Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
4 Posts
0
63542
HDMI issue - 580 Inspirion - Dual Monitors?
Hi - I'm trying to connect two monitors to a desktop - the Dell Inspirion 580. It has two ports - a VGA & a HDMI on the back of the case - and the VGA port works just fine. I connected a monitor with an HDMI cable and the monitor says 'no signal'.
I tried the following variations:
Tried ONLY one monitor using the HDMI connection - no signal.
Restarted the computer with the monitor connected - no signal. Restarted the computer with the monitor disconnected, then connected - no signal.
There is nothing in the Bios of this system that I could find to 'turn on' dual monitor options.
If I go into the intel graphics & media control panel - it doesn't recognize a second monitor attached through the HDMI port.
I'm considering either buying/installing a video card - or picking up a USB to VGA adapter and going that route - but I'd like to see if this is a short between the keyboard and chair (me!) or if this desktop isn't capable of running dual monitors straight out of the box.
Thanks!
Mary G
4 Operator
4 Operator
•
20.1K Posts
0
April 8th, 2011 17:00
It will work IF you have a separate, discrete video card. If you have hdmi and vga on an integrated card, it won't. Sounds like you have the standard integrated card which is "either/or" but not both. You have to add a separate card with dual monitor support and disable the integrated graphics.
Cajungaltx
4 Posts
0
April 11th, 2011 10:00
Thanks Mary - that was what I thought was the issue - I'm getting a video card for it.
Cajungaltx
4 Posts
0
April 11th, 2011 10:00
I talked with a Dell Chat guy on Friday and he gave me two recommendations for video cards that will work with this system.
It's a work pc - and with my office I'm usually multi-tasking to a crazy degree - the dual monitors just allow me to save time trying to figure out 'where I was' in proofing a document, or reviewing an excel form, or the other 14K worth of stuff going on.. ;-)
Mary G
4 Operator
4 Operator
•
20.1K Posts
0
April 11th, 2011 10:00
Choose one that doesn't overload your power supply--not an easy thing to do now. The power supply on these models is usually around 300w--very limited for today's cards. IMO dual monitors are overkill for everyday use and really are better used with higher powered, faster gaming computers.
EBG
1 Message
0
July 11th, 2011 06:00
Can you please tell me which card you purchased? Ran into the same problem when trying to add a new monitor (Viewsonic 2028wm) to the Inspiron 580. Glad to read you solved the problem.
Cajungaltx
4 Posts
0
July 19th, 2011 12:00
ATI Radeon HD 5450
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-ATI-Radeon-HD5450-Silence/dp/B003AK2HJO
It works great!