Running Dual Monitors

ChiefGrasscutter

As others have said you need a graphics card with two channels. VGA splitters just give the same image on both monitors.
I'm running an elderely Dell with a Radeon X300 SE graphics card in it
It has two outputs: one is DVI and the other is VGA
I have two identical screens side by side and one is fed from the DVI digital output and one from the VGA analog output of the card. (I don't notice the difference)
This is under Win XP
Win XP treats the second monitor as an extension to the first and duplicates the wallpaper on the second monitor. To do it all properely with a wallpaper that spans the monitors, and complete with separate task bars on each monitor which only list the windows open on that monitor, extra buttons on a window to shift said window between monitors, only open certain program on the left or right monitor etc etc you need one of two programs. I run Displayfusion (the paid version not the free!) and the other (more expensive and more capable - more usually for professional use) is Ultramon.
In XP once installed you need to "activate" the seond monitor in display properties by right clicking and ticking the "attached" option
You will also find that you need to calibrate the colour of the second monitor to make it match the colour calibration of the first - it becomes quite obvious when next to each other that each monitor is different (even if nominally the same model).

turbobob

Also worth noting that DVI-I outputs (as used on most graphics cards) can be used with a DVI to VGA converter if you need to drive a monitor that is VGA only.

droopsnoot

Yes, as others have said, that VGA splitter cable won't help you, it will just put the same on both displays.

If you have trouble finding a suitable low-profile card, you can get USB to VGA adapaters, which are designed to give dual-monitor capability to laptop users where adding a card isn't an option. This is one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-com-USB-Dual-Display-Adapter/dp/B000HCXA62 but it only has one review which wasn't good. Startech stuff is usually OK, though. There's also this one: http://www.lindy.co.uk/usb-2-to-vga-adapter/42799.html or just do a search for USB to VGA adapter.

I have an XP machine here where I use the on-board VGA for primary, and a second card for secondary. Tried to update to Vista at one point and it wouldn't have it, but I haven't tried it with Win7 yet. Very useful though, especially if you've got an old monitor lying about - way cheaper than a big monitor.

LeeSouthEast

Cheaper, easier option may be an external USB screen.

http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductID=1029423&source=froogle

I'm going to get 3 or 4 of these when I move into my own place. They're amazing!

Lil306

Fifer wrote: »

I use a monitor attached to the docking station for my work Dell laptop with the Dell's screen as the secondary display of the extended desktop and dragging then maximising works fine. The maximised application stays on the secondary screen.

What version of Windows is it ?

An extended desktop stretches the screen, so if you open a program and drag it to the right screen, then use the maximise icon or double click the title bar it should fill both screens.

Technology is different from machine to machine I suppose.

I've got an Nvidia card that supports a few options, I like the Dual Display the best as it's good for running two things side by side.

Fifer

Lil306 wrote: »

What version of Windows is it ?

An extended desktop stretches the screen, so if you open a program and drag it to the right screen, then use the maximise icon or double click the title bar it should fill both screens.

Technology is different from machine to machine I suppose.

I've got an Nvidia card that supports a few options, I like the Dual Display the best as it's good for running two things side by side.

My work laptop runs XP Pro. Maximising just fills whichever screen the window is on. I'm about to try the same thing at home with my desktop and a spare monitor I have laying around. I presumed it would be the same under XP, but I'll report back on that.

MX5huggy

MX5huggy wrote: »

Would this do the job http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=338960

with http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=218407

An update:- So I got both these items and it works great with a DVI to VGA adapter for 1 of the monitors and the VGA socket for the.

The graphics card actually came with a double width replacement back plate for using it low profile boxes. However I could not use it as the only slot for the card was the left most one and the back plate needed a slot to the left of the card slot to be empty. Then the ribbon on the the card to the VGA socket is not long enough to use the back plate I purchased to the right of the card. So I have had to run the monitor cable in to the box and connect it up inside,.