using onboard graphics with a 3rd party graphics card

[gotu308]

Yes i have a HP DC7800 CMT with an nvidia geforce gt520 1gb and it only supports 2 monitors..i want to use my onboard graphics along with the gt520 so i can have 3 monitors! Is there a way to do this? BY THE WAY my bios version is v1.32

 

[Urumiko]

I'm not sure what your onboard graphics are but it would be normal to support this yes.

if you go in to your display options is the 3rd monitor/2nd graphics card not visible?

If not check the onboard graphics are enabled in your bios.

 

[gotu308]

my onboard graphics are Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100 integrated graphics

 

[Urumiko]

AH, I've just looked at the FAQ for your chipset on the intel site and it is not supported. It disabled the onboard when you connect PCI express graphics.

I take it the port on the motherboard is not visible in display options?

I know displayport lets you chain monitors from one display port, but your card probably is too old to feature displayport.

What about a VGA or DVI spliter?

 

[gotu308]

will splitting them VGA into two cause my card to work harder?

 

[4745454b]

Splitters show the same image. You'd have three, but two would be of the same thing. I'd update your card.

 

[Urumiko]

It's all about resolution. the more pixels the card has to draw the slower it will get/the harder it has to work.
If you were running all monitors at 1920X1080, the 2nd and third monitor will make the card work harder.
If your just doing desktop stuff this is ok, but the difference between 1 and 3 monitors when gaming will be drastic.

I think splitters normally decrease your resolution to vga standards.. so you could be running 2 monitors at 1280x1024, but the computer basically sees it as 1 2560x1024.