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19584
June 16th, 2008 20:00
Dual Monitor on GX280: 915g + DVI-ADD2
I have an Optiplex GX280 with Intel 915g integrated chipset. I installed an ASUS DVI ADD2 Add-on interface board with a DVI-VGA adaptor so I could add a second monitor. It didn't work. The second monitor stays black - it doesn't, however, say "no signal". I've updated the drivers for the integrated video, and the add-on card claims not to need them.
Has anyone run a similar setup or have any ideas on making it work?
Alternatively, what dual-monitor setup is easiest / cheapist? Nothing fancy is needed, just word processing and web browsing.
Thanks!
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KyleDT
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June 18th, 2008 21:00
Thanks for the response. Some more information:
Intel information on ADD2 card support:
http://support.intel.com/support/graphics/intel915g/sb/CS-013296.htm
note: adaptor cards are "available through third parties"
and: "ADD2 cards can be used to display system output ... simultaneously to a monitor and digital display"
The card I bought:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000HOJSRA/ref=ord_cart_shr?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=A3HXWER1CPLV7Q&v=glance
note: "provides DVI output for Intel 915G series chipset motherboards"
and: "It also supports dual display with an onboard VGA"
So, it would seem that the ADD2 card is supposed to provide the dual-display functionality I'm asking of it. I just can't figure out why it's not working.
AlanKS
241 Posts
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June 18th, 2008 21:00
The fitting of an add-on graphics card will almost always turn off the onboard graphics interface with no option to turn it on in the BIOS. However as far as I can make out the board you have described is not a graphics card per se but adds a DVI interface to an on-board graphics chip. It appears to have been manufactured by ASUS and would almost certainly only work on their own motherboards. This is because the option would have to be included in the graphics interface BIOS and drivers which the Dell board would not support.
To get dual monitor support you will need a full graphics card with dual sockets, a feature even the cheaper boards support and as you are not looking for gaming would suffice.
AlanKS
241 Posts
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June 19th, 2008 21:00
I still stand by the second part of my response, unless the graphics BIOS integrated onto the motherboard is designed to operate with an external (to the motherboard) output device it will not talk to it. Even if the reference design from Intel allows for this option there is nothing to make a system designer include the option if it is not in the spec.
Dell are renown for almost manufacturing industry standard equipment but never quite do it. ATX PSU's are good enough for everybody else but not Dell and there are always slight differences whichever system you look at.
Intel have included the option in the chipset specification, there is nothing to make Dell implement it.