Video card help

PC_Confused
PC_Confused Member Posts: 21 Networker
edited March 1 in 2018 Archives
I have the Acer Inspire TC-280 PC and I would like to run two monitors.  I can't get the installed video card to work two monitors, so I purchased a MSI Radeon HD6450 PCI Express video card.  I even tried using the existing HDMI plug to DVI plug, but I couldn't get that to work either?  I installed the new video card but I needed to purchase a DVI to VGA adapter, because both of my monitors have the old 15 pin male plug.  I finally received the adapter but I can still only get one monitor to work at a time.  Is there something in the BIOS that I need to change?  The MSI video card works with only one monitor plugged in, so I think the video card is working, but is it working right???

Best Answer

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,234 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓
    With DVI to VGA adapters there is a different design needed for DVI->VGA than for VGA->DVI. I wonder if your adapter is backwards from what you are trying to use it for? The DVI->VGA is quite a bit more expensive IIRC because it has to have smarts built in to convert the digital video to analog.
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.

Answers

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,891 Trailblazer
    Which HDMI port did you try to use on the image below? Jack E/NJ


    Jack E/NJ

  • PC_Confused
    PC_Confused Member Posts: 21 Networker
    I first used the built, in Item 2, HDMI port.  I did have to use a HDMI to VGA adapter, but couldn't get it to work.  I didn't try the HDMI port on the Expansion card, yet.

  • christy1
    christy1 Member Posts: 1,619 Community Aficionado WiFi Icon
    Hi @PC_Confused,

    Did you try one monitor with hdmi and other with vga without using the converter? 
    Accept if its Helpful.   B)
  • PC_Confused
    PC_Confused Member Posts: 21 Networker
    Both of my monitors are the old VGA male pin type, so I can't use the HDMI plug.  Even with the HDMI to VGA adapter, it didn't work.  I even had to purchase a DVI to VGA adapter, and that didn't work.  I even tried one VGA plugged into the Motherboard and one VGA plugged into the PCI Express card, no luck.  Only one monitor worked at a time.  If I switched the plugs around, the other monitor would work by itself.  I've even gone to using two PC's, so I can work on spreadsheets on one monitor and find the data on the other monitor.  Wasted effort, but it works.
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,891 Trailblazer
    Remove the 2 screws on the VGA cover #3. What do you see behind the cover? Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,234 Trailblazer
    Both of your monitors will need to be on the expansion card, not on the motherboard ports.
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • PC_Confused
    PC_Confused Member Posts: 21 Networker
     JackE - it looks like that VGA plug connects to the MotherBoard. 
     billsey - I've tried both monitors connected to that PCI board but I can only get the VGA plug to work.  My other monitor is plugged into DVI port through a DVI to VGA adapter.  The VGA port works but I can't get that DVI port to work.  There is a Chance that the new DVI adapter, I bought, could be bad, I don't know how to test it.  If I unplug one monitor from the VGA plug and plug the other monitor into that VGA port, that monitor works and the one plugged into the DVI port doesn't work?  When I go into settings and have the program search for another monitor, it can't find the second monitor. 
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,891 Trailblazer
    >>>it looks like that VGA plug connects to the MotherBoard.  >>>

    Without the HD6450 card plugged in (1) Does the built-in VGA port #3 work with a VGA monitor? (2) Does the built-in HDMI work with TV set? (3) Does the VGA monitor and TV set both work at the same time with the built-in graphics?

    Jack E/NJ



    Jack E/NJ

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,234 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓
    With DVI to VGA adapters there is a different design needed for DVI->VGA than for VGA->DVI. I wonder if your adapter is backwards from what you are trying to use it for? The DVI->VGA is quite a bit more expensive IIRC because it has to have smarts built in to convert the digital video to analog.
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,891 Trailblazer
    Since the HD6450 card already has a native VGA port, it doesn't seem to support a 2nd VGA port through a DVI-VGA adapter. It might thru the HDMI port with an HDMI-VGA adapter but I doubt it. I just wanted to see if his built-in ports are working as they should. Next would be the HD6450 itself.  Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • bridgetell
    bridgetell Member Posts: 2 New User
    Yes, motherboard and one VGA plugged into the PCI Express card, no luck.  Only one monitor worked at a time.  If I switched the plugs around, the other monitor would work by itself.

    ___________________________
    A & W Windows


  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,234 Trailblazer
    Did you verify the adapter you have is correct for DVI->VGA?
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • PC_Confused
    PC_Confused Member Posts: 21 Networker
    billsey - I received that active DVI to VGA adapter today, hooked it up and now both monitors are working...  So far I'm not having any problems with power supply but will watch it.  Thanks for your suggestion about the active adapter and help solving my TC-280 dual monitor problem.
  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,234 Trailblazer
    No problem, glad it's sorted! :)
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.

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