Problem with twin monitor set up - help please

Loopy

Loopy

Messages
2,167
Name
Lynda
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi, sorry to be a pain, but I'm having a real problem setting up twin monitors. :thinking:

My graphics card is a 1 GB ATI Radeon HD 5450
There is one port for a monitor at the back of the computer (I am trying to use an adaptor to convert this to two) BTW the computer was bought in November from Dell and I specifically told them what I needed with regards to the graphics card, so if they have given me the wrong thing please tell me.

I have two monitors with different max screen resolution:-
1 - Samsung TV/monitor 1680 x 1050
2 - Hannspree 1280 x 1024 (i think)

The idea was that I would use the lower res screen for all the tools etc, and the samsung for editing and viewing images.

I also have a Sony on standby but it's not a big screen.

I'm being a bit vague with the screen resolutions of the hannspree and the Sony because at the moment I can only get a duplicate on each screen. I can't split them so they can be used independantly, therefore when I check the screen properties, I'm not sure which one is giving me the reading.

I have tried changing the settings between 'duplicate displays', 'extend displays' and the 'show desktop on 1/2' but none seem to give the the required setting.

In fact when I used the show desktop on 1, I've lost everything on the second monitor bar the mouse pointer.

When I use the extend display setting
9f50ba41.jpg

and try to identify screens it doesn't seem to recognise that there are two separate displays - just one big one.

I realise that I'm starting to talk nonsense now, so I'm going to walk away for 10 minutes and come back when my head is spinning less.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you
L
 
Highlight the monitor you want to be your main monitor, it soesn't matter whether it's 1 or 2

Click on make this my main display and then hit Apply, you must set your mainmonitor.

Then go to extend these displays and it should sort it.

What you should end up with is the same desktop background on your second monitor without icon and taskbar.

You can then drag whatever you want to the second screen.

I'll double check my settings later and confirm my settings as I run a two monitor setup.
 
This should be your graphics card..
ati-radeon-hd-5670.jpg


You will only see the end with the ports on it..

What you need to do is plug one monitor in to the blue port, this is a VGA connector.
The other monitor should be plugged into the white port, this is a DVI connector.. you might have to get an adapter to change this to VGA if you have a VGA cable.

By the sounds of it I think you are using a splitter adapter and both monitors are being fed off the same output - that won't work.
 
ChrisH said:
Twin output card Craft
Click to expand...

Yes but the OP said

"There is one port for a monitor at the back of the computer (I am trying to use an adaptor to convert this to two)"

Which sounds very much like a splitter to me, possible that he is trying to use the on-board graphics port, rather than his snazzy ATI card ?
 
Okay lets wait for a reply from the OP as to how many sockets are on the back of his card :D
 
have checked with the mighty google and have seen about 6 different makes of that card. all have twin outlets one vga one dvi.

looking at the op ss of the set up screen they only have the vga side connected.

but we can only wait till they repost i guess
 
even if the card does have DVI and VGA id concider replacing it for a twin DVI, in comparison VGA does look washed out and fuzzy.

(thats based on an ATI card i was running 2 identical screens off of at work for a while)
 
I have a twin DVI card but it only has one LUT, useless if you want to profile both monitors :(
 
ChrisH said:
Highlight the monitor you want to be your main monitor, it soesn't matter whether it's 1 or 2

Click on make this my main display and then hit Apply, you must set your mainmonitor.

Then go to extend these displays and it should sort it.

What you should end up with is the same desktop background on your second monitor without icon and taskbar.

You can then drag whatever you want to the second screen.

I'll double check my settings later and confirm my settings as I run a two monitor setup.
Click to expand...

Can't do this. The 'make this my main display is greyed out' but thanks for the reply.

Craft said:
This should be your graphics card..
ati-radeon-hd-5670.jpg


You will only see the end with the ports on it..

What you need to do is plug one monitor in to the blue port, this is a VGA connector.
The other monitor should be plugged into the white port, this is a DVI connector.. you might have to get an adapter to change this to VGA if you have a VGA cable.

By the sounds of it I think you are using a splitter adapter and both monitors are being fed off the same output - that won't work.
Click to expand...

Okay, yes, that's what I see at the back.

neil_g said:
it does sound like the OP is using a Y splitter, but as per my first if we could confirm.
Click to expand...

Reply to both of the above, yes, it seems I am using a splitter. Ignorance on my part.
I'll set about getting an adaptor or new cable for the other port.
Thank you all for your time and input. It makes more sense now.
 
ok, thanks. It might be the weekend before I get a chance to do it now, but at least I have some direction.
The monitors were going to be in the garden tonight!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top