Third Monitor

rileypool

rileypool

paper clique fiend
Mar 8, 2007
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Tulsa, OK
rileypool.com
I'm interested in adding a third monitor to my setup. I used one of my spare monitors and tried adding it to the VGA out on my motherboard without any success. It doesn't even recognize the monitor.

This might be happening because my video card has dual DVI out connectors and I have my two monitors hooked up that way. I tried a DVI splitter off one of the connectors on the video card, but that didn't work either.

What must I do to install a third monitor?

Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT: supercharge your graphics horsepower with this GPU at the perfect price and performance combination.
The motherboard is the one Dell supplied me with. I didn't do a custom build, but here's the parts list from the original order.

Quantity Parts # Part Description
1 M299G INSTRUCTION..., DEVIATE L6 TO L5+, Pentium 4 Prescott DT, 3.2GHZ, 1 MEGB, 800FSB...
1 D782J Processor, E5200, 2.5, 2MB Wolfdale, 65W, M0
1 G214H KIT..., DOCUMENTATION..., BINDER..., ENGLAND/ENGLISH..., Pentium 4 Prescott DT, 3.2GHZ, 1 MEGB, 800FSB..., DELL AMERICAS ORGANIZATION..., BRAZIL CUSTOMER CENTER...
1 M081R Kit, Software, Powerdvd, 8.2 Consumer
1 P005H Kit, Software, Roxio, 10.2-0, DellEdition
1 Y003D Assembly, Cable, Sony Phillips Digital Interface Format Extreme Performance System
1 P331X Assembly, Cable, High DefinitionMultimedia Interface, Nvidia
1 T269C Keyboard, 104, United States Multi-media, Consumer, Darfon Electronics, Corp
1 H426H Assembly, Dvd+/-rw, 16X, Half Height, Hitachi Lg Data StorageDvd-ram
1 K257H KIT..., Software, VHP32SP1A, DigitalVideo Disk Drive, Multiple, 5
1 J359K Card, Graphics, 9800GT, P117N
1 J661D KIT..., Mouse, Universal Serial BusLaser, Consumer, Logitech
1 J8461 Assembly, Cable, Video, Lead Free
1 H643R Hard Drive, 500GB, S2, 7.2K, SGT-PHAR
2 CM633 Dual In-line Memory Module 1GB, 800, 128X64, 8, 240, 1RX8
1 H857C Assembly, Heatsink, Fan, 65W MNTW/SLTW
1 XX785 ASSEMBLY..., CHASSIS..., MNTW, Pentium 4 Prescott DT, 3.2GHZ, 1 MEGB, 800FSB..., NON PFC..., PWA INTEGRATED...
 


If you have a dual video card already, it probably won't support a third connection, especially not by using the on-board VGA port. I've used [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Universal-Multi-Display-Adapter-Black/dp/B002F9NSMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1282273295&sr=8-1]Amazon.com: Kensington Universal Multi-Display Adapter (Black): Electronics[/ame] and [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-BVU195-Display-Adapter-included/dp/B002GHBW4S/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1282273295&sr=8-2-fkmr0]Amazon.com: Diamond BVU195 HD USB Display Adapter (DVI and VGA with included DVI…[/ame] to get a third monitor easily, and they both work perfectly.
 
Ahhh. Dude, you've got a Dell.

I just had a problem like yours... and you're not going to like my answer.

The Inspiron I had, had it's extra PCIe and PCI ports locked down (in the BIOS) so only 1 video card could be active at a time. If you're using a dedicated graphics card (not the onboard) the BIOS will not allow for a 2nd video card or for the onboard to be used. This is what happened in my case atleast... sounds just like yours. Hope not!

My 'solution' was to buy a new computer.

Good luck.
 
Get a graphics card with 2 DVI and 1 HDMI. You will also need this adapter [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002ISVI3U/ref=oss_product]Amazon.com: Accell UltraAV B087B-002B DisplayPort/DVI-D Dual-Link Adapter (Black): Electronics[/ame]
 
I'll be damned...

Looks like a new ATI card is out that, unlike other options, actually supports Quad Displays and is built on a solid platform. If you're looking for the cheapest solution (without buying a new system and your case can accomodate a dual width card) this could work.

Newegg.com - VisionTek 900307 Radeon HD 4670 X2 2GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card


VisionTek releases Radeon HD 4670 X2 card | TechConnect Magazine

Edit: I'm going off the assumption that you might like a card that could do some heavy lifting. Take a look on newegg for other options that are cheaper.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ption=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=
 
Never heard of PCI ports being "locked" in the bios. But would seem to be possible to change (just hold one of the function keys, I think f5, at startup).

There are lots of 4 port cards, but they are expensive and more likely to fry than having 2 x 2 port cards. So unless you only have one expansion slot...

In the hosting business I had a big NOC. Had a shit PC with 4 x 4 port video cards, ran 16 LCD screens on the wall like a champ. Big ol mess of video cables coming out the back though.
 
I just did this too, and went from two to six (using 4 now).

My shop made it easy for me and just added two sick dual graphics cards, some fucking with the desktop settings here and there and I'm good. Adding a card to your machine shouldn't cost much.
 
hectic said:
Never heard of PCI ports being "locked" in the bios. But would seem to be possible to change (just hold one of the function keys, I think f5, at startup).
Click to expand...

Yeah, such BS. That's what I got for buying a 530 dollar PC form Dell and then upgrading the video card. When the time came to add another video card I found out it was locked down. And by 'locked down' i actually mean locked down by Dell, no way to change it (even in the bios menu after POST).

Up until recently all of the single slot video cards had been geared toward people like you and not toward folks that wanted to play video games, hd content, etc...
 
Are there any PCI slots on the board?

If you have an older board like me and just want 3 displays, get a card for the AGP slot that has a VGA and a DVI port. For the 3rd, use a PCI video card. I have about a 10 yr old PCI card in mine, but I only use the 3rd for things like terminals anyway.

The trick (at least for me) was to set up the BIOS to output to PCI first. After the POST screen, it kicks on the AGP. If you don't do this, the PCI display will probably not work.
 
I just went through this. You will need to have a motherboard that can support 2 video cards. Use your current video card to power 2 monitors and get a second card of the same company (nvidia or ati) to power the 3rd.

or you can get the Matrox Triple Head 2 Go and connect all three with that, but youll need to have a pretty good card to do that.

in the end its worth it
 
This is a question for tomshardware not wickedfire.

And dude, if you can afford a new computer you gotta go custom. The folks on the tomshardware forum help n00bs pick out parts for new rigs in the system builds forum. You just need a friend who knows how to put everything together or learn it yourself.

A dell does not cut it when you're a full time affiliate.
 
You may be able to use the onboard vga along with the card by going into the bios and seeing if the onboard is set to disabled.
 
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