How do I get triple monitors?

[liquidsense]

The IT department at my office told me that, if I can get it to work, they'll allow me to use a personal monitor to make my current 2-monitor setup into a 3-monitor setup. While they were skeptical as to whether it's possible given the hardware, they said I can tinker around. One problem: I don't know enough about computers. So, here I am asking you for help.

The computer at issue is a Dell Slimline Optiplex 780. It has a 255W PSU and an Nvidia GeForce 9300 GE GPU. The GPU has only s-video and DVI. There is a DVI splitter plugged into the GPU, and two 1080p 22-inch monitors plugged into the splitter. The motherboard appears to have only VGA for display output.

With that said, do I have any options to power a third monitor (1080p)? Could it be as simple as a 3-way DVI splitter? The IT department said the s-video possibly may work. Or, maybe a USB to display. But, in any event, I may be limited by the PSU. Any ideas?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

No such thing as a DVI splitter - that video card has a goofy custom not-DVI connector that is actually two DVI ports bolted together. The "splitter" is proprietary.

Stupid design.

The VGA output will work fine; use that.

PSU won't be an issue.

 

[liquidsense]

No such thing as a DVI splitter - that video card has a goofy custom not-DVI connector that is actually two DVI ports bolted together. The "splitter" is proprietary.

Stupid design.

The VGA output will work fine; use that.

PSU won't be an issue.

Thanks so much for the insight. Will the VGA on the mobo work simultaneously with the DVIs on the video card? IT thought it might be disabled by default or something. **Edit** Actually, upon review, there is a small black plastic cover over the VGA that has what looks like a no-smoking sign across it. I can take it off just fine, but does that mean it is inactive? I guess I can test it...just need to find a vga cable.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I'm not familiar with the Optiplex 780s specifically, but on the very similar HP/Compaq DC7x00 and DC8x00 series I supported at my last job, the VGA ports worked fine. The cover was just so people wouldn't plug a VGA monitor in and expect the performance from the discrete graphics card.

So I'd say it's worth a try. Especially since if it doesn't work, you either have to add another video card or remain limited to two monitors.

>2 monitor support from a single video card didn't really become a thing until Displayport rolled around - your system is probably too old for that.

 

[Phaetos]

I'm not familiar with the Optiplex 780s specifically, but on the very similar HP/Compaq DC7x00 and DC8x00 series I supported at my last job, the VGA ports worked fine. The cover was just so people wouldn't plug a VGA monitor in and expect the performance from the discrete graphics card.

So I'd say it's worth a try. Especially since if it doesn't work, you either have to add another video card or remain limited to two monitors.

>2 monitor support from a single video card didn't really become a thing until Displayport rolled around - your system is probably too old for that.

We have 780's around here that are the suitcase models that have DP on them. As for the OP, the VGA should be usable with the other vid card. The recent models like to disable the onboard when a addin is put in.

 

[Cerb]

That's a DMS-59, not DVI. It's been used in the past for low-profile cards by NV, ATI/AMD, and Matrox, and is interchangeable between them. It allows 2 DVI/VGA outputs in a low-profile single-slot card, and 4 in a full-height. Displayport and HDMI has largely replaced the need for it. It is proprietary, but by Molex, not by any GPU maker/family.

Triple monitors will require adding a video card, I'm pretty sure. You will find, using the VGA cable, that the PC will boot up telling you you are using an unsupported video configuration (newer PCs can use IGP and a video card at the same time, but a 780 is far from new, and I'm pretty sure old enough to not support it). If trying USB, you'll need a USB 3.0 card and adapter, or be stuck with video out that resembles a VNC connection over residential DSL (best case is about 40MBps, which, even with compression, will yield maybe 10-12 FPS, and keep your CPU busier than normal). By the time that's done, you will have spent as much or more than just replacing the video card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102960
That should work, with a HDMI/DVI cable on one of the monitors (or use HDMI directly, if an option).

It shouldn't be a problem, but note that the 2nd and 3rd outputs will be limited to 1920x1200@60Hz, with DVI.

 

[liquidsense]

I'm not familiar with the Optiplex 780s specifically, but on the very similar HP/Compaq DC7x00 and DC8x00 series I supported at my last job, the VGA ports worked fine. The cover was just so people wouldn't plug a VGA monitor in and expect the performance from the discrete graphics card.

