upgrade graphics card to run 2 monitors

[ClaireJoanne]

Hi

 

We have a Dell XPS-210 in school that we want to run 2 monitors from. The idea is to extend the display, with one application on one screen and a different one on the other.

 

The graphics card that is installed is not capable of this - when connecting an additional monitor I just get the display duplicated and the second monitor is not picked up when I look at the display settings.

 

Can the graphics card be replaced with one which is capable of what we require?

 

Cheers

 

CJ

[3s-gtech]

What OS is it running? Windows 7 is much more flexible with dual monitors - just hitting Windows key+P will give you other options. It's surprising that there's no extend mode on the one you have.

[sonofsanta]

Some older integrated graphics don't handle it - IIRC Intel have only opened it up in recent generations.

 

Any half-height GPU will do you - AMD 5450's are our favourite for the job, the Sapphire model definitely comes with the low profile bracket - XFX, for example, sometimes do and sometimes don't. You may need a DVI-I to VGA adapter depending on your monitors, or just connect one via DVI and one via VGA if the monitor inputs allow.