Adding 2nd monitor to Gigabyte Z68 mb

[gmc90]

Hey folks -

I have a new system I built around a Gigabyte Z68MA-D2H-B3 motherboard. I am currently using the on-board graphics, DVI output, and want to add a second monitor.

Do I need to add a video card with two outputs, or can the motherboard's graphics serve as one of the outputs? Would that depend on what video card I get?

My video needs are nothing amazing - office apps, no gaming, but Photoshop and Lightroom use.

Thanks!


gmc

 

[rozz]

I think the onboard VGA port could serve as your second monitor port. But in my opinion, it may be best to grab a PCIe video card. It would free up some CPU, help increase performance on your PC when running Photoshop, etc.

 

[ko888]

The Intel Onboard Graphics supports Dual Display Configurations so you don't even need to add a discrete graphics card.

If you want GPU assisted plugin support for your applications then you will need a discrete graphics card and those usually have two or three display output ports on them.

What is your graphics card budget and what is the make and model of your power supply unit.

 

[gmc90]

The Intel Onboard Graphics supports Dual Display Configurations so you don't even need to add a discrete graphics card.

If you want GPU assisted plugin support for your applications then you will need a discrete graphics card and those usually have two or three display output ports on them.

What is your graphics card budget and what is the make and model of your power supply unit.

I am not looking to spend more than $75 or so, no real hard budget. I bought a new Antec 650W power supply for an older Antec case when I built this machine up.
I think I'll just get myself a decent card in this price range. I know I can use a DVI port for one monitor, and a VGA for another - perhaps with a converter to DVI- but are there any cards in this range with a pair of DVI ports?

 

[rozz]

Yes there is a lot. Head on over to www.newegg.com . Search the graphic card areas and sort by price.. should find a few hundred

 

[ko888]

Using the following filter at Newegg.com:

Computer Hardware > Video Cards & Video Devices > Desktop Graphics / Video Cards (x) > Price : $50 - $75 (x) > DVI : 2 x DVI (x)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007709+4026+600007835&QksAutoSuggestion=&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&Configurator=&IsNodeId=1&Subcategory=48&description=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&AdvancedSearch=1&srchInDesc=

Of the nine cards shown this is the card with the best performance:

EVGA 01G-P3-1431-KR GeForce GT 430 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card for $74.99 USD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130609

 

[gmc90]

Using the following filter at Newegg.com:

Computer Hardware > Video Cards & Video Devices > Desktop Graphics / Video Cards (x) > Price : $50 - $75 (x) > DVI : 2 x DVI (x)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007709+4026+600007835&QksAutoSuggestion=&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&Configurator=&IsNodeId=1&Subcategory=48&description=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&AdvancedSearch=1&srchInDesc=

Of the nine cards shown this is the card with the best performance:

EVGA 01G-P3-1431-KR GeForce GT 430 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card for $74.99 USD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130609

Sweet! You did all my work for me!


Thanks, to everyone.


Gmc

 

[gmc90]

Best answer selected by Gmc90.