So I'd say it's worth a try. Especially since if it doesn't work, you either have to add another video card or remain limited to two monitors.

>2 monitor support from a single video card didn't really become a thing until Displayport rolled around - your system is probably too old for that.

So, the VGA port seems to be inactive. I was poking around on the internet and found this thread, where someone says that no computer can simultaneously output from the on-board video output and add-in video card.

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3515/t/19340101

"Sorry, but it is not possible to configure any PC to use both the on-board video and an add-in graphics card at the same time. This applies to any brand, not just Dell."

 

[Cerb]

In older systems, the IGP was on the north bridge, and set up to use the PCIe lanes that would otherwise got to the main 16x slot, so it was either/or. When the GPUs got properly integrated into the CPU, that was no longer the case.

With FM2(+), LGA1155, and LGA1150, you should be able to use IGP and discrete at the same time. On AM* sockets or older, and LGA775 or older, you have to use one or the other. FM1 and LGA1156, I'm not sure about.

 

[piasabird]

Is this like a 10 year old computer?

Just get your boss to purchase some newer computer.

The motherboard most likely will not support 3 monitors. That did not become normal till newer core 2 duo's came out with IGP's with Intel HD Video. Being a slim line desktop it may not support a good video card with that option. S-video is like a dinosaur.

They make some adapters to go from USB 2 to HDMI or DVI or VGA. Some people have had success with them. It might not cost too much money to try this with XP or Windows 7 or newer. Most of these cost between $35 - $100.

Make sure what you buy supports your USB version and your OS.

Example:
http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-...ds=usb+to+hdmi

This item says it supports 8/7/Vista/XP.

Will it work? Maybe . . . Someone awarded it some stars.

Read the fine print for resolution, etc.

 

[liquidsense]

Is this like a 10 year old computer?

Just get your boss to purchase some newer computer.

The motherboard most likely will not support 3 monitors. That did not become normal till newer core 2 duo's came out with IGP's with Intel HD Video. Being a slim line desktop it may not support a good video card with that option. S-video is like a dinosaur.

They make some adapters to go from USB 2 to HDMI or DVI or VGA. Some people have had success with them. It might not cost too much money to try this with XP or Windows 7 or newer. Most of these cost between $35 - $100.

Make sure what you buy supports your USB version and your OS.

Example:
http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-...ds=usb+to+hdmi

This item says it supports 8/7/Vista/XP.

Will it work? Maybe . . . Someone awarded it some stars.

Read the fine print for resolution, etc.

Lol. Thanks for the info. Yes, the computer is old as hell and it's LGA775 (Core2Duo E8600), so based on what @Cerb says, it's one or the other. I'm definitely looking into the USB --> DVI as we speak. I'm going to have to wait, however, as someone else in the company has already started down that path and is going to report to me whether it works.

And, as for demanding a new computer from boss-man. Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that here.

*EDIT* -- On that note, what is the cheapest GPU I can buy that would support three monitors?

 

[Cerb]

*EDIT* -- On that note, what is the cheapest GPU I can buy that would support three monitors?

The one I linked was the cheapest card I could find supporting digital 3x1080P, with users reporting using it that way. Some others will support 2 digital and one analog, but many will only handle 2 outputs, even with GPUs that could support 3 (but only with certain output configurations). A few low-end GPUs from AMD, around the time they were initially hyping Eyefinity, support 3 outputs even on the cheap chips. I haven't kept up with their minor upgrading and renaming to know which others than the 6450 can do the job, but you have to check out support for the card, not merely GPU (almost no cheap Geforces support 3 displays, though).

Quite a few $125+ gaming cards will handle more, but then you might get into space problems (and PSU, but space is likely to be a problem first).

New midrange office machines can handle 3 displays from IGP, and if you're careful, maybe all digitally (most Dells are still coming with VGA+2DP, but I've seen some HPs w/ DVI+2DP).

Triple-monitor support isn't expensive, but it's still rare enough that support isn't ubiquitous, and it often comes with caveats.

 

[liquidsense]

The one I linked was the cheapest card I could find supporting digital 3x1080P, with users reporting using it that way. Some others will support 2 digital and one analog, but many will only handle 2 outputs, even with GPUs that could support 3 (but only with certain output configurations). A few low-end GPUs from AMD, around the time they were initially hyping Eyefinity, support 3 outputs even on the cheap chips. I haven't kept up with their minor upgrading and renaming to know which others than the 6450 can do the job, but you have to check out support for the card, not merely GPU (almost no cheap Geforces support 3 displays, though).

