Stupid Dual Monitor Question

[mattx]

Errrrr, I have two monitors, one SVGA and one HDMI - Vista can see both monitors but can I get dual monitors to work ?

Only way I can see anything out of the HDMI is if I use the VGA connection only. If I use the VGA to HDMI converter in the back of the gx card then Nothing.

Does the second monitor have to be HDMI to HDMI ? I didn't think it was necessary hence the converter.....

[edie209]

I use dual monitors at home and I use an ATI card with the two outputs and have no problems but i am using XP at home but my laptop here has Vista and if you go to display settings (right clicking on your desktop) you should be able to see both monitors there. I will rig up a second monitor and post back

[edie209]

Just plugged in a second monitor on my laptop and a wizard started asking how I want the second monitor setup i.e. duplicate on both monitor or extend my desktop.

 

This is all available in control panel in display settings.

 

It has worked here in the time it took to connect the second monitor

[mattx]

This is odd, the monitors work fine using VGA, but both refuse to work when I use the HDMI to VGA converter in the back of the GX card. Windows sees both monitors, so does the Nvdia console in which I am using to try and configure the outputs. No matter what I try nothing will work going through HDMI. The only thing I could try is HDMI to HDMI which means paying out for a cable - I'll try it though.

Even a cold boot using the HDMI to VGA converter just produces a blank screen on both monitors......

I have been after a dual monitor setup for ages........AAAGGHHH

[plexer]

Is it an HDMI monitor or DVI? is there a difference?

 

Ben

[Gerry]

I had a similar problem with a new PC using an nVidia GFX card. My monitor had previously been receiving a VGA signal and just wouldn't display a HDMI signal no matter which cable/converter I used. Turned out that I needed to pull the plug on the monitor and let it discharge completely to get it to work.

[Gerry]

I had a similar problem with a new PC using an nVidia GFX card. My monitor had previously been receiving a VGA signal and just wouldn't display a HDMI signal no matter which cable/converter I used. Turned out that I needed to pull the plug on the monitor and let it discharge completely to get it to work.

[mattx]

Just tried another HDMI to VGA converter and again nothing. Tried pulling the power out of both screens, waited for 20 seconds, still the same.

One monitor [ the phillips ] has just SVGA, the other [ HANNS.G ] has both SVGA and HDMI, the GX card is a Nvidia MSI NX7300LE - [ Ge-force ] - all drivers are correct and DX installed - to say I am pulling my hair out is an understatement - I f**king pi55ed off at it. F**king stupid.

[PeterW]

Is this under vista or XP?

 

Can I just confirm I'm understading correctly you cannot get a display at all from the DVI port on the VGA card be it using it as DVI or with a DVI to VGA adaptor?

 

Regards

[mattx]

Under Vista Peter, [ nice PC btw - thanks for the quick delivery !! ] - I cannot get a display when using the DVI port on the back of the GX card going to the VGA port on the display.

 

VGA to VGA is fine

DVI to VGA [ using the converter on the GX card ] - nothing.

 

I don't have a HDMI to HDMI cable so I can't test that.

 

So in a nutshell - what you are saying is correct.

[PeterW]

Ok let me go check one, are the options for clone/extend display etc greyed out in the nvidia control panel then?

[mattx]

Ok let me go check one, are the options for clone/extend display etc greyed out in the nvidia control panel then?

 

Nope, they are all there and can be chosen etc.

[plexer]

mattx: If you want a DVI to DVI cable pm with your address mate.

 

Ben

[PeterW]

Right I'm just trying to get confirmation at the moment but it looks like you will require the DVI - DVI lead.

 

Although the card has the connection of a DVI-I port (does DVI-D & DVI-A) and has been supplied with an adaptor it is in fact a DVI-D and would need to goto the DVI-D port on the monitor using an appropriate cable. We don't have any cables in stock at the moment but I will have a look to see if I can find one and send it to you.

 

Apologies for the issue normally if a card is DVI-D only the connector has less pinholes and you would not be able to connect a VGA adaptor. (and should not be supplied with said adaptor).

 

Regards

[Joedetic]

I have sucessfully had DVI - HDMI using a DVI-D convertor (fits DVI-I ports too). I then connect the VGA monitor to the other DVI port on my GFX card using a DVI - VGA convertor.

 

The principal would be the same if you had one VGA and one DVI...just connect the VGA monitor to the VGA out and the HDMI monitor to the DVI out by means of a convertor.

 

Sorry if that doesn't help much, i cant tell exactly what you're trying to do. It seemed like you were trying to connect a device with a digital input (HDMI) to an analogue output (VGA).

[mattx]

Right I'm just trying to get confirmation at the moment but it looks like you will require the DVI - DVI lead.

 

Although the card has the connection of a DVI-I port (does DVI-D & DVI-A) and has been supplied with an adaptor it is in fact a DVI-D and would need to goto the DVI-D port on the monitor using an appropriate cable. We don't have any cables in stock at the moment but I will have a look to see if I can find one and send it to you.

 

Apologies for the issue normally if a card is DVI-D only the connector has less pinholes and you would not be able to connect a VGA adaptor. (and should not be supplied with said adaptor).

 

Regards

 

Thanks for that Peter, I thought this may be the case as I tried every other possible way round !!!

I'll have to wait for my lead.....Thanks for getting back so quick.

 

P.S. I sent an E-mail to Dan too - if you can tell him you have helped me too.....

 

P.P.S. Getting some strange looks from the kids asking me why one of my monitors is currently blank........

[mattx]

Big thanks to Peter at SCL for getting me the DVI to DVI lead so quick.

Plugged it in and BAM - nice dual monitor setup now.

Excellent service.

[plexer]

Mattx: well you'll probably get another one on monday then as I sent one out yesterday.

 

I've now got my twin Acer 19" TFT's up and running both DVI on my Matrox G550 PCIe card.

 

To get it working I've had to reinstall windows xp on my machine as there was some conflict with some of the dross I had installed when I put the card in windows gave me a BSOD I tried the certified driver and got the same thing with that.

 

Once I was up and running again I hadn't checked the option to extend my windows desktop and then wondered why it wasn't working.

 

Ben

[mattx]

Cheers Ben, do you want this one back or can I give it to my boss who wants to try his DVI output on his Ubunto box ?

 

I have to say now I have two monitors setup and a few virtual PCs, life is so much easier - being able to hack away at a virtual PC, take a snapshot, then put it back to its original state within 10 seconds is just brilliant.