Dual Monitor using Integrated graphics on MSI B450M MORTAR MAX

[Marakith]

Hello!

I built a PC for my wife back March using this motherboard (the rig you guys specced back then is awesome!).

The main monitor is driven by the HDMI port.

We wanted to add a second monitor to the mix. There's only a displayport socket, so I used a Displayport to DVI cable to connect the PC to a DVI socket on an older monitor.

With the HDMI monitor connected the second monitor stays blank.
With the HDMI unplugged the BIOS pop up appears on the Displayport monitor but Windows doesn't appear (screen goes blank).

I have looked around in the BIOS settings to see if there's something obvious to tick, but there are no "multi monitor" or similar options.

Has anyone else had this problem and solved it?

Thanks!

 

[Marakith]

Thanks for the replies. Will look again.

Also no: I don't know if I can use both at once. But I also can't use the display port on it's own either.

 

[Marakith]

Right - thanks all for the help. I've tried running through the steps from Donnie Fisher. No joy.

I'm going to install new drivers later today. That might help.

Failing that is there a cheap graphics card (only intended to drive a secondary monitor for windows 10 applications - no gaming) that anyone can recommend?

 

[Marakith]

Running dual monitors from a Ryzen 3 2200G, using an MSI B450, no issues at all. Just swapped HDMI cable for HDMI to DVI and it was fine, didn't work using DP to DVI unless I put my active adapter on it, then it works fine on both dual link and single link mode.

Ahh! thank you! I had no idea there was such a thing as an active adapter. At the moment I'm just using a DP to DVI cable. What does Active mean? That there's a processor in there? I'm googling but it seems you can pay anything from £10 to £150. V confusing

 

[Marakith]

Yes, it has some form of video signal convertor/scaler inside, think it was £30. I just have it for testing for professional purposes, so not something Joe blogs might think about.

What inputs do you have on both monitors?

HDMI on the main one.
DVI on the secondary.

Mickyflynn - thanks. That really helps because some cables don't describe themselves as "Active" - they just refer to chips

 

[Marakith]

You'd probably have more luck going DP -> HDMI, and then use the HDMI output to go to DVI. No need for any active conversion then, and the DP will happily feed a HDMI signal.

I'll try this next - nothing else is working. The DP-DVI connection I currently have takes me to the Windows loading screen then it blacks out.

Failing that, what's the cheapest graphics card I could get away with to drive a secondary monitor? Ta!

 

[Marakith]

Right - I'm giving up. I've connected the HDMI to the DVI monitor. That worked.
But connecting the Displayport to the HDMI monitor did not. This monitor POSTs and the windows loading screen appears - then the screen goes black.

So the problem appears to be Windows not recognising the displayport. I'm baffled.

 

[Marakith]

Did you try plugging it in when the OS had booted and then turning the monitor on? Also I assume you are running the correct and latest driers for both the CPU and GPU?

Thanks, yes. Also tried that. All drivers are up to date. It's very weird.

Another solution could be to install a graphics card with 2 ports. What's cheap and good enough for windows 10?

 

[Marakith]

Literally anything that has two outputs that suit your monitors. Maybe an older card from the MM, put a wanted advert in there? £20 plus postage should cover you for something.

It's a very odd situation that you've got, I've tested my board in many different configurations, and I've even booted from a Windows 10 USB SSD that I have for testing systems and that works without issue.

Thanks for all the advice!