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4-Monitor Setup on XP with Quad Card

 
 
ta
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      25th Feb 2006
Hi -- wondering if anyone has input on the following problem. Just
bought a brand new Dell Dimension 9150 with XP Home Edition for running
a 4-monitor setup, along with 4 Dell flat screen LCD monitors. The
salesman told me this would work with the Colorgraphics Xentera GT-4
quad card (PCI), and I don't know why it shouldn't work. I have 3
available PCI slots, but I cannot get input on a single monitor, let
alone 4, with this card installed.

Monitors work fine with the PCI-e video card that came with the box,
and checked all of the cables. I tried running cables from the VGA
input on the monitor to the DVI connect on the card (with an adapter),
as well as running from the DVI input on the monitor to the DVI input
on the card. Nada. All I get is the Colorgraphics splash screen - no
bios, no nothing.

I tried all 3 PCI slots. I tried it with the PCI-e card installed and
uninstalled. Nada.

I changed the bios setting to point to the PCI card as the primary
video card. No go.

They sent me a new card -- same deal.

Is there any reason why this standard PCI card would not be compatible
with my Dell Dimension 9150, especially since this card was qualed with
their 8400 box?

I'm stumped.

Thanks for any insight.

 
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John Jay Smith
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      25th Feb 2006
see if your motherboard has an "on board" display adaptor and disable it
from the BIOS, Also look for settings that tell the motherboard that you
will be using a pci card as the default display adaptor.

I am sure it will work for you eventually.

--
Disclaimer: This info is given "as is".
If you do not like the content or attitude of my posts,
please put me on your ignore list or dont read my posts.



"ta" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi -- wondering if anyone has input on the following problem. Just
> bought a brand new Dell Dimension 9150 with XP Home Edition for running
> a 4-monitor setup, along with 4 Dell flat screen LCD monitors. The
> salesman told me this would work with the Colorgraphics Xentera GT-4
> quad card (PCI), and I don't know why it shouldn't work. I have 3
> available PCI slots, but I cannot get input on a single monitor, let
> alone 4, with this card installed.
>
> Monitors work fine with the PCI-e video card that came with the box,
> and checked all of the cables. I tried running cables from the VGA
> input on the monitor to the DVI connect on the card (with an adapter),
> as well as running from the DVI input on the monitor to the DVI input
> on the card. Nada. All I get is the Colorgraphics splash screen - no
> bios, no nothing.
>
> I tried all 3 PCI slots. I tried it with the PCI-e card installed and
> uninstalled. Nada.
>
> I changed the bios setting to point to the PCI card as the primary
> video card. No go.
>
> They sent me a new card -- same deal.
>
> Is there any reason why this standard PCI card would not be compatible
> with my Dell Dimension 9150, especially since this card was qualed with
> their 8400 box?
>
> I'm stumped.
>
> Thanks for any insight.
>



 
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Jerry
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Posts: n/a
 
      25th Feb 2006
And the tech support folks at Dell have said what?

"ta" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi -- wondering if anyone has input on the following problem. Just
> bought a brand new Dell Dimension 9150 with XP Home Edition for running
> a 4-monitor setup, along with 4 Dell flat screen LCD monitors. The
> salesman told me this would work with the Colorgraphics Xentera GT-4
> quad card (PCI), and I don't know why it shouldn't work. I have 3
> available PCI slots, but I cannot get input on a single monitor, let
> alone 4, with this card installed.
>
> Monitors work fine with the PCI-e video card that came with the box,
> and checked all of the cables. I tried running cables from the VGA
> input on the monitor to the DVI connect on the card (with an adapter),
> as well as running from the DVI input on the monitor to the DVI input
> on the card. Nada. All I get is the Colorgraphics splash screen - no
> bios, no nothing.
>
> I tried all 3 PCI slots. I tried it with the PCI-e card installed and
> uninstalled. Nada.
>
> I changed the bios setting to point to the PCI card as the primary
> video card. No go.
>
> They sent me a new card -- same deal.
>
> Is there any reason why this standard PCI card would not be compatible
> with my Dell Dimension 9150, especially since this card was qualed with
> their 8400 box?
>
> I'm stumped.
>
> Thanks for any insight.
>



 
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ta
Guest
Posts: n/a
 
      25th Feb 2006

John Jay Smith wrote:
> see if your motherboard has an "on board" display adaptor and disable it
> from the BIOS, Also look for settings that tell the motherboard that you
> will be using a pci card as the default display adaptor.
>
> I am sure it will work for you eventually.
>
> --
> Disclaimer: This info is given "as is".
> If you do not like the content or attitude of my posts,
> please put me on your ignore list or dont read my posts.
>


Thanks, but I've already got the PCI card set as the default display
adapter in bios. The PCI-e card that came with the box is set as the
secondary option.

