cards don't have to be identical. I used a Radeon 9800se and a PCI Radeon 7000 in my last setup for dual monitors.

You may be thinking SLI where the cards have to be the same, but just for running dual monitors it doesn't matter.

Also disabling the onboard video is VERY easy, I don't know what you talking about with that one.....

Further on, here are several dual head PCI cards.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Manufactory=&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=696%3A9642&PropertyCodeValue=690%3A9628&PropertyCodeValue=691%3A9630&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&description=&MinPrice=&MaxPrice=&SubCategory=48&Submit=Property