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March 20th, 2014 14:00

Optiplex 780 MT - Which card for DUAL display support

Hi,

Just got a Optiplex 780 MT (refurb) running Windows 7 Pro with 8GB RAM and looking for a video card that can drive two monitors, preferably with DVI as I have a DVI cable run in the wall.

My previous GX280 was using an ATI Radeon (Dell) x300 series card pushing two displays via a DMS-59 to DVI x 2 splitter.

Looking at the tech specs of the 780, I see the following cards listed as common factory add ons:

1GB NVIDIA GeForce GT330 with DVI or VGA and S-Video Out
(adapters convert to dual DVI or dual VGA)

512MB ATI RADEON HD 4550 Graphics with dual DVI or VGA
and S-Video Out (adapters convert to dual DVI or dual VGA)

256MB ATI RADEON HD 3450 Graphics with dual DVI or VGA
and S-Video Out (adapters convert to dual DVI or dual VGA)

256MB ATI RADEON HD 3470 Graphics with Dual DP (adapters
convert to dual DVI or dual VGA)

256MB NVIDIA GeForce 9300 GE

NVIDIA Quadro NVS 420 (adapters covert to quad DVI or DP) 

1.  Which of the above cards are capable of dual monitor support, 1920 x 1080 max?  I'm  not playing any games on these machines but need some imaging software for work to run smooth.

2. Will the cards with DUAL DVI or DP ports run two monitors if plugged into the DVI or DP ports individually?  I understand that I would need a DP to DVI converter if I use a card with dual DP ports.

My concern was that I have heard that some cards cannot support two monitors if they were connected to (for example) the DVI port and the HDMI port......but would need to drive one of the monitors from the on-board analog (VGA) port.

i'm assuming that those cards listed with 'DUAL' DVI or DP ports would only logically be capable of supporting two monitors, and if I needed, could use the NVIDIA Quadro NVS to drive four monitors since it has four ports.

I would also need support to either choose duplicate screens or an extended desktop, but think most cards have that feature if they already support two monitors.

Any assistance would be most appreciated.

Dave

6 Operator

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20.1K Posts

March 20th, 2014 14:00

Here is something else to consider--Most if not all of today's video cards need a bigger power supply than the ones that come on the Optiplex models. And the monitors must have the same ports as the card you choose. 

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