Comments on: New Dell desktop – get a dual monitor? http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html A web log for web work Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:00:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Dell Desktop http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html/comment-page-1#comment-1499 Dell Desktop Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:28:11 +0000 http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html#comment-1499 Absolutely get a dual monitor. I have a 15.6 in screen with great resolution, and even at that find myself needing another monitor. I got one for Christmas, and it works great! Absolutely get a dual monitor. I have a 15.6 in screen with great resolution, and even at that find myself needing another monitor. I got one for Christmas, and it works great!

]]> By: Les http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html/comment-page-1#comment-1491 Les Wed, 01 Dec 2010 22:03:15 +0000 http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html#comment-1491 So, if I already have the video card installed (factory), then I just need a splitter? I had two monitors working that were different sizes. I just replaced both monitors with the same size monitor (and brand) and now I can only get one monitor to work. My previous configuration was that one monitor was in the VGA port, and the other was in the DVI port. I did the same configuration with my new monitors but the computer DOES NOT like it, and will only allow one monitor work. Thanks for any suggestions! So, if I already have the video card installed (factory), then I just need a splitter? I had two monitors working that were different sizes. I just replaced both monitors with the same size monitor (and brand) and now I can only get one monitor to work. My previous configuration was that one monitor was in the VGA port, and the other was in the DVI port. I did the same configuration with my new monitors but the computer DOES NOT like it, and will only allow one monitor work. Thanks for any suggestions!

]]> By: Oz http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html/comment-page-1#comment-1481 Oz Thu, 14 Oct 2010 15:27:42 +0000 http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html#comment-1481 I purchased a second monitor for my Vostro 200. I found my mini tower to only have one hook up for one monitor. I contacted Dell and I was told to purchase a "Graphics Card" and install it. I priced cards with three different vendors (Best Buy, Radio Shack, and with a refurbishing computer store) Prices ranged from $55.99 to $299.00 depending if you wanted to do gaming. I inquired if a Y splitter would work and I was told that it would. I was also told that the splitter would only give me a mirror image on both monitors and it would not extende to have separate documents visible. Come on guys/gals...how diffult is it to get two monitors working with extended view? What is the correct part to purchase? Does anyone know? I purchased a second monitor for my Vostro 200. I found my mini tower to only have one hook up for one monitor. I contacted Dell and I was told to purchase a “Graphics Card” and install it. I priced cards with three different vendors (Best Buy, Radio Shack, and with a refurbishing computer store) Prices ranged from $55.99 to $299.00 depending if you wanted to do gaming. I inquired if a Y splitter would work and I was told that it would. I was also told that the splitter would only give me a mirror image on both monitors and it would not extende to have separate documents visible. Come on guys/gals…how diffult is it to get two monitors working with extended view? What is the correct part to purchase? Does anyone know?

]]> By: Ronald http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html/comment-page-1#comment-1467 Ronald Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:46:16 +0000 http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html#comment-1467 So basically, what I can gather from this (and other sites) is that the Radeon 2400 as supplied in my Optiplex 755 will not give me an extended display in spite of the user manual explicitly stating it wil, using the supplied DVI-I to VGA-DVI-D splitter cable... I've tried everything, and I know the splitter cable is not faulty because when I unplug the DVI part, the initial boot screen shows on the VGA monitor - but as the machine continues to load, it goes blank (in contrast, when both are connected, the boot screen is ONLY on the DVI monitor) So basically, Dell lie when they show this is supposed to run two monitors/extended desktop. I had initially been running a second graphics card but ran out of available slots when I installed a second Ethernet card (long story), so it's back to the drawing board.... I CAN get an Ethernet card that will fit the short PCI slot and re-install the old graphics card, but I think I will instead invest in a much better graphics card, with multiple outputs... Oh, the joys of computers..... So basically, what I can gather from this (and other sites) is that the Radeon 2400 as supplied in my Optiplex 755 will not give me an extended display in spite of the user manual explicitly stating it wil, using the supplied DVI-I to VGA-DVI-D splitter cable…

I’ve tried everything, and I know the splitter cable is not faulty because when I unplug the DVI part, the initial boot screen shows on the VGA monitor – but as the machine continues to load, it goes blank (in contrast, when both are connected, the boot screen is ONLY on the DVI monitor)

So basically, Dell lie when they show this is supposed to run two monitors/extended desktop.

I had initially been running a second graphics card but ran out of available slots when I installed a second Ethernet card (long story), so it’s back to the drawing board….

I CAN get an Ethernet card that will fit the short PCI slot and re-install the old graphics card, but I think I will instead invest in a much better graphics card, with multiple outputs…

Oh, the joys of computers…..

