Dual monitors?

[thewolfe]

I have a Dell Inspiron 530 with a Dell monitor E196FPf. I have their standard video card and had them add a Nvidia GeForce 8300GS.

I would like to be able to use a second monitor but...
1. The nVidia "control panel" does not have an option for a second monitor

2. The "Display" does not give me that option.

3. Anytime I plug the second monitor into the original video connector it takes over with the standard card.

4. I get this message before bootup: "Unsupported video configuration detected. The action is required.
This computer has an ad-in graphics card with the monitor cable is plugged into the in integrated video connector. To attach the monitor cable to the add-in graphics card or shutdown , plug the monitor into..................."

5. When the second monitor is being viewed the BIOS showes under INIT display first:
onboard
PCI slot

6. On the nVidia card in the BIOS I have these options: INIT Display first
PCIEx
PCI slot
DVMT
DVMT
Fixed

Any ideas?

[thewolfe]

I got this back from an inquiry I made to Dell.

From your e-mail I understand that you want to connect two monitors to your computer. I will be more than glad to provide you with its complete information.

I would like to inform you that whenever we add an additional Video Card to a computer the integrated Video card on the motherboard gets disabled because the additional is more powerful and control is transferred to it. So, we cannot use integrated video card for connecting an additional monitor however I would recommend you to buy a Splitter(Y- Cable) to do the same and connect it on video card.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As a dell rep I can confirm that, you need a video card with dual dvi on it, as it does disable the onboard.

[saphalline]

If your 8300 GS does not have two outputs, then you cannot add a second monitor with your current hardware. You'll have to add another vid card or replace that 8300 GS.