Dual monitors with 1 dual video card and onboard video

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by Whitey, Feb 14, 2007.

  1. Whitey

    Whitey Private E-2

    Hi there guys and girls,


    I just have a quick question that I'm looking for an answer for.


    I've recently been given a shiny new video card, which is awesome as I've only ever had onboard video on this PC. It's a Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB. I realise it's not the greatest video card in the world (just because I can't afford to buy one doesn't mean I don't know what's good :p), but it's free, and I rarely turn down free things.

    Anyway, on to the point.


    As some of you may know, the Radeon 9800 has 3 ports. VGA, TV, and DVI. I wish to set up a dual monitor system, but all the monitors I have sitting around are analog (VGA). I thought, no problem, I have a VGA port on my motherboard, and I can use the one on the video card.

    Alas, I've been playing around for a few hours, and I couldn't seem to find a way to do it. So I do what I usually do when I need an answer. I hit google. Found tons of dual monitor tutorials and faqs, but none of them mentioned anything about onboard.

    My question is as follows:

    Is it at all possible (even if it requires some slight hacking) to set up a dual monitor system using one VGA port on the video card and one on the motherboard?

    If not, is there a VGA to TV or DVI adaptor I'm able to get? If so where, and at what price (I'm in Australia :p). Or can you think of any other way I can do this cheaply? :p.


    Or does anyone have a spare VGA-DVI adaptor or video card sitting around they want to mail me? ;).



    Thanks guys!



    /Whitey
     
  2. Valhallis

    Valhallis Private First Class

    Well AFAIK you can't dual-monitor with and I/O card and onboard video. Its one or the other. However I know you can get DVI-to-VGA adapters. Those might work for you so long as the card supports dual-monitor (no time to check right now).
     
  3. Whitey

    Whitey Private E-2

    I'm pretty sure the card supports it, as it has the 3 ports, and my friend who used to have it used it for a dual (using VGA and DVI).

    Anyone got any prices for a VGA-DVI adaptor? :p.



    /Whitey
     
  4. Valhallis

    Valhallis Private First Class

    I dunno the stores in Australia however ebay may be a place to look. You can get em cheap there.

    Be sure to get a DVI-I-to-VGA adapter. Good luck.
     
  5. Wyatt_Earp

    Wyatt_Earp MajorGeek

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814998101

    They cost less than $10 on-line. I don't know if stores like Best Buy carry them or not, but something like Microcenter, or CompUSA will have one for sure.

    To clarify, make sure it is a DVI (male) to VGA (female) and not the other way around.
     

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