Can I run multiple monitors on this computer?

[bassballboy]

I'm hoping to be able to add a second monitor to my work computer with hopefully just an adapter. Can any of the inputs pictured below be adapted to connect a second monitor to my computer?

it's a stock GX280... and since I'm at work I'm having problems posting pics, this one on ebay looks nearly identical:

ebay link to computer

I can probably pull up better pics if need be, but I'm guessing that should suffice

Right now I'm not using the red/pink one or the green one and a couple usb's.

Is there any way to hook up a second monitor? I'd buy an adapter if that would work (like serial to 9 pin or something like that).

 

[BinarySynapse]

You'll have to get a video card with two video outputs.

The red/pink port is a parallel port and the green one is a serial port, both of which would be too slow to output video through if there were any video device that uses those connectors (which there aren't)

 

[engiNURD]

i see no pics, but ryan is right.

 

[BinarySynapse]

i see no pics, but ryan is right.

I had to look one up to see what he was talking about.

OP, please don't take this as an insult, but if this is a work computer then it's probably best to ask your IT department (if you have one) to do this for you until you have time to learn a bit more about computer hardware.

 

[Benny]

look at the back of the thing.
1.
If there is only the blue connector next to the usb ports, NO
If there are some white or blue ones further down at the expansion slots, Yes.
2.
Connecting a monitor to a serial connection is like trying to put tires on a boat to make it fly...
But there are new monitors that can be connected to a USB port. (Samsung SyncMaster 940UX) But the performance will be very limited.
3.
It's a pc so you can always buy stuff to give you more white and blue connectors. (about up to about 20 with this one).
If it's a pc you are allowed to modify...
4.
Next time put "Dell" in front of the GX280.. ¬_¬;

 

[bassballboy]

sorry, it was linked before when I had it in the monitors section then when I did a copy/paste it didn't transfer over.

That's crazy that my cheap laptop's video card can handle two monitors but the more powerful desktop can't

oh, and the IT department sucks, I've had to explain things to them before...

 

[BinarySynapse]

sorry, it was linked before when I had it in the monitors section then when I did a copy/paste it didn't transfer over.

That's crazy that my cheap laptop's video card can handle two monitors but the more powerful desktop can't

oh, and the IT department sucks, I've had to explain things to them before...

It's not that it can't handle it, desktop video output is very basic for todays GPU's. It that the motherboard in your system wasn't designed to have two outputs. You laptop was. Because of it's limited screen size some people prefer to hook it up to a larger display when they're not needing the portability.

 

[Hurdler]

sorry, it was linked before when I had it in the monitors section then when I did a copy/paste it didn't transfer over.

That's crazy that my cheap laptop's video card can handle two monitors but the more powerful desktop can't

oh, and the IT department sucks, I've had to explain things to them before...

It's something that can be easily accomplished by adding a graphics card. As mentioned before, contact your IT department before upgrading anything. It's not that I think you can't do it, it's that this is a company computer and isn't yours to upgrade (unless they made you buy it).

 

[bassballboy]

ok, so if I get a cheap card such as this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/COMPAQ-S3-Virge...ryZ44987QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

should I be able to run two monitors?

here's the specs on the MOBO according to CPU-Z:
Manufacturer: Dell
Model: 0H7276
Chipset: i915P/i915G Rev B1
Southbridge: Intel 92901FB (ICH6)
LPCIO: SMSC

BIOS: Dell
ver. A04

Graphics Interface:
PCI-e
Link Width: x16
Max Supported: x16

Thanks guys!

 

[Hurdler]

You could, but don't get that card, it's crap. Look for a cheap PCIe card on newegg.

Seriously though, are you allowed to add stuff to that machine?

 

[bassballboy]

I should be, I'll run it through IT before I do it.

I'd rather go for a PCI card than PCIe honestly... It's easier and probably safer I'm guessing. This computer is basically used for running Office stuff like word/powerpoint/excel mostly. Having 2 monitors can be rather advantageous when using multiple documents at the same time.

 

[EbolaBunny]

If IT won't let you do it, try to get a bigger monitor. More desktop space = just as good in many cases.

 

[Hurdler]

I should be, I'll run it through IT before I do it.

I'd rather go for a PCI card than PCIe honestly... It's easier and probably safer I'm guessing. This computer is basically used for running Office stuff like word/powerpoint/excel mostly. Having 2 monitors can be rather advantageous when using multiple documents at the same time.

Step away from the insides of the computer!

PCIe is the current standard for graphics cards, it was the replacement for AGP. PCI has never been a very viable solution for graphics. It'll work, but PCIe is a lot better. Also, the card you linked to only goes up to 1024x768, which may not be high enough.

If your dead set on this, get a PCIe card get something like this.

As EbolaBunny pointed out, a bigger monitor is also something to look into. I've had dual monitors, but now I've got a 24" and wouldn't go back to duals. That's just me though!

 

[BinarySynapse]

Step away from the insides of the computer!

PCIe is the current standard for graphics cards, it was the replacement for AGP. PCI has never been a very viable solution for graphics. It'll work, but PCIe is a lot better. Also, the card you linked to only goes up to 1024x768, which may not be high enough.

If your dead set on this, get a PCIe card get something like this.

As EbolaBunny pointed out, a bigger monitor is also something to look into. I've had dual monitors, but now I've got a 24" and wouldn't go back to duals. That's just me though!

PCIe is the replacement for PCI. It's only the replacement for AGP by association (AGP is PCI hacked to be useful for graphics).

 

[Hurdler]

PCIe is the replacement for PCI. It's only the replacement for AGP by association (AGP is PCI hacked to be useful for graphics).

Fair enough. I wasn't fully thinking PCIe x16 is what replaced AGP for graphics. I still stand by my comment of that PCI card (and all of them as far as I can tell) not being a wise choice though.

 

[BinarySynapse]

Fair enough. I wasn't fully thinking PCIe x16 is what replaced AGP for graphics. I still stand by my comment of that PCI card (and all of them as far as I can tell) not being a wise choice though.

And I'd be inclined to agree.