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dual monior setup + graphics card problems

Tags:
  • MSI
  • AMD
  • ATI
  • Motherboards
  • Dual
  • Graphics Cards
  • Radeon
Last response: in Components
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September 24, 2014 8:17:20 AM

hi i have a pc i bought and it came with a AMD A8-6600k and a 768mb ATI AMD Radeon 8570D + MSI A55m-E33 motherboard. recently i bought a dual monitor to use for when i game. i didnt know at the time when i bought it that you need two output ports like a vga and dvi. currently i only have 1 output port which is vga which i i currently use for my current monitor. im not too sure on what to do. i heard i may need to buy another graphics card for the second monitor to work. please help.

thanks

/james

More about : dual monior setup graphics card problems

a b V Motherboard
a b U Graphics card
September 24, 2014 8:23:40 AM

Yes, you do in fact need multiple monitor outputs to drive multiple monitors. Look carefully, most modern motherboards have at least two monitor outputs on the rear I/O ports - one VGA and maybe DisplayPort, mini-DisplayPort, HDMI or DVI on there. If not, when you buy a graphics card, you should switch both monitors to the outputs on the rear of the graphics card.
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a b V Motherboard
a b U Graphics card
September 24, 2014 8:31:36 AM

if you buy a splitter, you will get the same output on both monitors - usually that is not why people get multiple gaming monitors.
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September 24, 2014 8:37:36 AM

Karsten75 said:
if you buy a splitter, you will get the same output on both monitors - usually that is not why people get multiple gaming monitors.


That's not true. I've used a splitter to two monitors despite a single connection on my work laptop and was able to output different screens to each be it with a cable or a USB/VGA box.
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a b V Motherboard
a b U Graphics card
September 24, 2014 8:51:44 AM

With a VGA splitter? I frankly don't believe you and I don't even see how it can be possible to send discrete signals to the same VGA port to have discrete displays on 2 1920x1080 displays. Maybe if you have much lower resolutions, it is possible, but even so I doubt it.

With a discrete output from a USB port it may well be possible.
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September 24, 2014 8:57:11 AM

Believe what you wish. On the old work desktop, I had an Nvidia 8400GS that used DVI out. I ran a single DVI to a two DVI and then used DVI/VGA plug on adapters to run to my two work displays. Worked like a champ. There are several people in my office using a combination of splitters and USB adapters to run up to four screens at a time, all showing different content @ 1080P.
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September 24, 2014 9:28:41 AM

hi guys thanks for the help, i have just looked and found on my pc that there is a hdmi port at the back and a vga. can i buy a hdmi to vga adapter and then connect that to my second monitor?
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September 24, 2014 9:31:30 AM

_jxmes said:
hi guys thanks for the help, i have just looked and found on my pc that there is a hdmi port at the back and a vga. can i buy a hdmi to vga adapter and then connect that to my second monitor?


You may not have to do that if your monitor has an HDMI input. The bigger question will be if your machine will allow you to output across both HDMI and VGA at the same time. I do believe I can output across DVI and DisplayPort at the same time, but I don't know if that's so in your case. Hell, go ahead and try it. You're not going to hurt anything.
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a b V Motherboard
a b U Graphics card
September 24, 2014 9:38:50 AM

_jxmes said:
hi guys thanks for the help, i have just looked and found on my pc that there is a hdmi port at the back and a vga. can i buy a hdmi to vga adapter and then connect that to my second monitor?



Yes, indeed. Most AMD integrated GPUs support multi-monitor output and if your monitor does not support HDMI, then you can buy an adapter to convert it to VGA or maybe DVI.
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