Dual screen - Help?

[squid]

Hi,
I may be getting another monitor to go with / or separately to my current 15" flat screen.

I have a Dell Dimension 3100 with the following specification;

Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 502MB RAM
Hard Drive: 79 GB
Video Card: Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Sound Card: SigmaTel Audio
Speakers/Headphones: Logitech headset
Keyboard: USB Root Hub
Mouse: USB Root Hub
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)

If it's possible to run 2 monitors, how would i go about doing it?
I read about some "cable splitters" but I'm not 100% sure about this + Does graphics card matter?

Any help much appreciated, rep++ etc.

ty,
Sam.

 

[Gene]

The only way I'm familiar with is to have a graphics card that supports dual monitors. It has two ports. Not sure about a splitter, maybe someone else can chime in on that.

 

[liquidcherry]

Hi Squid,

Don't go with the splitter solution....

You have 2 options:

Get a card what supports 2 monitors( don't forget to disable the onboard VGA chip if you run in problems, it should do it automatically tho)

Or the other option is get another graphic card(depends on your mainboard, if you have an AGP Port fine but i would suggest to get a PCI Card , even they are getting rare) and try to install it, but you could run in problems too

It really comes down to a couple things: do you have an AGP Port...do you feel cool about messing with your BIOS(needs some skills), do you have a local computershop where you can exchange the parts easily when it is not working out.....

Feel free to ask more

Cheers,

Frank

 

[squid]

My computer is a dell, so everything is onboard.
I don't think i can add another graphics card, because it's not got any PCI slots, or anything else for that matter.

Would this mean dualing is impossible?

 

[JustLaughing22]

Sorry, i am not familiar with it.

 

[Whats My Name]

It's impossible if your video card doesn't support it. Good Luck.

 

[liquidcherry]

My computer is a dell, so everything is onboard.
I don't think i can add another graphics card, because it's not got any PCI slots, or anything else for that matter.

Would this mean dualing is impossible?

From what i've gathered so far is that you have expansion slots, look here:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim3100/en/sm/techov0.htm#wp1052309

#13...2 PCI Card slots(of course they need to be empty) ...hope they are?

Cheers,

Frank

 

[AdoptableDomains]

I run dual screens but my video card supports it. On older computers, I think the PCI card becomes the primary card and the AGP the secondary, which isn't so great. Another solution is a usb video adapter like this:
http://www.iogear.com/product/GUC2015V/

 

[gmtfan]

in any case you can do it. If there is no PCI slot, just get AGP card.

 

[Whats My Name]

Once you go Dual you never go back. Let us know how it goes.

 

[liquidcherry]

Once you go Dual you never go back. Let us know how it goes.

Try triple, it's way better

Cheers,

Frank

 

[Achaias]

Try triple, it's way better

Cheers,

Frank

http://www.widowpc.com/2005/06/new_hydra_multi.php

Try Quads!!!