how best to set up a new pc + monitor with touchscreen

[mrstrong]

Hi,

 

just replaced an aging PC and monitor in a classroom.

 

VGA out from old PC was going to a splitter box with two outs:

VGA to touch screen

VGA to monitor

so PC screen duplicated to touchscreen. Teacher uses freeze on touchscreen when required.

 

Now new PC has VGA and HDMI outs https://www.asus.com/uk/Motherboards/PRIME-H310M-A-R2-0/specifications/, monitor and touchscreen also have HDMI in.

 

A quick install keeping same cabling config works but monitor res is down at 1366(or 1360?) x 768

Guess splitter can't cope.

 

Whats my options to get full use of HD resolution?

 

Quite impressed with the monitor actually https://www.amazon.co.uk/HP-21-5-Monitor-Pixel-Refresh/dp/B072Z8PPWZ

 

Also is it worth installing the supplied HP software / drivers? Previously with monitors I don't bother.

[dhicks]

Now new PC has VGA and HDMI outs https://www.asus.com/uk/Motherboards/PRIME-H310M-A-R2-0/specifications/, monitor and touchscreen also have HDMI in.

 

Just plugging in one device by VGA and pone by HDMI should work, and the PC should now recognise it has two screens installed and give you a choice of mirroring the contents of the screens or treating them as separate. Probably best to check with the teacher what their preference will be - some like one ay, some the other. On Windows, you can switch between the two modes by pressing Windows-P - for some reason, this confuses a lot of teachers.

[LeMarchand]

Just plugging in one device by VGA and pone by HDMI should work, and the PC should now recognise it has two screens installed and give you a choice of mirroring the contents of the screens or treating them as separate. Probably best to check with the teacher what their preference will be - some like one ay, some the other. On Windows, you can switch between the two modes by pressing Windows-P - for some reason, this confuses a lot of teachers.

 

Yep, I'd HDMI to the one that supports a higher resolution. If the touchscreen has sound over HDMI that might save a cable.

[robyholmes]

No DVI or DisplayPort on it?

[mrstrong]

Hi,

 

we're pretty old school here, i.e. all VGA, so never had to worry about HDMI etc, most monitors 10 years old!

 

Just replacing stuff as it dies (limited budgets)

 

The new PC I installed has come with

1 x DVI-D

1 x D-Sub

1 x HDMI

and the monitor has HDMI and VGA

 

Hence my other question re installing monitor "drivers"/software, is it worth it on new kit?

 

Maybe it would give teacher more control over low light / night settings ? Plus from my point

of view if I query via powershell / WMI perhaps I will get more info, e.g. the monitor make/serial number ?

 

One last question: some of the older monitors seem to be failing e.g. you switch them on,

image appears for a few seconds then screen goes black, but you can just make out a faint image

(actually I couldn't but one of the kids could, my aging eyes!).

 

Is this the backlight / inverter failing ?