Setting Up The Extended Desktop With VGA Splitter Cable

Hi chris

I'm tring to to same thing, one computer to 2 monitors with extended view, I looked on the videos cards with dual heads they are quite expensive.

so I thinking to go other way that is I have a video card with 2 firewire heads, so my question can I get 2 firewire to VGA cables and put each in one head of the video card and then each will go to a different monitor and on the end i want to have extended view not dublicate view, would that work.

the other way I was thinking of is since I have one VGA out from the computer, can I connect one monitor with VGA cable and the other with firewire and still have extended view, or the computer will only send one signal.

Thanks  

WRT driving the VGA displays from 1394 outputs, remember that it's not just a pin swap: since you're converting digital to analog, you might find that two appropriate converters cost as much as or more than a new card. You might be better off getting a low-end card like those mentioned below, plus a USD2 DVI-I-to-VGA adapter.

WRT "expensive", *if* you have a digital input on at least one of the displays (DVI-D, DVI-I, HDMI, DP), the GT 520 will run two displays and can be found for around USD50. And the HD 6450 will run *three* displays (technically four with DP 1.2 multi-stream), and is available for USD40. Neither has the horsepower for gaming, of course.

But, if all you have is analog inputs (VGA, DVI-A, RGB, composite,...), make sure that the card has DVI-I, not DVI-D. For example, the OEM HD 6450 that came in my XPS 8300 has VGA, HDMI, and dual-link DVI-D, so it wouldn't drive two VGA displays without a DAC for either the HDMI or DVI-D outputs. Since an HDMI-to-VGA converter costs more than the card...no. Apparently there are 6450 cards out there with DVI-I (HP claims to make one). If you can't find a low-end 6xxx card with DVI-I, you'll have to either spend more for a 6xxx card with DVI-I, or go with a 5xxx card with DVI-I, like the 5450.

I'm sure there are similar options in the GTwhatever line; I'm just not as familiar with them.

Actually a video card that supports two monitors, something that is called a dual head video card, is quite inexpensive.  There are certainly many expensive video cards on the market, but something that is about as powerful as the integrated video graphics that is in the Optiplex 755 is not expensive.  And there are lots to choose from.  But the things to consider are these:  What size Optiplex 755 do you have (mini tower, desktop, small form factor, or ultra form factor - as seen here

support.dell.com/.../index.htm

One accepts a full sized card, two accept a half height card, and one does not accept any add on video card at all but natively supports dual montors with the integrated video and the use of a special cable.  So once you state what you have then recommendations can be made.  Alternatively, you can connect the single video port that you have to something called a "Matrox dual head to go” adapter that would in turn have two video ports that can support an extended desktop.  The Matrox adapter works great but is more expensive (about $150) than some internal video cards (starting at $30 and up) and because of the price it is only desirable if you happen to have a machine that does not support an add on internal video card (ie it is popular for use with laptop that cannot have the internal video card upgraded) or have a fear about opening your system to install a card.

www.matrox.com/.../dh2go

Chris you said that VGA splitter cables duplicates the main screen. I have a problem with it though, it doesn't render the whole screen on my 2nd screen it just puts the bottom half what can I do to make it do the full resolution?

There is no extended desktop from a Y cable.

The cable and perhaps monitors do not appear to be Dell products.

Hello,

I received my dell product in one 1-2 weeks and the ordering process was easy. 

I am having that same issue. I just finish chatting from a rep and they said that I should get a VGA splitter to extend my monitor but after reading more forums, it seems that the VGA splitter only duplicates the primary screen. 
I bought this station to work efficiently, and part of efficiently is to have a dual monitor so that I can see more data. 
Here were my first issues when receiving this model:

1. There's only room for one sata harddrive size 2.5"
2. There's only one VGA port. 

What I would suggest for customers looking into this model, that you know what you're buying. I thought this it would be standard to have these in place but I guess not everyone is like me. Now I have to spend more time researching on how to do this (not counting the time to switch over), maybe expensing more for a video card that has two ports and finding someone to install the hardware for me. I would say this is more of a hassle than an upgrade. 

I am trying to find a video card that I can use in my Optiplex 760 ST <ADMIN NOTE: Service tag removed per privacy policy>. I have a Nvidia 290 card which is for the SFF computer like mine. When I install it I get an error message that I have to disconnect my add on VC or disable the on-board card. I can not figure out how to get the on-board card disabled while the new card is in. Can anyone help? Sorry my computer is running Windows 7 Home Premium 32 Bit, a 1TB Hard drive and 4 gig of ram. Thanks for any help.

Hello 

Can you help me , My service tag <ADMIN NOTE: Service tag removed per privacy policy>

I would like to add another screen work on one and view another just need the price for the video card or what would i have to do ?