>
> "ta" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hi -- wondering if anyone has input on the following problem. Just
> > bought a brand new Dell Dimension 9150 with XP Home Edition for running
> > a 4-monitor setup, along with 4 Dell flat screen LCD monitors. The
> > salesman told me this would work with the Colorgraphics Xentera GT-4
> > quad card (PCI), and I don't know why it shouldn't work. I have 3
> > available PCI slots, but I cannot get input on a single monitor, let
> > alone 4, with this card installed.
> >
> > Monitors work fine with the PCI-e video card that came with the box,
> > and checked all of the cables. I tried running cables from the VGA
> > input on the monitor to the DVI connect on the card (with an adapter),
> > as well as running from the DVI input on the monitor to the DVI input
> > on the card. Nada. All I get is the Colorgraphics splash screen - no
> > bios, no nothing.
> >
> > I tried all 3 PCI slots. I tried it with the PCI-e card installed and
> > uninstalled. Nada.
> >
> > I changed the bios setting to point to the PCI card as the primary
> > video card. No go.
> >
> > They sent me a new card -- same deal.
> >
> > Is there any reason why this standard PCI card would not be compatible
> > with my Dell Dimension 9150, especially since this card was qualed with
> > their 8400 box?
> >
> > I'm stumped.
> >
> > Thanks for any insight.
> >


 
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ta
Guest
Posts: n/a
 
      25th Feb 2006

Jerry wrote:
> And the tech support folks at Dell have said what?


don't get me started.

> "ta" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hi -- wondering if anyone has input on the following problem. Just
> > bought a brand new Dell Dimension 9150 with XP Home Edition for running
> > a 4-monitor setup, along with 4 Dell flat screen LCD monitors. The
> > salesman told me this would work with the Colorgraphics Xentera GT-4
> > quad card (PCI), and I don't know why it shouldn't work. I have 3
> > available PCI slots, but I cannot get input on a single monitor, let
> > alone 4, with this card installed.
> >
> > Monitors work fine with the PCI-e video card that came with the box,
> > and checked all of the cables. I tried running cables from the VGA
> > input on the monitor to the DVI connect on the card (with an adapter),
> > as well as running from the DVI input on the monitor to the DVI input
> > on the card. Nada. All I get is the Colorgraphics splash screen - no
> > bios, no nothing.
> >
> > I tried all 3 PCI slots. I tried it with the PCI-e card installed and
> > uninstalled. Nada.
> >
> > I changed the bios setting to point to the PCI card as the primary
> > video card. No go.
> >
> > They sent me a new card -- same deal.
> >
> > Is there any reason why this standard PCI card would not be compatible
> > with my Dell Dimension 9150, especially since this card was qualed with
> > their 8400 box?
> >
> > I'm stumped.
> >
> > Thanks for any insight.
> >


 
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cliff
Guest
Posts: n/a
 
      26th Feb 2006


ta wrote:
> Hi -- wondering if anyone has input on the following problem. Just
> bought a brand new Dell Dimension 9150 with XP Home Edition for
> running a 4-monitor setup, along with 4 Dell flat screen LCD
> monitors. The salesman told me this would work with the Colorgraphics
> Xentera GT-4 quad card (PCI), and I don't know why it shouldn't work.
> I have 3 available PCI slots, but I cannot get input on a single
> monitor, let alone 4, with this card installed.
>
> Monitors work fine with the PCI-e video card that came with the box,
> and checked all of the cables. I tried running cables from the VGA
> input on the monitor to the DVI connect on the card (with an adapter),
> as well as running from the DVI input on the monitor to the DVI input
> on the card. Nada. All I get is the Colorgraphics splash screen - no
> bios, no nothing.
>
> I tried all 3 PCI slots. I tried it with the PCI-e card installed and
> uninstalled. Nada.
>
> I changed the bios setting to point to the PCI card as the primary
> video card. No go.
>
> They sent me a new card -- same deal.
>
> Is there any reason why this standard PCI card would not be compatible
> with my Dell Dimension 9150, especially since this card was qualed
> with their 8400 box?
>
> I'm stumped.
>
> Thanks for any insight.


I had four monitors set up and I remember it was difficult to get
everything right. I think you have to boot to one monitor and configure the
others at properties of the desktop/settings/ then check the options to
extend the desktop to other monitors and decide which one will be the
primary. I have a 9600 and 9250PCI with only two monitors connected now but
I see four visible for when I connect them. I remember the System started to
boot with no display. I had to re-connect a monitor to the default primary
to reconfigure them all.

You could try to boot with no card in the PCIs slot with the four monitors
connects and start from there.

