Dual screen display with MSI 785GTM-E45 (ATI Radeon HD4200)

[phood]

First of all, as a newbie in this forum, let me say hi to everyone.

My new computer has a MSI 785GTM-E45 motherboard with an ATI Radeon HD4200 onboard graphic subsystem.

This motherboard has 3 video outputs : VGA, DVI and HDMI. Here's a look at the back panel : http://www.hardware-addict.com/Images/Products/Base/Mainboard/MSI/MSI%20785GTM-E45%203.jpg

My OS is WINDOWS 7.

Lately, I've purchased 2 monitors. Each of them has 2 video inputs : VGA and DVI.

My very one goal is to get a dual-screen desktop.

The problem here is that only the VGA-plugged monitor lights on. The DVI-plugged one does not get recognized at all. Don't worry, the cable is a DVI-D Dual-Link cable so we should look elsewhere...

I've tried to detect de DVI-plugged monitor by accessing the WINDOWS control panel. No dectection...

I've also tried via the ATI Catalyst Control Center. No luck...

THE ULTIMATE QUESTION HERE IS : Is this motherboard capable of simultaneously displaying 3 sources through the VGA, DVI and HDMI video outputs? Or at least 2 monitors simultaneously? (as a dual-screen display would be enough for my needs).

If you know the answer, please help me!

Thank you

 

[gexgeko]

First of all, as a newbie in this forum, let me say hi to everyone.

My new computer has a MSI 785GTM-E45 motherboard with an ATI Radeon HD4200 onboard graphic subsystem.

This motherboard has 3 video outputs : VGA, DVI and HDMI. Here's a look at the back panel : http://www.hardware-addict.com/Images/Products/Base/Mainboard/MSI/MSI%20785GTM-E45%203.jpg

My OS is WINDOWS 7.

Lately, I've purchased 2 monitors. Each of them has 2 video inputs : VGA and DVI.

My very one goal is to get a dual-screen desktop.

The problem here is that only the VGA-plugged monitor lights on. The DVI-plugged one does not get recognized at all. Don't worry, the cable is a DVI-D Dual-Link cable so we should look elsewhere...

I've tried to detect de DVI-plugged monitor by accessing the WINDOWS control panel. No dectection...

I've also tried via the ATI Catalyst Control Center. No luck...

THE ULTIMATE QUESTION HERE IS : Is this motherboard capable of simultaneously displaying 3 sources through the VGA, DVI and HDMI video outputs? Or at least 2 monitors simultaneously? (as a dual-screen display would be enough for my needs).

If you know the answer, please help me!

Thank you

I will let you know in a few weeks as i'm getting this board soon, however i'm sure it will output dual monitors by one vga and one either hdmi or DVI but not using both hdmi and dvi.

 

[phood]

thanks much gexgeko.

Meanwhile I'll try my best at getting my monitors work.

I'll let you know if I succeed before you try the dual-screen feature on this motherboard (which is a good one by the way).

 

[adamvaldez]

Hi,

I would like to suggest you refer to the MSI website to update the BIOS and the hardware drivers. This is certainly a Driver or operating system problem. Your Motherboard can support dual monitors.

 

[swifty_morgan]

If you go into the BIOS and look where the on board graphics is, see if it's on "auto"..... or is it just pointing to the vga ?..... not saying auto will allow 2 monitors, each with different connectors, but if it's only pointing to one thing in the bios, that's all it will see.

 

[phood]

To adamvaldez and swifty_morgan.

Thanks. Let me try both proposal.

 

[phood]

Hi,

I would like to suggest you refer to the MSI website to update the BIOS and the hardware drivers. This is certainly a Driver or operating system problem. Your Motherboard can support dual monitors.

After updating the BIOS and the hardware drivers, I must come to the conclusion that it is an OS problem. The AMD VISION ENGINE CONTROL CENTER does now see my second monitor but not perfectly as no display is showing on screen.

It is getting more and more frustrating!

 

[phood]

My Bios version is v8.8

Is this the latest version?

 

[swifty_morgan]

ATI's CCC......... display manager/properties/detect displays ?

 

[phood]

ATI's CCC......... display manager/properties/detect displays ?

I've also tried this one...

 

[swifty_morgan]

does that board support hybrid crossfire ? If so I would look into getting a compatible ( cheap ) card if your demands aren't too steep. if you choose this route make sure you get a card that works that way. lower end cards ONLY will allow this. look into it.

 

[phood]

does that board support hybrid crossfire ? If so I would look into getting a compatible ( cheap ) card if your demands aren't too steep. if you choose this route make sure you get a card that works that way. lower end cards ONLY will allow this. look into it.

What is Hybrid Crossfire ?