My video card has a VGA port and a DVI port. I currently use the VGA port.
Can I use the DVI Port to connect to a second monitor so my computer would have dual monitors and the two monitors can display different things?
Tim , ,
There's bad news, but good news too.
Yes, there are some video cards that do what you want, but it's unlikely that yours is of that type. Google the model number to see what sort yours is.
Chances are that the DVI port on your video card is simply an alternative to the VGA port. It's there so you can drive a DVI monitor if you have one, but the picture will be the same as via the VGA port. It may be better quality because it's a digital signal, but the image will be the same. Just think of it as being an inbuilt convertor.
On the other hand, Windows and Macintosh computers are quite capable of using two separate screens if you have two separate video cards (or a dual-monitor card). So providing you have room to add a second card, you can do it. And it doesn't have to be the same sort of card - even an older one will do. Go into Help on your computer and search for "Dual monitors" for more information.
One more proviso though - don't expect it to give you two separate computers. While it can be a useful thing to operate two screens, the limitations of the computer still exist. Think carefully abut what you expect it to do. It's technology, not magic remember.
Paul ZuckerDifferent TimPosted: 08/10/2007
re: Can I use the DVI port too?
Couldn't you reliably check multi-monitor support by simply opening your display properties applet to the settings tab and checking to see how many monitor icons are visible? This is the case with my machines.
(Excellent suggestion Tim. You're worth your weight in plasma monitors. -PZ)
Charlie SomervillePosted: 06/10/2007
re: Can I use the DVI port too?
I have a VGA and DVI port (as well as S-Video) on my graphics card and I currently use the DVI port, a few months ago I 'borrowed' my dads CRT monitor and plugged it into my VGA port and after 5 minutes of tweaking and fiddling with Display Properties, my Dad's CRT popped up with a blank screen and I dragged MSN onto it. I then had MSN to my left and Firefox in the center. Try to use both of the plugs Tim, chances are it will work.
(And I say, chances are it can't work. Sorry. -PZ)
cumagutzaPosted: 05/10/2007
re: Can I use the DVI port too?
There may well have been a DVI to VGA adapter included with the graphics card...so...if you have another VGA monitor lying around, you could set up "dual monitors". Using dual monitors you can get Windows to extend the desktop onto the extra screen. You can then run different windows on each screen. This works to a certain extent, examples, it won't work running games or video playback.
You can, though, run say, an internet browser on one screen and word processing program on the other.
Look up the term dual monitors at the graphics card manufacturer's website or check around in Windows Help(and Support)or Help in the graphics card's software, will give you some ideas [search for the terms dual or multiple].
Matt