Trying to assist a relative with installing a twin monitor set up. she uses it for work - she is a copy editor and needs to get a second monitor for all the windows she has open. The monitors need to be DVI input for quality and obviously she needs them to work in extended desktop mode not 2 monitors showing the same thing.

So I have found a pair of suitable monitors but I am struggling with the graphics card thing. I need 2 DVI outputs but I can't find a reasonably priced dual dvi card which fits in her pc. She has one of those daft mini pc things so can only use a low profile graphics card. it is a pci-e slot.

I have seen this HD2400XT Low Profile PCI-E 256MB Gaming Video Card with Dual DVI Splitter Cable | eBay -will this do the trick?

I assume that I can't just use a DVI splitter cable on her existing 1 DVI port card and achieve the extended desktop?

Thanks in advance

Cheers

Mark

Mark - I've just bought one of these today to do the same thing for a member of staff. It's an external graphics card and has a DVI output but comes with an adapter for VGA too. USB2. PLug in - driver - job done!

http://www.ebuyer.com/247097-ezcap-usb-to-dvi-vga-adapter-output-usb-to-a-second-monitor-ezcap808

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Originally posted by McLannahan
Mark - I've just bought one of these today to do the same thing for a member of staff. It's an external graphics card and has a DVI output but comes with an adapter for VGA too. USB2. PLug in - driver - job done!

http://www.ebuyer.com/247097-ezcap-usb-to-dvi-vga-adapter-output-usb-to-a-second-monitor-ezcap808

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Although in every way twin DVI makes the most sense, im running twin 19" monitors with one on DVI and the other on D-SUB and i would challenge anyone to notice which was which.

At work they have twin HDMI output cards, which is probably where its going now. HDMI contains the same info as DVD-D, just in a different physical connector and you can adapt between the two with simple adapters.
- HDMI also allows audio, but cannot contain analog signals as DVD-I or DVD-A can.

Then i use ultramon to sort out my task bars (one foe each screen) as XP is crap at it, but later OS' may be better.


Daniel

It should arrive tomorrow so i'll post an update! I use something similar ( same device but different brand) with a laptop and it's spot on, easy and no hassle.

My father finally tired of the twin 21" CRT monitors he was running and bought a single flat screen from Dell.

It's about 40" widescreen (I'd ask full details but he's in NZ for another 3 weeks!) and I think you can now get them for around £400.

The picture is utterly stunning.

He's no gamer (apart from patience/mahjong ) so it won't be on a pricey gaming graphics card.

Cheers,
James

http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/nvidiageforcegraphicscards/nvidiagt520series/90-c1cqq0-l0uanayz.html

Check it supports use of HDMI And DVI At the same time

Then use an HDMI-DVI converter..

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Originally posted by James
My father finally tired of the twin 21" CRT monitors he was running and bought a single flat screen from Dell.

It's about 40" widescreen (I'd ask full details but he's in NZ for another 3 weeks!) and I think you can now get them for around £400.

The picture is utterly stunning.

He's no gamer (apart from patience/mahjong ) so it won't be on a pricey gaming graphics card.

Cheers,
James

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If it's the same as the Gigabyte one then it will support (HDMI->DVI)+DVI using converter

http://download.gigabyte.ru/manual/vga_manual_n520oc%28tc%29-1gi_e.pdf

[Edited on 25/1/12 by stevebubs]

most cheap nvidia cards have two dvi outputs.

You can pick up second hand cards for like £20.

then plug and play really.

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Originally posted by mookaloid

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Originally posted by McLannahan
Mark - I've just bought one of these today to do the same thing for a member of staff. It's an external graphics card and has a DVI output but comes with an adapter for VGA too. USB2. PLug in - driver - job done!

http://www.ebuyer.com/247097-ezcap-usb-to-dvi-vga-adapter-output-usb-to-a-second-monitor-ezcap808

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Looks dead easy - did you see it working? is the quality as good as direct from the graphics card DVI?

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Originally posted by McLannahan

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Originally posted by mookaloid

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Originally posted by McLannahan
Mark - I've just bought one of these today to do the same thing for a member of staff. It's an external graphics card and has a DVI output but comes with an adapter for VGA too. USB2. PLug in - driver - job done!

http://www.ebuyer.com/247097-ezcap-usb-to-dvi-vga-adapter-output-usb-to-a-second-monitor-ezcap808

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Looks dead easy - did you see it working? is the quality as good as direct from the graphics card DVI?

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Arrived this morning. Had it up and running within about 10 mins. Comes with DVI to HDMI too which was a bonus.

Seen as a second graphics card by Windows and then supported as such. Can clone display, duplicate or extend.

I have the primary display connected on VGA and this second display is through the USB DVI. It's indentical Mark - no degrading, lower res etc... It's a perfect extended image and 100% the same as the onboard device.

True you can easily get cards with dual outputs but this was an easy, cheap (ish) solution and one that I can move to any PC/Laptop/Mac/Linux box when she's finished with it. No installation involved - just plug in and run the setup on the CD supplied.

ATB

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