I've been wanting to get Dual monitors for a while now, (where there's two monitors on one tower, and you can drag things from one screen to another).

 

Anyways, I only have one monitor plugin outlet on my computer. I recall reading somewhere that there is something you can buy, some sort of an adaptor to let you have 2. Shopping for it is kind of hard, considering I have no idea what it's called.

 

 

 

Does anyone know?

 

And what other things do I need to have/know about Dual monitors?

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks,

 

Troy

A dual monitor adapter is the name youre looking for. You could also get a new graphics card with 2 outputs. I don't know much about it. Hopefully someone else will give you a better answer.

You need 2 outputs, dvi or vga.

 

If you have an add-on graphics card (not using your motherboard gpu, which is vga, usually mid-high up on the backside of the computer), it will look something like this where you can plug in the monitor cables.

 

This for example has 2 dvi ports.

 

 

 

 

If you don't have it, and just using motherboard vga, you need a graphics-card. Which we can talk about later if that's the case.

 

Otherwise, if you have two ports which you can plug into, it won't be a problem.

 

 

 

There's also a company called Matrox, specialized in creating cards supporting more monitors.

Yes, you will need a new graphics card to hook up two monitors to your computer. To install one basically all you have to do is open up the computer and plug in the graphics card board into a slot on the motherboard, then plug the monitors in. If you could post the make and model of your computer as well as what country you are from (for pricing considerations), I could point you in the right direction for a card you could buy. Expect the graphics card to cost between 50 and 125 dollars.

 

 

 

And oldjoe, Matrox is just like every other graphics card manufacturer, they do not specialize in supporting multiple monitors. They work specifically with embedded solutions.

Yes, you will need a new graphics card to hook up two monitors to your computer. To install one basically all you have to do is open up the computer and plug in the graphics card board into a slot on the motherboard, then plug the monitors in. If you could post the make and model of your computer as well as what country you are from (for pricing considerations), I could point you in the right direction for a card you could buy. Expect the graphics card to cost between 50 and 125 dollars.

 

 

 

And oldjoe, Matrox is just like every other graphics card manufacturer, they do not specialize in supporting multiple monitors. They work specifically with embedded solutions.

 

 

 

Matrox specializes in professional multi-display graphics cards that enable more than one monitor to be driven by a single card. The targeted user-base for Matrox graphics cards largely consists of 2D, 3D, video, scientific, medical, military and financial workstation users.

Very helpful, have never gotten a reply that fast in this section before. :D

 

But, do those 2 outlets have to be in my motherboard? I do have 2 outlets on my actual monitor (1 being used, as it's attached to the motherboard)

If you were to use a dual monitor set-up, go with Matrox. I use it to do presentations with a three-projector set-up. If you are on low budget or you are just unsure, check out Geeks They have some pretty good refurbished hardware. I bought my first computer bare bone kit on there :D .

 

Matrox specializes in professional multi-display graphics cards that enable more than one monitor to be driven by a single card. The targeted user-base for Matrox graphics cards largely consists of 2D, 3D, video, scientific, medical, military and financial workstation users.

 

 

 

again, they are entirely for professional uses. Unless SERG_Troy plans on using these monitors to display a MRI output, a targeting station on a surface to air missile battery or a control room for a nuclear power plant, a custom built graphics solution is not for him.

 

 

 

But, do those 2 outlets have to be in my motherboard? I do have 2 outlets on my actual monitor (1 being used, as it's attached to the motherboard)[/quote

 

 

 

Yes, you need two graphics outputs on either your motherboard or graphics card (or a combination of the two). Your monitor has two "in" connections on it so you cannot connect another monitor through it.

You don't have to upgrade your graphics card to be able to use two monitors, Matrox do two boxes called DualHead2Go and TripleHead2Go, which takes one monitor output and splits it between two or three monitors respectively. The PC sees the box as a mega widescreen single monitor. The TripleHead2Go is excellent for gamers as the monitors sorta surround you.

 

 

 

This is an excellent solution for people who don't want to upgrade their graphics card or have a laptop.

 

 

 

Anyway, here's the links:

 

 

 

DualHead2Go

 

TripleHead2Go

I personally run 2 8800 ultras for my duals. Although you can get what clare suggest above. I personally wouldn't do it it just like havea a card fr each monitor.

 

Matrox specializes in professional multi-display graphics cards that enable more than one monitor to be driven by a single card. The targeted user-base for Matrox graphics cards largely consists of 2D, 3D, video, scientific, medical, military and financial workstation users.

 

 

 

again, they are entirely for professional uses. Unless SERG_Troy plans on using these monitors to display a MRI output, a targeting station on a surface to air missile battery or a control room for a nuclear power plant, a custom built graphics solution is not for him.

 

 

 

But, do those 2 outlets have to be in my motherboard? I do have 2 outlets on my actual monitor (1 being used, as it's attached to the motherboard)[/quote

 

 

 

Yes, you need two graphics outputs on either your motherboard or graphics card (or a combination of the two). Your monitor has two "in" connections on it so you cannot connect another monitor through it.

 

 

 

I only mentioned them as an alternative. I know ordinary people use them too sometimes.

I think i'm going to look further into what Clare suggested.

 

I don't really want anything high tech, as it's not for anything special.. I just want it so i can run say google on one, and homework on the other or something.

 

 

 

Would a store like Walmart sell little boxes like that? :?

 

Or do I have to buy it online?

In all honesty it would be cheaper buying a cheap video card than a splitter. Monitor splitters (to have more than 1) are pretty costly, it'd be a win-win to get a new video card AND dual monitor support.

 

 

 

 

 

Really almost any video card above the FX5500 range supports dual monitors. If you aren't gaming you can easily get an 8400 or something like that for $40-$50. Comparably the "DualHead2Go" is like $200.

In all honesty it would be cheaper buying a cheap video card than a splitter. Monitor splitters (to have more than 1) are pretty costly, it'd be a win-win to get a new video card AND dual monitor support.

 

 

 

 

 

Really almost any video card above the FX5500 range supports dual monitors. If you aren't gaming you can easily get an 8400 or something like that for $40-$50. Comparably the "DualHead2Go" is like $200.

 

Completely agree.

I have a question about dual monitors, is it possible to run two screens, however one in 1680x1050, and one in 1024x768, because of thier size?

I have a question about dual monitors, is it possible to run two screens, however one in 1680x1050, and one in 1024x768, because of thier size?

 

It should.

I have a question about dual monitors, is it possible to run two screens, however one in 1680x1050, and one in 1024x768, because of thier size?

 

 

 

Yes, that's completely do-able. I'm currently running my main monitor in 1280x1024 and my smaller monitor in 1024x768.