Dual Monitor Cable Question.

R

Richard K

I have a Windows XP Pro computer that has a dual monitor option video card.
I can see this via the desktop/settings Display and I have 2 monitor
options. This video card is equipped with a single VGA port. I bought a
splitter to split into 2 monitors and then went into the settings to
"extend" the desktop (via the checkbox) on the 2nd VGA. When I hit apply it
does not save the checkbox settings and all I get is a same screen on both
monitors and no extension.

I know the video card supports dual monitors based on the settings section
but is there something special in splitter cables where I need to make sure
I have a specialized one that will do dual monitor for extended desktops vs.
show the same image?

-Richard K
 
J

Jerry

To do what you describe you need a video card with two outputs; they could
be both VGA, both DVi, or one of each. Don't really know why you're seeing
options for two displays unless the card has an output connection for tv.
 
M

Mike Hall - MVP

Richard K said:
I have a Windows XP Pro computer that has a dual monitor option video card.
I can see this via the desktop/settings Display and I have 2 monitor
options. This video card is equipped with a single VGA port. I bought a
splitter to split into 2 monitors and then went into the settings to
"extend" the desktop (via the checkbox) on the 2nd VGA. When I hit apply
it does not save the checkbox settings and all I get is a same screen on
both monitors and no extension.

I know the video card supports dual monitors based on the settings section
but is there something special in splitter cables where I need to make
sure I have a specialized one that will do dual monitor for extended
desktops vs. show the same image?

-Richard K


Are you sure that it supports two monitors? Could it be that it supports one
monitor and also has output to a TV?


--
Mike Hall - MVP
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R

Richard K

In the settings section I see 2 monitors so the video card supports it. I
know it only has one port (thus the splitter) and some have said I need 2
ports for this to work but I know that is not true. I have seen many Dell
systems that come this way of having only 1 port and a splitter cable. Dell
ships a cable with those systems though.
 
R

R. McCarty

If a video card has multi-monitor support in Device Manager, Display
Adapters you'll see two independent video entries. Does your DM
show two video card entries ? Also could post your video card vendor
and model #.

Also there are always numerous video cards based on the same GPU
chip(set). It may be that your card is identifying itself as Multi-Monitor
capable but your specific model may have that capability disabled.
( Having only a single video output connector, or a S-Video added )

It's also hard to understand how a Splitter would provide two video
streams to feed each monitor. A Splitter would simply provide the
same signal to both monitors.
 

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