Quite a few $125+ gaming cards will handle more, but then you might get into space problems (and PSU, but space is likely to be a problem first).

New midrange office machines can handle 3 displays from IGP, and if you're careful, maybe all digitally (most Dells are still coming with VGA+2DP, but I've seen some HPs w/ DVI+2DP).

Triple-monitor support isn't expensive, but it's still rare enough that support isn't ubiquitous, and it often comes with caveats.

Thanks again. I may need to bail on the video card upgrade because that (and other) cards that support 3 monitors all require much more juice than I have. For example, the card you linked requires 400w (probably an overestimation), but I only have 255w. Jeez, I need a new work computer.

 

[inachu]

They have USB 3.0 to Video adapters. Kinda cheap for ya.

https://www.google.com/search?q=ext...7.8849j0j8&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8

 

[master_shake_]

No such thing as a DVI splitter - that video card has a goofy custom not-DVI connector that is actually two DVI ports bolted together. The "splitter" is proprietary.

Stupid design.

The VGA output will work fine; use that.

PSU won't be an issue.

i guess these don't exist.

or this

or this either

 

[Cerb]

Thanks again. I may need to bail on the video card upgrade because that (and other) cards that support 3 monitors all require much more juice than I have. For example, the card you linked requires 400w (probably an overestimation), but I only have 255w. Jeez, I need a new work computer.

400W http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Sapphire/HD_6450_Passive/25.html

400W is a PSU rating that includes CYA, for bad quality PSUs, that can't actually handle their rated wattage. With a Core 2 Duo installed, you would be hard pressed to pull much more than 120W total. I wouldn't want to bring an old box like yours to its maximum, but a <30W card is not going to be an issue.

 

[mfenn]

The 780 should have a free PCI slot. So what I would do is pick up an inexpensive Nvdia PCI card. This 8400GS for $48 should fit the bill. If you feel like making it look nice, add a low-profile bracket.

An AMD would theoretically work, but the Nvidia card will use the same drivers, and thus not need to involve IT.

 

[VirtualLarry]

The 780 should have a free PCI slot. So what I would do is pick up an inexpensive Nvdia PCI card. This 8400GS for $48 should fit the bill. If you feel like making it look nice, add a low-profile bracket.

An AMD would theoretically work, but the Nvidia card will use the same drivers, and thus not need to involve IT.

Just a note, a card that old is not supported by current NV drivers; you will have to look for their 8000/9000-series "legacy" drivers.

(Nothing older than Fermi family GPUs is supported in their current, newest, drivers.)

 

[jaydee]

The one I linked was the cheapest card I could find supporting digital 3x1080P, with users reporting using it that way. Some others will support 2 digital and one analog, but many will only handle 2 outputs, even with GPUs that could support 3 (but only with certain output configurations). A few low-end GPUs from AMD, around the time they were initially hyping Eyefinity, support 3 outputs even on the cheap chips. I haven't kept up with their minor upgrading and renaming to know which others than the 6450 can do the job, but you have to check out support for the card, not merely GPU (almost no cheap Geforces support 3 displays, though).

Quite a few $125+ gaming cards will handle more, but then you might get into space problems (and PSU, but space is likely to be a problem first).

New midrange office machines can handle 3 displays from IGP, and if you're careful, maybe all digitally (most Dells are still coming with VGA+2DP, but I've seen some HPs w/ DVI+2DP).

Triple-monitor support isn't expensive, but it's still rare enough that support isn't ubiquitous, and it often comes with caveats.

He said he wanted 3x 1080p, so the original video card you posted would be fine. AMD made some 5450/6450's at $50-60 with DVI+HDMI+DP, so those should be able to do 2x up to 2560x1600, and only the HDMI capped at 1920x1200 (all digital), but that doesn't appear necessary in this case.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

i guess these don't exist.

or this

or this either

Those duplicate the signal, they're not for extending your desktop onto multiple monitors.

 

[inachu]

USB to video does not pull that much juice.

 

[mfenn]

Just a note, a card that old is not supported by current NV drivers; you will have to look for their 8000/9000-series "legacy" drivers.

(Nothing older than Fermi family GPUs is supported in their current, newest, drivers.)

The OP's card isn't supported by the current drivers either, which is why I mentioned that both could use the same drivers.