This PC bios only has two Video options:
Auto (default) - Use the add-in video controller.
Onboard/PEG - Use the integrated video controller unless a Graphic card is installed. A PCI Express Graphic (PEG) card will override and disable the integrated video controller.

So any card you install in the PCIe x16 slot will be taken for a video card and disable the integrated video controller. Your only option is to look for a PCI TV Tuner card.

We purchased these cards in correspondance with the Optiplex 380 directly from Dell. Is there anyone I can talk to about a BIOS revision, or update, that seems to be pretty assanine they didn't think about this configuration option.

Possible speak with your Dell Account Executive and have them escalate it. Generally, a Bios update is only considered when we get many unique users asking for a specific change.

Awesome, Thanks very much for the advice. Our purchaser is a major account so hopefully we have some push on this.

I also have an Optiplex 380 and am having a very similar problem.  I found this page by searching for a way around that option in the BIOS.

I want to use the onboard video card for my two primary displays, but I also need to add a PCI video adapter to connect a projector to.  Only one of the display adapters will work at any given time, depending on the way that option is selected.  So, I can have my two LCD panels on, connected to the onboard adapter, or I can have the projector on, but I can't have both it seems.

I have tried several different PCI video adapters from different manufacturers, and no matter which one I use, Windows 7-64 reports "Standard VGA Graphics Adapter" in the device manager, with an error of:

This device cannot start. (Code 10)

If I change that option in the BIOS, then the onboard adapter doesn't work, but the PCI/projector does.  Is there any way to get around this, or do I have to wait and hope for a BIOS update?

Thanks!

Is there any update on this issue since August?

We have a few Dell optiplex 380, 360 and 740 systems. We are also procuring a 980 MT for use with a similar configuration. Will there be a version of Bios released with support of the said problem or will each customer have to do the bargain with the Dell team for getting around this problem?

No update as far as I know. They are not going to change the way the BIOS functions. They offered us a replacement TV Tuner to use the PCI interface instead.

This PC bios only has two Video options: Auto (default) - Use the add-in video controller. Onboard/PEG - Use the integrated video controller unless a Graphic card is installed. A PCI Express Graphic (PEG) card will override and disable the integrated video controller. So any card you install in the PCIe x16 slot will be taken for a video card and disable the integrated video controller. Your only option is to look for a PCI TV Tuner card.