[theryanthomas]

I'm trying to connect a 2nd monitor to my desktop and I don't know how to go about doing it. I've attached pics of what the cable for the monitor looks like (15 pin male VGA I believe) and what the back of the desktop looks like.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Attached File(s)

•  IMG_0689.jpg (34.63K)
  Number of downloads: 9
•  IMG_0688.jpg (86.74K)
  Number of downloads: 8

[LiveBrianD]

Fortunately for you, you have 2 outputs - VGA and DisplayPort. You can likely use both at once. Unfortunately for you, I don't think you can convert a digital connection like DisplayPort to an analog one like VGA (the exception is DVI because it contains extra pins for that and simply requires a physical adapter). If you can run a monitor with DVI or something, you can get an adapter to use that second port.

[smax013]

LiveBrianD, on 19 July 2011 - 10:58 AM, said:

Fortunately for you, you have 2 outputs - VGA and DisplayPort. You can likely use both at once. Unfortunately for you, I don't think you can convert a digital connection like DisplayPort to an analog one like VGA (the exception is DVI because it contains extra pins for that and simply requires a physical adapter). If you can run a monitor with DVI or something, you can get an adapter to use that second port.

Maybe. Based upon the picture, it looks like integrated graphics. If so, depending on the integrated graphics, it might have trouble driving two monitors.

The other possibility is that it might be a "dummie" port. Some "manufactured" machines have ports that are not used because HP or Dell, etc might use that same case for other models that do use the other port. While this is the less likely potential problem, it is still a small possibility.

End result...

What is the make and model of the computer? What kind of graphics system does it have in it?

As LiveBrianD noted, you do have another monitor port there...a DisplayPort. Thus, it might be possible to use that port. So, you could "test it" by getting either a monitor with a DisplayPort or getting an adapter to go from DisplayPort to DVI. But, both options likely mean you spending money before you really know if it will work or not. Thus, I would suggest providing more information so that we can try to determine if it is doable with your current configuration before you potentially go spend money on trying to test it.

[LiveBrianD]

I doubt it's a dummie. I saw a guy who had a laptop with a hole outline on the side that looked like HDMI, but it was filled in. I wonder if there other models actually had the port. It really looks like a real port.

[Evildave]

http://www.google.co...playport+to+vga

You're probably gonna need an adapter, but it's a coin-toss whether the integrated graphics will give you two monitors, or not. Unless you can come up with more details about the graphics card (hint: Display Properties)

[LiveBrianD]

Speaking of which, what model is this? It looks like a Dell SFF, given how it has those colors around the ports, which I don't think other manufacturers have.

Also, if you buy an adapter like evildave suggested, do NOT get a minidisplayport>VGA adapter. 2/3rds of the search results seem to have that - what if I'm NOT looking for an adapter to get around a port that only apple uses? Also, these are actually active adapters - they convert signal. As I said, DVI-I connectors have the pins for a regular DVI-I connection (up to 1920x1200), as well as the extra ones for dual-link DVI (up to 2560x1600) if you have the connectors. They also have the pins for analog VGA, so it's just a matter of a physical adapter if you want analog. There's no actual signal conversion going on. Nor is there any going from HDMI to DVI, or vise versa - the digital signal is exactly the same between the two.

[smax013]

LiveBrianD, on 19 July 2011 - 02:10 PM, said:

I doubt it's a dummie. I saw a guy who had a laptop with a hole outline on the side that looked like HDMI, but it was filled in. I wonder if there other models actually had the port. It really looks like a real port.

I agree that it looks real, but it might not be hooked to anything. I have encountered a computer once that had a second video port (DVI if I recall correctly) that was not connected to anything.