]]> By: Chris http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html/comment-page-1#comment-1238 Chris Mon, 05 Apr 2010 23:56:57 +0000 http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html#comment-1238 OK, I FINALLY got my dual monitors working on my Vostro 200 slim. Extended view and all. It was much simpler than I initially thought. All I needed was this graphics card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102829 I found it even cheaper on eBay. The card is a low profile card and it has one DVI hookup and one HDMI hookup shown...what it also has though, is another bracket with a VGA hookup...this is attached via a cord to the card itself. Most pictures online don't show it attached but it plugs right into the card (mine actually came already attached) So you will end up with two slots stacked on top of each other (one with a DVI hookup and the other with a VGA hookup) - Just plug your monitors in, install your drivers, and change your display properties to dual monitor extended view...and voila, you have your dual monitor setup. I thought I would need to use the HDMI plug but I didn't have to. I hope this helps! I will make a video of the setup and post a link to it here soon. OK, I FINALLY got my dual monitors working on my Vostro 200 slim. Extended view and all. It was much simpler than I initially thought. All I needed was this graphics card:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102829

I found it even cheaper on eBay. The card is a low profile card and it has one DVI hookup and one HDMI hookup shown…what it also has though, is another bracket with a VGA hookup…this is attached via a cord to the card itself. Most pictures online don’t show it attached but it plugs right into the card (mine actually came already attached)

So you will end up with two slots stacked on top of each other (one with a DVI hookup and the other with a VGA hookup) – Just plug your monitors in, install your drivers, and change your display properties to dual monitor extended view…and voila, you have your dual monitor setup.

I thought I would need to use the HDMI plug but I didn’t have to. I hope this helps! I will make a video of the setup and post a link to it here soon.

]]> By: Corey http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html/comment-page-1#comment-1215 Corey Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:04:09 +0000 http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html#comment-1215 I just put a video card into my Slim 200 Vostro and since the computer won't run both cards at the same time I ordered a splitter to split the DVI cables from the new video card I put in. Problem is that identical picture is coming up on the monitors and I can't get them to change and drag anything across to the other etc on the view? Any help anyone please? I just put a video card into my Slim 200 Vostro and since the computer won’t run both cards at the same time I ordered a splitter to split the DVI cables from the new video card I put in. Problem is that identical picture is coming up on the monitors and I can’t get them to change and drag anything across to the other etc on the view? Any help anyone please?

]]> By: Ken http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html/comment-page-1#comment-675 Ken Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:55:55 +0000 http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html#comment-675 hey so if i get a Y cable for my Vostro 200 and plug it into 2 monitor i would get extented desktop? hey so if i get a Y cable for my Vostro 200 and plug it into 2 monitor i would get extented desktop?

]]> By: Ren http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html/comment-page-1#comment-633 Ren Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:26:25 +0000 http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html#comment-633 Thanks Chris for sharing your find. The second option looks pretty good to me. The card looks nice, and it's only $55. I spent over $100 on my card. And it was a refurbished one from Dell. If you have a monitor that can take HDMI input it will work great. Next time I probably won't get a slim form PC. It doesn't really save me a lot of space and the option is just so limited with the PCI-E slots. Looking forward to your video and setup. Thanks Chris for sharing your find.
The second option looks pretty good to me. The card looks nice, and it’s only $55. I spent over $100 on my card. And it was a refurbished one from Dell. If you have a monitor that can take HDMI input it will work great.
Next time I probably won’t get a slim form PC. It doesn’t really save me a lot of space and the option is just so limited with the PCI-E slots.
Looking forward to your video and setup.

]]> By: Chris http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html/comment-page-1#comment-632 Chris Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:19:09 +0000 http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html#comment-632 I'll answer my own question here...that card will not fit the slim case. After much research it seems like my options are: A) Copy your above setup (which means I need to buy a new graphics card and splitter cable) B) Buy a low profile card with DVI and HDMI hookups and then use a HDMI to DVI cable. Here is the best graphics card I found for this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102829 Very similar solutions. If and when I get this to work, I will make a video to show others exactly how to do it. I’ll answer my own question here…that card will not fit the slim case. After much research it seems like my options are:

A) Copy your above setup (which means I need to buy a new graphics card and splitter cable)

B) Buy a low profile card with DVI and HDMI hookups and then use a HDMI to DVI cable. Here is the best graphics card I found for this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102829

Very similar solutions. If and when I get this to work, I will make a video to show others exactly how to do it.

]]> By: Chris http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html/comment-page-1#comment-631 Chris Sat, 17 Oct 2009 08:51:33 +0000 http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html#comment-631 Great post. Thank you so much for this. I have been looking all over for info on how to get dual monitors on my Dell Vostro 200 slim. I have the VGA plug integrated with my hard drive and I just added the Radeon 2400 pro card and it did not work even though a Dell rep told me it would. Now they are telling me to get this card: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Gaming_Video_Cards/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=19&sku=A2556607 The card is a low profile card and actually has both VGA and DVI plugs. Do you think this will work? The Dell rep I spoke to today said it would but I'm still skeptical. The card is a PCI-E card and that is the kind of slot I have open. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Great post. Thank you so much for this. I have been looking all over for info on how to get dual monitors on my Dell Vostro 200 slim. I have the VGA plug integrated with my hard drive and I just added the Radeon 2400 pro card and it did not work even though a Dell rep told me it would.

Now they are telling me to get this card:

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Gaming_Video_Cards/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=19&sku=A2556607

The card is a low profile card and actually has both VGA and DVI plugs. Do you think this will work? The Dell rep I spoke to today said it would but I’m still skeptical. The card is a PCI-E card and that is the kind of slot I have open. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

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