Adding second screen - old PC

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sajunky

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Q. Should I look for dual head graphics card and disable on-board graphics or just very basic card to work simultaneously with on-board graphics?
No special requirements, no games, just extend desktop size for office use.

M/B: ECS C51GM-M v.1.0 with on-board graphics (GeForce 6150SE)
Free PCI Express x 16 slot
Windows 7
 
Considering the cheapest available modern cards are already dual-head, I'd suggest disabling the on-board graphics.

Another reason for going for both on the PCIe card is to give 100% smooth dragging between windows, especially for video. Running on two discrete video chips, moving running video window from one monitor to the other will stop playback and then have to resync. On the same card, you will have no problem like that and even run the video halfway between the screens.
 
Just read the manual for the m/b, it looks like the board doesn't have the option that is on modern motherboards to run both onboard and PCIe graphics at the same time.

With the bottom range Geforce 210 cards, there may be a limit to running VGA+DVI or VGA+HDMI, but not DVI+HDMI. So keep that in mind when.
 
Just get a GT610 and run both displays of that card.
nVidia dropped support for the Geforce f210 and others in their latest drivers if I'm not mistaken so you would have to use their legacy drivers.
 
Thanks for respone. I tried to save R35 on DVI-to-VGA converter (both monitors are VGA-only), but it seems it is not worth and advantage of single card is convincing. And... missed completely that even the cheapest card is multihead. :)

I can get Geforce 210 for R420 (Asus) or R455 (Gigabyte). Trying to find prices for GT610.
 
Thinking of Radeon HD5450, as price range is the same and can get it locally in Midrand area.
GT610 is newer one and has overall better performance, but I am not concerned about gaming performance. More important is which one requires less power when not doing 3D rendering or movie processing. Unfortunately specs show only maximum power (HD5450 requires less power, but requirements for power supply are greater - strange...). Source http://www.game-debate.com/gpu/inde...mpare=geforce-gt-610-vs-radeon-hd-5450-1024mb
 
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I guess I am an ATI boy :whistle: but it comes down to what you want to do with it. The 610 is more powerful than the HD 5450 which is more powerful than the 210. But they are all in the lower end of the band. Power-wise, the HD5450 in some configurations talks about 400W supply and others 300W. It might be the silent fanless version versus the ones with a fan. Asus has a fanless one, Gigabyte seems only to have ones with fans.

Check the box before buying the DVI to VGA, both Asus cards I bought over the last couple of years came with a converter. They are higher-end cards, but you never know what might be in the box until you check. Might be lucky.
 
It is strange again, as HD5450 TDP is around 20W and Geforce 210 (and GT610) TDP is 30W but requirements for power supply are lower for Geforce. It must be different margin recommendation standards, TDP is more objective.
So, Radeon takes less power, but I just ordered Gigabyte GT610 from Rectron, hoping that new technology will be more efficient during typical office use.
BTW, It says multiview=2, so two monitors will work.
Thanks again for advice.
 
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It seems good solution for laptop with USB 3.0. It will suck on USB 2.0. Also USB transfer is very CPU intensive, on old computers like this is very noticeable.
Cypher911 said:
You can get a USB to vga/dvi/hdmi @ R499exl from Micropoint
Click to expand...
 
Feedback:
M/B BIOS do not have settings for disabling internal graphics. However inserting card cause disabling internal graphics automatically. So bruce_the_loon was right, it can't work together on this chipset.

Having problem with Gigabyte GV-N610-1GI:
It works in two monitors configuration with one DVI and one VGA monitor, but when using DVI-to-VGA converter, monitor stays blank. Windows thinks that everything is OK (it shows details of connected monitor), but there is no analog output coming from DVI converter (monitor stays in suspended mode). I tried two different converters, result the same. There is no problem with timing, both monitors support the same resolution. Any ideas?
 
sajunky said:
Feedback:
M/B BIOS do not have settings for disabling internal graphics. However inserting card cause disabling internal graphics automatically. So bruce_the_loon was right, it can't work together on this chipset.

Having problem with Gigabyte GV-N610-1GI:
It works in two monitors configuration with one DVI and one VGA monitor, but when using DVI-to-VGA converter, monitor stays blank. Windows thinks that everything is OK (it shows details of connected monitor), but there is no analog output coming from DVI converter (monitor stays in suspended mode). I tried two different converters, result the same. There is no problem with timing, both monitors support the same resolution. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

I've got the same card and using a dvi to vga adaptor and it works. Did you enable extended desktop correctly?
 
Roger Moore said:
I've got the same card and using a dvi to vga adaptor and it works. Did you enable extended desktop correctly?
Click to expand...
I tried enabling in Nvidia control panel, got into blank main deskop and visible extended one - was battling to revert sertings, finally managed to move active window to the VGA head area using key combination <Alt+Space> <m> and then cursor key, then tried the same in clone mode. Monitor connected to DVI head goes blank as soon I enable second screen. Following this, computer was taken away to test with native DVI and analog monitor combination (which works) and also with 2 analog monitors with different converter (it doesn't).

Started to think that this card has only single RAMDAC, but it seems to be faulty.

What do you mean "enabling extended desktop correctly"?
 
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Trying doing it via the windows native desktop manager. Right click on desktop and select graphic properties or something. Make sure you tick either extend desktop or duplicate screen and apply the settings.

I think I paid 23 bucks for a no name brand adaptor and it works.
 
I got equipment back and getting some clue:

1. Adaptor I tested (from Matrix) has dual-link DVI-D plug. No analog signal is conveyed by this plug, it must be adapter with active conversion. [-]Therefore it might be needed some additional configuration to use particular DVI link for conversion.[/-] Going to investigate right now. [EDIT] Dual Link is for increased resolution, not driving another display, it will be no such settings.

2. Another adapter (from Esquire) has a female DVD-I plug. It needs to be plugged on the end of DVI-I cable (not directly to a card). However cable taken from DVI monitor is DVI-D only, it doesn't carry analog signal. Passive adaptor will not work (probably a case).
 
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sajunky said:
I got equipment back and getting some clue:

1. Adaptor I tested (from Matrix) has dual-link DVI-D plug. No analog signal is conveyed by this plug, it must be adapter with active conversion. [-]Therefore it might be needed some additional configuration to use particular DVI link for conversion.[/-] Going to investigate right now. [EDIT] Dual Link is for increased resolution, not driving another display, it will be no such settings.

2. Another adapter (from Esquire) has a female DVD-I plug. It needs to be plugged on the end of DVI-I cable (not directly to a card). However cable taken from DVI monitor is DVI-D only, it doesn't carry analog signal. Passive adaptor will not work (probably a case).
Click to expand...
Make sure the pins on the adaptor and on the back of the card match up. I know standard dvi and dual link are not the same. I don't really mess around with dvi a lot.
 
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