Dual monitor setup - is it possible?

mangoh

mangoh

mangoh

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I just bought a new computer from a computer shop. It is custom built and has the following:

Has 8GB RAM, 3.3ghz intel core i5-2500k, Windows 7 Professional 64bit, Intel HD graphics so upto 1.7GB max video memory, 1 VGA slot, 1 DVI-D dual link port


If I buy 2 identical monitors that each have a DVI-D & VGA port, will I be able to have a dual monitor setup?
 
Hi and welcome to the forum.

Unless there are any motherboard limitations you should be able to run 2 monitors as the integrated GPU will support them.

Which exact make and model of motherboard do you have?
 
I expect you will be able to do this, as you say, one via DVI-D and one via VGA.

I haven't got Win 7, but on Vista, you just right click on the desktop and select Graphics Properties to configure the graphics card for dual monitors.

Rgds
 
radderfire said:
I expect you will be able to do this, as you say, one via DVI-D and one via VGA.

I haven't got Win 7, but on Vista, you just right click on the desktop and select Graphics Properties to configure the graphics card for dual monitors.

Rgds
Click to expand...

See this is the problem.

I've been told by numerous people that it won't work but by others it will.

I thought DVI-D is digital and VGA is anologue so how would it work :S

p.s. the OS atm is not the issue, the hardware is.
 
radderfire said:
Well, on my old XP desktop, if memory serves, I had a single graphics card and could connect two monitors, one via the DVI and the other via the VGA.

Rgds
Click to expand...

Was it a DVI-D port or DVI-I?

And were both monitors identical?

Did you also need to buy any adapters/convertors?

Thanks
 
Fixed link to your motherboard:

P8H61-M LE/USB3

You'll be fine running one monitor from DVI-D (it's single link) and a second from VGA.

User review:

Installed quickly. Drivers provided for Windows 7 worked fine. No stability problems after 2 weeks of continuous running. The VGA & DVI outputs are a good option on a low cost board, especially since I run dual monitors.
Click to expand...
 
Laser man said:
It will be fine, I've done the same thing on my HD 6870 and it works fine.
Click to expand...

Same questions:


Was it a DVI-D port or DVI-I?

And were both monitors identical?

Did you also need to buy any adapters/convertors?

Surveyor said:
Fixed link to your motherboard:

P8H61-M LE/USB3

You'll be fine running one monitor from DVI-D (it's single link) and a second from VGA.

User review:
Click to expand...

Thanks, edited my post ;)

Erm I checked in person and mine is definately DVI-D dual link

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...r_Types.svg/181px-DVI_Connector_Types.svg.png

According to this chart at least :eek:
 
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mangoh said:
Was it a DVI-D port or DVI-I?

And were both monitors identical?

Did you also need to buy any adapters/convertors?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I think the monitor I used with DVI was the Samsung SyncMaster 205BW, and that this is DVI-D.

Monitors were not identical, the other was some LG monitor. Monitors don't have to be identical, but you may need to look at the maximum screen resolution that your graphics card can support, and choose your monitors accordingly.

Rgds
 
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You can run 2 monitors.

One will have to have a DVI-D connection (or HDMI using an adapter) and can be up to 1920x1200 resolution at 60Hz.

One will have to have a VGA connection and can be up to 2048 x 1536 at 75 Hz.

If you want 2 identical monitors then you're limited to a maximum resolution of 1920x1200 at 60Hz.

Hopefully you don't plan on using such a setup for gaming.

Gaming is best on 1 or 3 screens.

Even on a single screen the integrated graphics are only suitable very light gaming.

May I ask why you bought an i5-2500K with a motherboard which offers no overclocking?
 
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Surveyor said:
You can run 2 monitors.

One will have to have a DVI-D connection (or HDMI using an adapter) and can be up to 1920x1200 resolution at 60Hz.

One will have to have a VGA connection and can be up to 2048 x 1536 at 75 Hz.

If you want 2 identical monitors then you're limited to a maximum resolution of 1920x1200 at 60Hz.

Hopefully you don't plan on using such a setup for gaming.

Gaming is best on 1 or 3 screens.

Even on a single screen the integrated graphics are only suitable very light gaming.

May I ask why you bought an i5-2500K with a motherboard which offers no overclocking?
Click to expand...

Okay I hope you are right :)

Erm I will be using it for work only. Not gaming. I bought the PC from a computer shop which buys parts from different suppliers. Can I ask why overclocking is so important in my case?
 
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Surveyor said:
It's not often I'm wrong ;)




For gaming then overclocking the i5-2500K usually gives better frame rates.

For CPU intensive stuff then everyting is going to get done faster.

So it depends what you use the PC for.
Click to expand...

TBH it's a big ugrade for me, 1TB is approx 8 times higher than what I had before. 8GB ram is significantly higher than the 512MB I had etc...

So as long as this lasts me 5 years and gets me through my degree I'll be happy.

Tbh I just read more about overclocking and even if I could do it, I wouldn't. Too risky.
 
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