Dual monitors using card and internal

[BrianB]

I have a desktop with one video connection on the MB. I want to add a second
monitor so I know that I must add a video card. My question is when I plug
in the card will that deactivate the internal video? In other words, can I
have one monitor plugged into a video card and a second plugged into the
internal connection? Or do I need to get a video card having two
connections?

Brian

 

[SC Tom]

I have a desktop with one video connection on the MB. I want to add a
second monitor so I know that I must add a video card. My question is when
I plug in the card will that deactivate the internal video? In other words,
can I have one monitor plugged into a video card and a second plugged into
the internal connection? Or do I need to get a video card having two
connections?

Brian

Depending on your hardware, you may or may not need to buy a 2-port video
card. On my Asus board, I can add a PCI card and use it and the onboard
video. Not the best of choices, though- the PCI card is slower than molasses
in the winter. But if I add in a PCI-express card, it automatically locks
out the onboard video. It doesn't matter if it's a 1 or 2 port card; the
onboard is out when using PCI-e.

SC Tom

 

[Paul]

I have a desktop with one video connection on the MB. I want to add a second
monitor so I know that I must add a video card. My question is when I plug
in the card will that deactivate the internal video? In other words, can I
have one monitor plugged into a video card and a second plugged into the
internal connection? Or do I need to get a video card having two
connections?

Brian

The limitations aren't always stated in the motherboard or computer
documentation, and the safest purchase is a dual port video card.
(Video cards may have three connectors on the faceplate, but
internally, there are two channels to drive displays. You can
use two of three connectors at one time.)

Using the dual port card, both monitors are backed by equal-performing
hardware. The only time an add-in card can be weak in terms of
worst case performance, is if the slot type is limited to the
older 32 bit PCI type (133MB/sec max). Either PCI Express or AGP
is capable of good data transfer performance for the video card
(for things like gaming). With PCI, you may see stuttering, if you
attempt to move a large window around the screen (and it isn't using
any form of acceleration). For example, I tested a card here, and
Quicktime player windows didn't move smoothly with a PCI card.

There are some motherboards now, that can actually drive two monitors
at the same time. But they're not always the best user experience,
in terms of getting it all working.

Read the reviews for the video card you plan to purchase, before you
buy it. Some cards, used to upgrade older computers, have pretty
flaky drivers available for them. By reading the customer reviews,
you can determine whether there is at least one good driver version
to use.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16814161284

Also, I've noticed a trend, to there being more monitor compatibility
issues than there used to be. You may also want to read reviews on
some of the options for monitors, because some of them aren't the
best choices either.

The combination of a PCI Express video card, and one or two monitors
which have multiple input options, is the most likely to give you
something to show for your efforts, after a day of cursing at
drivers and the like. If one of the monitor inputs doesn't work well,
or isn't recognized by the video card, you'll have other options to
fall back on. Monitor input options now include VGA, DVI, HDMI, or
DisplayPort, to name a few. If the monitor has multiple standards,
the more likely it is you'll get an image from one of them.

Paul

 

[BrianB]

Thank you everyone. You've given me great answers and a lot to think about.

Brian

 

[Inter Hagel]

I have a desktop with one video connection on the MB. I want to add a

second monitor so I know that I must add a video card. My question is when
I plug in the card will that deactivate the internal video? In other
words, can I have one monitor plugged into a video card and a second
plugged into the internal connection? Or do I need to get a video card
having two connections?

What's important here is if the resolution or quality needed is the same in
both monitors. For many of us, we need a good, widescreen monitor for some
programs and entertainment and another one or two for monitoring stuff. So
in that case having an onboard card would be great. Remember to keep your
height the same on all the monitors. This makes a big difference! If your
main monitor is a 24" (1920 x 1280) you can use a 19" in landscape mode or a
17" in portrait mode. This is where you want to measure the actual screen
size of the monitor. Here's a list I made. 4:3 is the aspect ratio of
course, the next number is the width followed by the height. So you can see
when you pair a 24" with a height of 12.7" with a 17" with a width of 13.3
and the same resolution you have an approximate match. If you use a 30" a
19" in portrait mode is physically close but the resolution is different so
that's no good. You need a 21" (1600 x 1200) in portrait mode to match. Or
perhaps a 17" widescreen which I don't have measurements for. 22" LCD's
match well with 19" (both in landscape) or 15" in portrait. Remember the
bezel thickness that is important is the one that points toward the main
monitor. For a portrait model it could be either the top (usually smaller)
or the bottom. In landscape it will be the sides which are almost always
the same. Hope that helps.

