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SuperHero
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Location: Superhero Hideout
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 Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2004 4:51 am Post subject: two monitors |
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I just acquired a second monitor and would like to hook it up so I can run both of them off of one computer. Basically I would like to have tutorial web sites on one monitor while I am using photoshop or flash on the other monitor. This would be so much easier than switching windows.
What is the best way to do this? i.e. what kind of video card do I need? Can I run one monitor off of the built in card and just buy another basic card or do I need to buy something special. I don't play video games so I don't need anything really powerful, just enough to watch movies and use photoshop.
Also is it possible to split the monitor port and run two monitors off of the built in card?
Thanks for your help. |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2004 6:51 am Post subject: |
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Use Google before asking dumb questions.
Just kidding. 
As far as I'm aware you can't split the signal from one monitor port on your video card- you need to have either a video card that supports dual monitors (i.e. 2 ports; If your video card has a DVI port as well as the standard video port then you can buy an adaptor connection for the DVI), or a second video card (you could probably pick up an old PCI slot video card for a song, but it might take some hunting around). |
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jaebea
Joined: 21 Sep 2003
Location: SYD
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| Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2004 7:01 am Post subject: Re: two monitors |
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| SuperHero wrote: |
I just acquired a second monitor and would like to hook it up so I can run both of them off of one computer. Basically I would like to have tutorial web sites on one monitor while I am using photoshop or flash on the other monitor. This would be so much easier than switching windows.
What is the best way to do this? i.e. what kind of video card do I need? Can I run one monitor off of the built in card and just buy another basic card or do I need to buy something special. I don't play video games so I don't need anything really powerful, just enough to watch movies and use photoshop.
Also is it possible to split the monitor port and run two monitors off of the built in card?
Thanks for your help. |
You mentioned you had a built in card. This will do for the first output.
If your computer has an AGP slot, then this could be your easy way out. As far as I know, computers are allowed only one AGP channel on the bus, so you can't have use of both AGP and onboard at the same time.
I mentioned that it was the easy way out, as most of the cards out there at the moment have dual output, either in the form of double VGA (not very common), or VGA and DVI (quite common).
You can pick up DVI to VGA converters very cheaply, from pretty much most parts bins out there.
If you DON'T have an AGP slot, then you're going to have to find a PCI solution. This shouldn't be too tough, but don't expect blistering performance... however, Windows XP has made it very easy to juggle two distinct graphics devices in the one computer.
jae. |
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SuperHero
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Location: Superhero Hideout
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| Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2004 11:19 pm Post subject: |
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what is DVI?...
any recommendations on the cheapest way to get what I want? |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2004 12:08 am Post subject: |
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Digital Video Interface
You have it if your video card has a port that could mate with the adaptor in the top picture.
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