A couple questions about a dual monitor configuration

I picked up an extra monitor this weekend and I would like to set a dual monitor configuration with my ATI Radeon 9200 video card on my MSI VIA KM400 motherboard. I have the second monitor plugged into the vga port on my motherboard, but windows doesn't detect it. Will that work or should I just add an old video card that I have lying around or is there something I need to do in the bios?

 

The most common way to have dual monitors requires a video card with dual output (2 VGA, 1 VGA and 1 DVI, or 2 DVI).

The only time i have heard of running both the onboard video and a video card for multiple monitors is if the onboard graphics chipset is the same company as the graphics card (nvidia nforce graphics chipset and nvidia graphics card). Even that is rare and more complicated.

AFAIK, you will need a new graphics card. On the bright side, its not too expensive to get a card that supports dual monitors.

My recommendation is a Radeon 9600pro http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102409

its a decent step up from your card and supports dual monitors. Occasionally a better deal will come around, but this is a solid one for an average user.

 

Okay thanks. I'll just forget about it right now. I don't really have room on my desk for two monitors anyhow.

 

Did you check the box in Display Properties to extend my windows desktop onto this monitor ?

 

If the 9200 is an AGP card, then the VGA port on the mobo is disabled since it is on the AGP bus. It can't be enabled while you have a video card in the AGP slot also. If it is a PCI card then, in some rare cases, it may be possible to re-enable the onboard AGP and use the PCI as a second output if the drivers do not conflict. Otherwise, you will need to wait to upgrade to a dual monitor card.

P.S. If the old video card you have lying around is a PCI card, you can try it with the AGP card. As long as the two cards' drivers don't conflict, it should work.