spectrum48k

I used to have a pair of flatscreens to work from many moons ago, but these simply plugged into a single card with dual dvi outputs.

My question is, in a DIFFERENT system with only a single integrated Nvidia 7100 graphics chip, is it possible to add a PCI / PCI-X video card with single output, that will give dual monitor functionality ?

eg. Will any modern Nvidia video card detect and work with the integrated Nvidia 7100 , to offer dual monitor ?

When I say dual monitor I mean doubling the effective width of the windows desktop.

Scooby-kid

Do you mean your motherboard has in built graphics capabilities? If so, a medium - low price range graphics card will, A) be better, and B) will handle both your monitor outputs.

Scott.

alistair

If the graphics card has 2 connectors on, even if 1 is digital and the other analogue, you can usually power 2 monitors.

Have a look in Control Panel - if there are 2 and 1 is disabled then it will power twin screens.

spectrum48k

ok, so it's best to buy a new graphics card with a couple of outputs on it.

HHxx

Yep, basic cards are dirt cheap or you could get one of those Matrox Dualview things (can't remember what it is called) if your onboard can support the resolution it emulates?

On all the systems I have seen with onboard graphics, as soon as you drop in a graphics card in one of the slots, the onboard is disabled...

mykp

its best to buy a card with two output but not neccassary as the integrated and a second PCI card will do the job as well.

Its the Operating system which does the work of detecting and displaying.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

To answer the question: It may work it may not.

Reason being is my old computer ran dual monitors using the on board gfx built into the motherboard and a seperate gfx card to run the second screen.

Worked fine for general desktop stuff.

The only thing I can think that will stop you from doing it is if the motherboard throws a wobbly, as I tried it on another system and it wouldn't even POST. So its a bit hit and miss.

suba

the matrox thing is call dualhead2go. works a treat on laptop/desktop to dual external screen.

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

I tried the two cards thing and it didnt work .. some people report it working some dont ..

There are a few USB to VGA adapters out there for less graphical setups, IE word and Internet not Doom3

Stealth

iTrader: (4)

there is actually a dongle you can buy for about £30 notes that pops in to your exisiting Graphics card that will do the job you want it to do, I will get the info when I get in to work tomorrow !

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

All our pc's at work run a duel monitor setup, they have just the one output from the graphics card, but the cable is a split cable
You need one of these type of cables
Datasheet (this may not be exactly the right one but it will be on there
This is probably better for you though

dv-188 - Newlink DVI Monitor splitter cable (Splits the DVI-D signal to 2x DVI Monitors) DV-188 - Scan.co.uk

Tony

alistair

Are you sure ?

We have some that run a split cable, but the end that plugs into the graphics card is bespoke - it's not a regular VGA or DVI plug.

I thought those splitters would only deliver the same output to both monitors.....