Dell 537s Dual Monitor Video Card Question

[clydesnodgrass]

Howdy - I'm new to the forum and have a video question.

I have a new Dell 537S with integrated video card. I have two brand new Dell 23" monitors that I want to extend my desktop onto the 2nd screen with. I was going ot buy the USB video card adapter, however, the native resolution on them doesn't go nearly as high as the res on my current setup (1920x1080).

I've looked on Dells website, tried to call customer support and get a spec 'list' of the available ports in the PC but can't find anything to answer my question:

"What kind of video card will fit in a half height card slot that allows two monitor outputs"? It's the slim tower case and this is the first style of case like this that I've purchased, so I am NOT familiar with smaller video cards and don't want to buy the wrong item. I'm not concerned with stellar performance, just being able to match the res on each screen once extended. I don't play games or anything, this PC is used strictly for work/home office 'stuff'.

Thanks guys.
Clyde

[Silent Service]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102829

This card should work well, this is the card that dell uses in the higher version of that model.

[clydesnodgrass]

Since the card doesn't have a second monitor out, will I be able to keep the VGA port on the integrated card active and run the second monitor off the video card?

[financer7]

Hey Clyde,

You're in luck. I'm trying to have dual monitors with a Vostro 200 Slim and I've been researching this non-stop for about 2 days now. I've found a few different solutions. Here goes:

Your case is a little different than mine being that you have a video card. My monitor is integrated with the motherboard rendering it useless for dual monitor hookup. Here is one solution that I found:

http://www.phinesolutions.com/new-dell-desktop-get-a-dual-monitor.html

Another is to get a video card that has both a DVI output and an HDMI output. This is the only way to get 2 outputs on a low profile card. You will then need an HDMI to DVI cable.

Here is the best card I've found thus far.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102829

and here is the cable that you will need:

http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Go-40320-Velocity-Digital/dp/B0009ST7I4

Hope this helps. I still haven't done my install yet...but I'm on hour 10 of researching and these solutions seem to work. One thing I can tell you: Don't listen to the Dell techs. They have no clue what cards fit these cases. I have read over and over again on the Dell forums about incorrect recommendations for setting up dual monitors with these slim case computers.....and they have recommended the wrong video card to me twice now.

Hope this helps!

Chris