two monitors, one computer...

**Hookah** · 03-13-2009, 03:38 AM

trying to figure out how to hook up a 2nd monitor to my cpu

im thinking that i might want more ram for my cpu first though, ive only got 512mb currently

dell dimension 4700...

thanks

**Detale** · 03-13-2009, 03:42 AM

Do you have an aftermarket video card in there? If not the cheapest way to go is get one and install it yourself.

**kaiweiler** · 03-13-2009, 04:44 AM

Originally Posted by Hookah

trying to figure out how to hook up a 2nd monitor to my cpu

...

You're doing it wrong.

EDIT, to be clear, do NOT attempt to attach a monitor to your CPU, this is not where it goes.
You will need a video card that supports dual output.

**Detale** · 03-13-2009, 02:43 PM

**iamfoesho** · 03-14-2009, 01:10 AM

You can either get a video card with two vga/dvi outputs or get a a vga/dvi spliiter from somewhere like monoprice.com for cheap.

**Hookah** · 03-14-2009, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by iamfoesho

You can either get a video card with two vga/dvi outputs or get a a vga/dvi spliiter from somewhere like monoprice.com for cheap.

if i get the splitter, do you think i should upgrade my ram too?

**iceman0113** · 03-14-2009, 07:12 PM

Don't think it's going to matter. You only upgrade RAM if you're going to do more stuff with two monitors. I have 2 monitors up with only 2 gigs of RAM running. Usually one monitor is playing a movie/entertainment or something and the other is for work.

**Hookah** · 03-14-2009, 11:42 PM

Originally Posted by iceman0113

Don't think it's going to matter. You only upgrade RAM if you're going to do more stuff with two monitors. I have 2 monitors up with only 2 gigs of RAM running. Usually one monitor is playing a movie/entertainment or something and the other is for work.

yeah im only running 512mb ram in 1 of my 4 slots

ive been Highly advised to throw some more ram in my cpu

im thinking either:
buy another 512mb to make it like a gig
or
buy a one gig stick in there to make it a gig and a half

my question is with matched pairs of ram
am i better off getting 2 smaller sticks of ram that match or just getting the max gig each slot and take and popping it in one slot.

**Artemis** · 03-15-2009, 06:38 AM

You need to understand the concepts behind multiple monitors as well. Being able to have multiple desktops is a function of the graphical output of your video card. If you purchase a splitter you are simply going to clone (repeat) the output to another source. If you have a graphics card that can display dualhead, i.e it can stretch the desktop across multiple screens rather than just repeating the output from one screen on another then you have a far more effective dual output system.