Dual Monitors for OptiPlex 9020 or XPS 8700 (NVidia GTX 745 4Gb)

You will find difficulties in the future trying to upgrade the power supply on the 9020. The XPS 8700 can use most of the retail modular power supplies. DVI and HDMI are identical as far as video is concerned, so no, should be no problem going video card HDMI to monitor DVI. But, the U2415 HDMI in ports can only do 1920x1080. The U2415 DP/mDP in ports can do 1920x1200. The U2415 ships only with the Dell DP to mDP cable.

Nvidia Geforce GTX 745 HDMI out --> HDMI to HDMI cable --> 1st U2415 HDMI in = 1920x1080
Nvidia Geforce GTX 745 DVI out --> DVI to HDMI cable --> 2nd U2415 HDMI in = 1920x1080

If you choose the XPS 8700 with the Nvidia GTX 660:
Nvidia Geforce GTX 660 DP out --> DP to mDP cable --> 1st U2415 mDP in = 1920x1200
Nvidia Geforce GTX 660 DP out --> DP to mDP cable --> 2nd U2415 mDP in = 1920x1200

Hi Chris,

Many thanks for the answer! Actually the PSU of both options is a limitation. None of them seems to support an upgrade to the GTX 760 (or anything with DDR5), witch in my opinion, would be a much better choice for a GPU than the GTX 745. In any case I'm not a gamer, I want this computer for work, and to perform well for the next years even when I sporadically run rendering software. Upgrading is not something I have in mind right now.

You pointed a huge problem in the HDMI limitation. I don't know if you have access to a U2415 and can confirm that, but I haven seen anywhere that limitation of 1920x1080. Note two things:

- HDMI have been outputting at more than 1080p for years! why would Dell step back?

- The U2415 has a 16:10 aspect ratio, therefore a 1920x1080 can't be a native resolution for it.

Even in amazon a specific question is answered differently by an owner of a U2415:

www.amazon.com/.../ref=cm_cd_ql_tlc_al;asin=B00NZTKOQI

Could you please confirm that you know the limitations in resolution of the HDMI in the U2415 from your personal experience? That information is very important to me, since the acquisition of those monitors depends on it.

(Ps. Maybe vary form country to country (I'm thinking to buy this equipment in Singapore) but the XPS 8700 doesn't have the option of a GTX 660, only the GTX 720 and the GTX 745

http://www.dell.com/sg/p/xps-8700/pd )

I just ordered a XPS 8900 with an upgrade to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 745 4GB DDR3.  My current Dell computer has a video card that has two HDMI out ports and I have two matching 24: monitors that also have HDMI inputs so I am currently using two HDMI to HDMI cables.

I want to continue to use the dual matching monitors but I noticed this new card will be delivered with only one HDMI out and a DVI out.  I assume I have to get a DVI to HDMI cable to accomplish what i want but I also don't know if the maximum desired quality will be equally supported by this configuration.  Am I OK or should I cancel my current order and consider a different video card?

Thanks,

Allan

I too have the same Dell Optiplex 9020 with gtx 745 4gb graphics card.  Can I run two Dell U2515H monitors and if so will they display in the full 2560 x 1440 resolution?

Also what resolution is likely if I set up three monitors?

Thanks.