ATI 7750 + 2 VGA Monitors problem

[madtoady]

I've never had a problem in the past with hooking up 2 monitors to the same card until it came to the computer I built my mum a few months ago.

The graphics card used was overkill for what she uses her PC for but we had the intention of buying 2 monitors later on and assumed an ok card would help this. Her card is the HIS HD 7750 iCooler 2048MB GDDR3 and a few days ago she bought 2 Samsung VGA monitors.

The graphics card has a VGA port, DVI-D (Dual Link) port and an HDMI port.

We plugged a monitor in the VGA port originally and ofcourse had no problems there. I didn't have a VGA>DVI-D adaptor to I popped hope and grapped my VGA to HDMI converter that I used for my CCTV system to plug into my TV but it didn't work.

I assumed it was because of the converter so we ordered a VGA>DVI-D adaptor and I plugged it in yesterday and that didn't work either. Both of the monitors do work and now I am stumped.

HELP

Thanks

 

[Confused Stu]

I am afraid I don't think there's going to be a cheap solution for this.

VGA is an analogue based signal, where DVI-D and HDMI are both digital. You can get DVI-VGA converters (the little ones that come free with some graphics cards) but they only work by changing the wires around. This works fine on DVI connectors that carry analogue signals (DVI-A or DVI-I), they won't work with DVI ports that don't carry analogue signals - namely DVI-D.

I think you'll need an adapter that does more than simply crosses the wires to the right way round, you're going to need an actual piece of kit that converts the signal from digital to analogue - StarTech do one called the "DVI2VGAE" but it looks to be £30ish. An HDMI to VGA converter looks to be roughly the same price ("HD2VGAE"). I'm sure other ones are probably cheaper, but I've always found Startech tend to be pretty good and actually do that they say on the tin.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

 

[Orcvader]

Does the 7750 have Displayport? You can get them for under £10 if you look around, much better than trying to find an active adapter to convert the digital signals to analogue.

 

[Something Else]

could you not just use a dvi and the hdmi?

 

[Confused Stu]

Does the 7750 have Displayport? You can get them for under £10 if you look around, much better than trying to find an active adapter to convert the digital signals to analogue.

The OP states the card has VGA, DVI-D and HDMI only.

could you not just use a dvi and the hdmi?

That's what the OP is trying to do - hook up either the VGA screen to either the DVI-D or HDMI port on the graphics card, but it's not working.

 

[madtoady]

I am afraid I don't think there's going to be a cheap solution for this.

VGA is an analogue based signal, where DVI-D and HDMI are both digital. You can get DVI-VGA converters (the little ones that come free with some graphics cards) but they only work by changing the wires around. This works fine on DVI connectors that carry analogue signals (DVI-A or DVI-I), they won't work with DVI ports that don't carry analogue signals - namely DVI-D.

I think you'll need an adapter that does more than simply crosses the wires to the right way round, you're going to need an actual piece of kit that converts the signal from digital to analogue - StarTech do one called the "DVI2VGAE" but it looks to be £30ish. An HDMI to VGA converter looks to be roughly the same price ("HD2VGAE"). I'm sure other ones are probably cheaper, but I've always found Startech tend to be pretty good and actually do that they say on the tin.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

That's very much for the help, £30 doesn't seen too bad when she got decent monitors for the price she did.