15” 4:3 12 9
17” 4:3 13.3 10.6
19” 4:3 15 1222” 16:10 18.7 11.7
24” 16:10 20.4 12.7
26” 16:10 22 .1 13.8
27” 16:10 22.9 14.330” 16:10 25.4 16

 

[Inter Hagel]

I have a desktop with one video connection on the MB. I want to add a

What's important here is if the resolution or quality needed is the same
in both monitors. For many of us, we need a good, widescreen monitor for
some programs and entertainment and another one or two for monitoring
stuff. So in that case having an onboard card would be great. Remember
to keep your height the same on all the monitors. This makes a big
difference! If your main monitor is a 24" (1920 x 1280) you can use a 19"
in landscape mode or a 17" in portrait mode. This is where you want to
measure the actual screen size of the monitor. Here's a list I made. 4:3
is the aspect ratio of course, the next number is the width followed by
the height. So you can see when you pair a 24" with a height of 12.7"
with a 17" with a width of 13.3 and the same resolution you have an
approximate match. If you use a 30" a 19" in portrait mode is physically
close but the resolution is different so that's no good. You need a 21"
(1600 x 1200) in portrait mode to match. Or perhaps a 17" widescreen
which I don't have measurements for. 22" LCD's match well with 19" (both
in landscape) or 15" in portrait. Remember the bezel thickness that is
important is the one that points toward the main monitor. For a portrait
model it could be either the top (usually smaller) or the bottom. In
landscape it will be the sides which are almost always the same. Hope
that helps.

15” 4:3 12 9
17” 4:3 13.3 10.6
19” 4:3 15 1222” 16:10 18.7 11.7
24” 16:10 20.4 12.7
26” 16:10 22 .1 13.8
27” 16:10 22.9 14.330” 16:10 25.4 16

Well that turned out to be a total mess. Lesson learned - never trust tab
stops! Perhaps if I had used spaces this wouldn't have happened. Here's a
test using spaces to get the same look as tabs.
15” 4:3 12 9

 

[Inter Hagel]

I have a desktop with one video connection on the MB. I want to add a

Well that turned out to be a total mess. Lesson learned - never trust tab
stops! Perhaps if I had used spaces this wouldn't have happened. Here's
a test using spaces to get the same look as tabs.
15” 4:3 12 9

That seemed to work. Now here's the list again.
15” 4:3 12 9
17” 4:3 13.3 10.6
19” 4:3 15 12
22” 16:10 18.7 11.7
24” 16:10 20.4 12.7
26” 16:10 22.1 13.8
27” 16:10 22.9 14.3
28” 16:10 15.2
30” 16:10 25.4 16
I had to correct some spacing errors. Here it is again with a mono-spaced
font (DejaVu Sans Mono which isn't so ugly.)
SIZE AS WIDTH HEIGHT
15” 4:3 12 9
17” 4:3 13.3 10.6
19” 4:3 15 12
22” 16:10 18.7 11.7
24” 16:10 20.4 12.7
26” 16:10 22.1 13.8
27” 16:10 22.9 14.3
28” 16:10 15.2
30” 16:10 25.4 16
I'm still getting spacing errors. Anybody know why? Shouldn't a monospaced
font copy perfectly? Or it because the font that is displaying here is
different than the font I'm copying from?

 

[Inter Hagel]

I have a desktop with one video connection on the MB. I want to add a

That seemed to work. Now here's the list again.
15” 4:3 12 9
17” 4:3 13.3 10.6
19” 4:3 15 12
22” 16:10 18.7 11.7
24” 16:10 20.4 12.7
26” 16:10 22.1 13.8
27” 16:10 22.9 14.3
28” 16:10 15.2
30” 16:10 25.4 16
I had to correct some spacing errors. Here it is again with a mono-spaced
font (DejaVu Sans Mono which isn't so ugly.)
SIZE AS WIDTH HEIGHT
15” 4:3 12 9
17” 4:3 13.3 10.6
19” 4:3 15 12
22” 16:10 18.7 11.7
24” 16:10 20.4 12.7
26” 16:10 22.1 13.8
27” 16:10 22.9 14.3
28” 16:10 15.2
30” 16:10 25.4 16
I'm still getting spacing errors. Anybody know why? Shouldn't a
monospaced font copy perfectly? Or it because the font that is displaying
here is different than the font I'm copying from?

Well it looked like it posted correctly after I corrected the spacing
errors. Still it sure would be nice to know how to compose it properly in a
text document so it copies over to a usenet post perfectly. Any suggestions
will be most appreciated.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I have a desktop with one video connection on the MB. I want to add a
second monitor so I know that I must add a video card. My question is when
I plug in the card will that deactivate the internal video? In other words,
can I have one monitor plugged into a video card and a second plugged into
the internal connection? Or do I need to get a video card having two
connections?

Brian

Get a card with two video outputs. These start at around $50, and go way,
way up. Adding video cards will often disable the internal adapters.

You do need to be sure that you get the correct type of video card, meaning
PCI, AGP, or PCI Express.

HTH
-pk

 

[news.microsoft.com]

Best bet, buy a dual-head video card expecting to completely disable the
onboard video. Then it's just the one video card driver (and it handles the
two monitors) over two separate drivers fighting about things. Trust me,
been there and it can be done but not willingly again.

 

[Inter Hagel]

I appreciate the positive feedback David. Many heartfelt thanks.