Curse

Jollyroger · Jun 06, 2010, 12:32 AM // 00:32

I'm looking to upgrade computer, considering dual screen - this computer is not for gaming so not looking for top end graphics cards or such.

Radeon HD 4350 - this card has 2 video card ports (1 digitial and 1 old style plug). The info page on the amd/ati site does not specifically state that this video card supports or can do dual-screen...

http://www.amd.com/uk/products/deskt...-overview.aspx

Info page has:

-Two integrated 400 MHz 30-bit RAMDACs
--Each supports analog displays connected by VGA at all resolutions up to 2048x15362

Does this mean the card does support dual monitor's?

moriz · Jun 06, 2010, 01:51 AM // 01:51

yes, it will be able to dual screen.

Elder III · Jun 06, 2010, 02:14 AM // 02:14

I don't know if you can even buy a new in box video card these days that won't do dual screen in Windows XP/Vista/7...

Jollyroger · Jun 06, 2010, 10:23 AM // 10:23

Thankx for the answers.

Ended up with a nVidia 315 512MB card instead of the HD Radeon.. (it was part of the "package" computer purchased)

Only problem is it only has the 1 digital video port and 1 HDMI port, and both monitors that I have can only use either the old style VGA port or the newer digital port. Niether monitor has a HDMI port.

Is there any adaptor that can convert VGA/Digital plug to use a HDMI port?
Or a way to get a 2-in-1 Digital port adaptor/plug to connect and use 2 monitors in dual-screen?
Or am I up a hopeless course and now unable to dual screen?

The case does have a old VGA port elsewhere, and looking at the product image of the nVidia 315.. it looks like the VGA port that comes with it can be "moved" as it connect's via a flexible cable to the actual card..and the spec page does say this video card supports multi-monitor's..

http://www.nvidia.com/object/product...ce_315_us.html

so is it that they have just moved the vga plug to fit the small (well, tiny!) case?
And can just plug the 2nd monitor into that port and dual-screen?

Computer is a Acer Aspire AX1800 btw. And yes, I know that it's a pretty low end computer, but it suits the needs of what it will be used for (it's not for gaming, and for gaming I do have another computer). My only concern now is the dual screen issue - I was told by the ppl who sold it that it should be able to dual screen...

Elder III · Jun 06, 2010, 01:46 PM // 13:46

if I understand you correctly you have purchased a video card that is "low profile" for a htpc instead of a regular size. If your case is regular ATX format you should be able to put a regular 3 port backplate on it and connect the vga port - the larger backplate should have come included in the box with the new video card, if not you might want to look on EBAY.

Quaker · Jun 06, 2010, 03:09 PM // 15:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jollyroger

The case does have a old VGA port elsewhere, and looking at the product image of the nVidia 315.. it looks like the VGA port that comes with it can be "moved" as it connect's via a flexible cable to the actual card..

If the VGA connector is on the panel where the keyboard, USB, sound, etc., connectors are and is vertical (when the computer is standing up) it may be for on-board integrated video which isn't being used.
If the connector is in the same area as the video card and has the same orientation (horizontal), then it may be connected to the video card.
Of course, the simplest way to find out would be to open the rig up and take a look.
Next simplest would be to connect the 2 monitors and see if it works.

Jollyroger · Jun 07, 2010, 05:24 AM // 05:24

The computer purchased is a pre-built from Acer - and while it comes with a dedicated video card, it's using a low profile / slim backplate. Truthfully a full sized backplate won't fit in the cae - it will be too big. Yes, i know this is an issue with pre-built computer's.. but hoping to somehow work around it.

Have not tried other video port yet - it does seem to be the mb's onboard video port however, so not likely going to have much luck with it (it's all intermixed with usb / com ports.. so chances are it's an blocked/unused onboasrd video port.

One question - the 2 ports I have access to atm are 1 DVI port and 1 HDMI port.. if I used a VGA/DVI-to-HDMI converter.. could I connect the second monitor via the HDMI port and dual screen that way?

