Dual Monitors

[alacritous]

How can I connect two monitors to one computer? Do I need a hardware card or can I just use some type of switch?

Thanks in advance

[dglienna]

Some cards have two outputs, and you can also use two graphics cards (unless you use one, and the onboard graphics) XP can accomodate two monitors.
My laptop has the screen, as well as a jack on the back. It also hase a SVideo output. I've split the screen between the SVideo and the screen, but the monitor plug is the same as the screen. It's running XP Home.

[alacritous]

OK, but is there any inexpensive way to do it? There is no such thing as a little cable that does it? I might be thinking of KVM switches (sharing 1 monitor/keyboard/mouse with 2 computers).

Thanks

[RobDog888]

Yes, your thinking of a KVM switch that links up two computers to a single monitor. The basic way to link two monitors to a single computer is like dglienna posted. If you get two video cards make sure that your board has the available slots as usually you only get a single GP slot and a few PCI slots. So you may need one of each if you dont buy a card that supports dual monitors built in.

[kilobytes]

yes there is a type of switch that allows you to view at two monitors at the same time with one CPU.

[RobDog888]

Yes, but isnt that one just like cloning it so both monitors are showing the same screen? How would it know how to split the desktopor extend the resolution at the video card level?

[alacritous]

I've searched like everywhere, but can anyone point me to a specific PCI card that allows another monitor input?

[RobDog888]

Heres one.

http://www.cmishop.com/store/ShowDetails.asp?txtProductName=g2plusdualp-pl-pu&txtMfgPartNo=&nCategorySubID=125&txtSiteTrack=pw

[alacritous]

Oh, I meant just a PCI card with one monitor port. I already have a graphics card (ATI 9800 Pro).

Thanks

[dglienna]

I upgraded a client's graphics card yesterday with a Radeon card. It has two outputs on it. He gave me his old graphics card. You can use any graphics card that supports the resolution you want.

That radeon card tried to come up in 4800x1280 mode, and the monitor wouldn't support it. The whole screen was in the upper left corner or the screen, but you could only see the bottom right corner of the logon screen.

I rebooted, and it came up in 1024x768. His games recognized the card and changed the settings automatically to the highest possible settings.

[alacritous]

I know you can buy graphics cards with two DVI or VGA connections, but I already have a graphics card I want to stick to (the AIW Radeon 9800 Pro) so I guess the only thing left is a PCI card to do it.

I'll keep looking, but these are really hard to find... you can't find them at your local stores (Circuit City, Best Buy, at the USA).

edit: I think I found one. Is something like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102318 what is needed?

[RobDog888]

Looks like that should work as it is a PCI card. The only thing you will have to watch out for is any IRQ conflicts when having two video cards. ;)