HTH



 
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ta
Guest
Posts: n/a
 
      26th Feb 2006

cliff wrote:
> ta wrote:
> > Hi -- wondering if anyone has input on the following problem. Just
> > bought a brand new Dell Dimension 9150 with XP Home Edition for
> > running a 4-monitor setup, along with 4 Dell flat screen LCD
> > monitors. The salesman told me this would work with the Colorgraphics
> > Xentera GT-4 quad card (PCI), and I don't know why it shouldn't work.
> > I have 3 available PCI slots, but I cannot get input on a single
> > monitor, let alone 4, with this card installed.
> >
> > Monitors work fine with the PCI-e video card that came with the box,
> > and checked all of the cables. I tried running cables from the VGA
> > input on the monitor to the DVI connect on the card (with an adapter),
> > as well as running from the DVI input on the monitor to the DVI input
> > on the card. Nada. All I get is the Colorgraphics splash screen - no
> > bios, no nothing.
> >
> > I tried all 3 PCI slots. I tried it with the PCI-e card installed and
> > uninstalled. Nada.
> >
> > I changed the bios setting to point to the PCI card as the primary
> > video card. No go.
> >
> > They sent me a new card -- same deal.
> >
> > Is there any reason why this standard PCI card would not be compatible
> > with my Dell Dimension 9150, especially since this card was qualed
> > with their 8400 box?
> >
> > I'm stumped.
> >
> > Thanks for any insight.

>
> I had four monitors set up and I remember it was difficult to get
> everything right. I think you have to boot to one monitor and configure the
> others at properties of the desktop/settings/ then check the options to
> extend the desktop to other monitors and decide which one will be the
> primary.


I can't boot to *any* monitor with the the quad card. No bios, no
nothing. There is no boot process.

> I have a 9600 and 9250PCI with only two monitors connected now but
> I see four visible for when I connect them. I remember the System started to
> boot with no display. I had to re-connect a monitor to the default primary
> to reconfigure them all.
>
> You could try to boot with no card in the PCIs slot with the four monitors
> connects and start from there.
>
> HTH


Thanks, but I have nothing -- no input on the quad card.

 
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John Jay Smith
Guest
Posts: n/a
 
      26th Feb 2006
leave only the PCI card in and remove the PCI express card and see if you
have bios.

If not remove all other cards temporarily and leave only the quad one,
see if you have bios.

If not, test the card on another computer to see if its working.

If not then you have a compatibility problem.

--
Disclaimer: This info is given "as is".
If you do not like the content or attitude of my posts,
please put me on your ignore list or dont read my posts.

--
"ta" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> cliff wrote:
>> ta wrote:
>> > Hi -- wondering if anyone has input on the following problem. Just
>> > bought a brand new Dell Dimension 9150 with XP Home Edition for
>> > running a 4-monitor setup, along with 4 Dell flat screen LCD
>> > monitors. The salesman told me this would work with the Colorgraphics
>> > Xentera GT-4 quad card (PCI), and I don't know why it shouldn't work.
>> > I have 3 available PCI slots, but I cannot get input on a single
>> > monitor, let alone 4, with this card installed.
>> >
>> > Monitors work fine with the PCI-e video card that came with the box,
>> > and checked all of the cables. I tried running cables from the VGA
>> > input on the monitor to the DVI connect on the card (with an adapter),
>> > as well as running from the DVI input on the monitor to the DVI input
>> > on the card. Nada. All I get is the Colorgraphics splash screen - no
>> > bios, no nothing.
>> >
>> > I tried all 3 PCI slots. I tried it with the PCI-e card installed and
>> > uninstalled. Nada.
>> >
>> > I changed the bios setting to point to the PCI card as the primary
>> > video card. No go.
>> >
>> > They sent me a new card -- same deal.
>> >
>> > Is there any reason why this standard PCI card would not be compatible
>> > with my Dell Dimension 9150, especially since this card was qualed
>> > with their 8400 box?
>> >
>> > I'm stumped.
>> >
>> > Thanks for any insight.

>>
>> I had four monitors set up and I remember it was difficult to get
>> everything right. I think you have to boot to one monitor and configure
>> the
>> others at properties of the desktop/settings/ then check the options to
>> extend the desktop to other monitors and decide which one will be the
>> primary.

>
> I can't boot to *any* monitor with the the quad card. No bios, no
> nothing. There is no boot process.
>
>> I have a 9600 and 9250PCI with only two monitors connected now but
>> I see four visible for when I connect them. I remember the System started
>> to
>> boot with no display. I had to re-connect a monitor to the default
>> primary
>> to reconfigure them all.
>>
>> You could try to boot with no card in the PCIs slot with the four
>> monitors
>> connects and start from there.
>>
>> HTH

>
> Thanks, but I have nothing -- no input on the quad card.
>



 
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