Comments on: dual monitors - yay!

Question: dual monitors - yay!

rare_g — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:27:40 -0800

Dual monitor video cards for small frame desktops...

I have a Dell XPS210 and would like to have dual monitors but I will need to upgrade the video card. Currently I have a ATI Radeon HD 2400 Pro which I thought supported dual monitors but only has one output (plus s-video). Since I have the slim desktop, my video card upgrades are limited. Does anyone have any experience with this and can offer some advice?

Here are some cards I am looking at but I don't know what will work (size fit, compatibility, overheating, etc):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150257
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=PCI+Express+x16+HDCP+Ready+Low+Profile&x=0&y=0

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

By: rus

rus — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:05:51 -0800

Maybe another way around it is Matrix DualHead2Go

By: SpacemanStix

SpacemanStix — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:11:27 -0800

What will you be doing with your computer? If you simply need a dual monitor low-end card (i.e., no gaming or intensive photo work, etc.), those should work just fine.

As I'm sure you know, you'll be looking for something that is PCI-express compatible (not PCI or AGP). Dell's power supply with this machine will be sufficient for pretty much any card you'll be looking at, unless you are thinking about high end gaming (and even then, you are probably okay). But with the price range you are looking at, I'm guessing this isn't your main concern. Also, with the lower end cards you won't have to worry about overheating.

You'll want to check also to see if the cards support two DVI displays, or if one is DVI and the other analog, depending on your monitor setup. You can tell by looking at the end of the video card in the pictures, or reading the description.

Sorry if you knew all this already, just covering the basics.

If you are looking for very basic video cards that run dual displays, the GeForce 8300GS come stock in some Dell machines and sells for cheap on eBay (I've got a brand new one sitting around here that I'd sell you for very cheap... like $25. Feel free to MeFi mail me if you'd like).

By: wongcorgi

wongcorgi — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:11:59 -0800

By: wongcorgi

wongcorgi — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:13:43 -0800

Also, to answer your other question- yes, you need a low profile graphics card. Don't go too high end/powerful, the PSU in the slim Dells are pretty dinky.

By: wongcorgi

wongcorgi — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:20:39 -0800

Sorry, that should be DMS-59 port - 2X DVI

By: rare_g

rare_g — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:41:14 -0800

I have a slim Optiplex at work and it came with the same card as you. It does support dual monitors, you just need the dongle (duallink DVI adapter -> 2X DVI) that the PC should have come with. (At least mine did)
posted by wongcorgi at 3:11 PM on July 2 [mark as best answer] [+] [!]

Does it support two monitors? I have read that it does have also read that it doesn't. I tried a splitter dongle whatever and it did not work but i don't think i have a DMS-59 port... i will check.

Thanks all.