Running Dual Monitors

MX5huggy

I have a Dell Dimension C521, it has a NVIDIA Geforce 6150 LE on board graphics card with 1 VGA ouput.

It is a half size box (depth).

I have identified it has 1 free AGP and 1 free PCI slot.

What do I need to get to run dual VGA monitors. Running office apps only Outlook Word etc.

Thansk

Lil306

Something similar to this

• Install them (obviously)
• Boot into BIOS, setup the AGP as primary display adapter
• Connect your monitors to the cards
• Startup the PC and logon to PC
• Install the Nvidia display manager software if you don't already have it
• Go to nvidia display settings and choose the monitor wizard and run through steps

OR

• Go to windows desktop, right click, properties, settings
• Then click on the little monitors and setup as appropriate with the drop downs as to which one is primary which one is secondary

My memory on seperate cards is a bit rusty, but that should get you started and someone will be able to work with that to fill in the gaps

MX5huggy

Sorry I have not bought anything yet, what do I need?

Lil306

Good question, I just checked out the PC on dell website.

The VGA is built into the motherboard, so that will always take preference until a card is installed and changed around in the BIOS

From what I can see you have a built in VGA port on the motherboard. You'd need a purchase a PCI/AGP or PCI-Express VGA card and install it into the spare motherboard slot, then you simply follow the steps above

By the way, you'd have to purchase a 1/2 height PCI card, because your PC isn't the form factor for a full height. If you PC has a riser card, which judging by the pictures I doubt it you could have installed a full height one with both VGA and VGA/DVI ports.

Just some additional info, I believe a few 1/2 height cards are now branded as "low-profile" aswell, so that may help with your searches.

I can't recall if they make them but I think a couple of manufacturers made cards that had vga/dvi in the same 1/2 height card, it would be a tight fit but you could use an adaptor. You'd need one which uses DVI-I for the DVI.

m5rcc

There is a VGA splitter that will allow you to run two VGAs. Alternatively sell the GFX card you got and get one that has two DVIs

MX5huggy

Struggling to find a half height one there is space for it to take up 2 slots in the back

m5rcc

You may need to trawl eBay and find one there second hand? Why is it half size? Is something compromising full length? Hard drives? PSU?

MX5huggy

m5rcc wrote: »

There is a VGA splitter that will allow you to run two VGAs. Alternatively sell the GFX card you got and get one that has two DVIs

I have not bought one yet! My understanding is that a VGA splitter only gives the same image on both monitors.

MX5huggy

m5rcc wrote: »

You may need to trawl eBay and find one there second hand? Why is it half size? Is something compromising full length? Hard drives? PSU?

The size of the desktop box.

It is one of these http://www.hardware.info/images/news/dellc521.jpg but without the graphics card as shown.

m5rcc

depending on the GFX card splitter can allow you to have an "extended desktop" which is what you want as I understand, no?

Lil306

It can vary depending on the setup they want to do as they may want to have 2 physical desktops. My Nvidia supports the dual view (1 desktop 2 monitors) and
dual display (1 desktop extended across 2 monitors)

A 3rd option, since I guessed this would be hard to find..... not really a fix but a workaround. Transplanting the contents of the PC into a case like a midi-/mini atx with a factor that supports their motherboard

The poster could then easily get a full height graphics card with room to expand if they ever wanted to add future drives. Would look uglier but would get the job done. The other approach is trawling eBay or paying for an expensive card or splitter