I was considering something like these items:

HDMI Male to DVI-D 24+1 Female Adapter
Sapphire Active DisplayPort to VGA Adapter
XFX HDMI Adapter Kit incl 5m HDMI Cable

Was considering buying one of them and plugging the second monitor into the HDMI port via the use of the converter - would this work and allow dual monitor? (1 via DVI & 1 HDMI)

Faer · Jun 07, 2010, 05:35 AM // 05:35

Yes, that would work fine. HDMI and DVI signals are nearly identical; HDMI just carries sound as well as video.

Jollyroger · Jun 07, 2010, 08:04 AM // 08:04

Theocrat - thanx for the answer

Would any of those adaptor's I linked to work? Or would I need a specific 1?

I would need a VGA -> HDMI adaptor. The second monitor has both DVI & VGA ports, but I only have cords with VGA connectors. I do have a VGA -> DVI adaptor if needed.. but I suspect it might cause issue's using that kind of setup (cable -> adaptor -> adaptor -> port).. or am I incorrect in this?

Quaker · Jun 07, 2010, 03:47 PM // 15:47

I can't say for sure if adapting the adapter to the adapter will work, but if you have a DVI to VGA adapter, then you would want to get that first adapter you linked - the male HDMI to DVI.

I've looked up the Acer X1800 on the Acer site and they all seem to come originally with just on-board video (which explains the VGA connector). So, was the nVidia 315 installed by the people you bought the computer from?
If so, you could try contacting them as the 315 may have come with a low-profile bracket to install the (315's) VGA connector.

Snograt · Jun 07, 2010, 06:58 PM // 18:58

Hard to tell exactly as that Aussie site doesn't show pictures.

Here's a pic on a Brit site - http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/p...ch/DV-006.html

That adaptor would plug into your monitor's DVI-D socket, then you would need a standard (cheap is good!) HDMI cable to connect that to your graphics card's HDMI output.

Jollyroger · Jun 08, 2010, 03:03 AM // 03:03

Quaker - I believe the 315 was installed by either Acer, or whoever distributes Acer's to the re-sellers/sellers (where it was bought). As the computer was pre-packaged in a box, and the place it was bought was just a re-seller.. not a computer store (store was called Retrovision.. they sell electronic goods, kitchen goods, etc).

I believe the 315 was installed with a low profile bracket, as the case is very narrow and there seems just enough room for the DVI & HDMI ports, and from images of the card on the nVidia site, there is not enough space for the VGA port.

I do have a VGA to DVI adaptor, so looks like the 1st or 3rd adaptor I linked to is what I'm after if going cable -> adaptor -> adaptor -> port won't cause any problems. I guess I could always purchase the dvi->hdmi adaptor and test...

The adaptor "kits" being a brand-name shouldn't matter right? Like the 3rd one I linked to is XFX branded, but it should work on any card/setup as long as i'm doing a DVI -> HDMI conversion right?

The second adaptor I linked to talks about "Active DisplayPort" conversion. Is this "Active DisplayPort" the same as a HDMI port? Or are they 2 different type's of ports/connections?

I suspect they are different sockets, as there is also an adaptor which converts DisplayPort to HDMI.. (DisplayPort to HDMI Converter 15cm).. so am I correct in assuming that if I was to use the Sapphire adaptor kit i'd have to then use the secondary ActivePort->HDMI adaptor to connect it to the HDMI port ?

Snograt · Jun 08, 2010, 02:27 PM // 14:27

DisplayPort is a totally different format from HDMI or DVI. To quoute that Wikipedia article:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

Although DisplayPort's signal is not compatible with HDMI or DVI, Dual-Mode ports can transmit HDMI and single-link DVI signals which are converted with external adapters. Dual-link DVI and analog VGA are supported through universal powered adapters which perform active conversion

Sounds possible...

Jollyroger · Jun 14, 2010, 12:25 PM // 12:25

Thanx for all the help

I managed to find a DVI->HDMI cable that works - I have 1 monitor plugged in via the DVI port, other via the HDMI port and it works great