4100MP and PC connection

Question

hi,   I have a Dell 4100MP Projector that needs to be connected to our Dell Optiplex 280 PC. The PC has both a DVI Video card and a VGA video card - we currently use the DVI card, connected to a TFT monitor's VGA port.   The projector works well with a Dell laptop but how would I connect it to the PC so we can see the image on the PC's monior and projector screen? - i couldn't see an example of this on the user's guide.  The DVI card cable from the PC to the monitor splits into two VGA connections - I guess for dual monitor capability. On the half that goes to my TFT monitor I have added a VGA splitter and connected the TFT monitor to one end and the projector to the other. I have found that the image appears on both the monitor and projector screen but the TFT's display becomes slightly distorted, especially on the left hand side. When the projector is unplugged from this VGA splitter the TFT monitors display returns to normal.  The VGA cable that goes from the projector to the VGA splitter is plugged into the projectors VGA-IN port. This cable is 15M in length. Thanks for any help.

Wigadore · Answer

Wrentham,   I have a few of the Optiplex GX280's as well and Dell says the video Crad on this machine is not a dual card. The OS says it can support this option...but they have no cable that allows the single connection to split to two machines. I have been over this with Dell for almost a 8 months now and we have tried creating a cable of some sort and so far it cannot be done. To fix this issue I purchased a Dual Radeon X300 card from Dell and put it into the PCI-E slot and now I can have the projector and LCD Screen on it displaying the same screen.   I wish I had better news for you but this is how I have had it done in my board room now for 6 months+

jingyenshiau · Answer

I am rather confused: You have a DVI card which splits off to two VGA connections (let's call them [1] and [2]), and you add a splitter to one of those connections (so [1] clones to [3] and [4])? If the TFT monitor uses, say, connection [3], can't you connect the projector to the spare port (connection [2])? I am sure you can tweak the display properties, if it's necessary, to have both VGA connections show the same image.   Better yet, connect the projector to your VGA card directly. Then you can use the Windows display properties to show identical desktop to your DVI card and VGA card.

Wigadore · Answer

Why are you confised? The onboard video does NOT support a second monitor as Dell has no cable to split the view to two monitors. To fix this I bought a Dual Head video card from dell that splits the MD_1 connection into a dual VGA or dual DVI connection, depending on what splitter you use. I then mirror the images. I still only have screen 1 and screen2. The onboard video turns off.

wrentham · Answer

When I spoke to Dell they suggested plugging the monitor into the VGA OUT port on the projector with a VGA cable and also have the projector connect directly to the PC's Video card via the VGA IN port, again with another VGA cable.  I did try this but the display on the monitor was still affected on the far left hand side. I guess the dual Video card is the way forward.     Thanks for all your replies.

jingyenshiau · Answer

There is something else you should do, wrentham: change the screen refresh rate within Display Properties > Settings > Advanced > Monitor (to quote the generic tab names that Windows uses) until you find one that removes the distortion or exhaust all possibilities. My LCD panel produces image distortion unless I set the refresh rate at 70 or 72 Hz.

jingyenshiau · Answer

Not you, Wigadore. Sorry about not specifying to whom I was addressing.

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4100MP and PC connection

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