nospam said:
Intel says their Extreme graphics 2 is dual monitor compatible but It only
has one port(VGA) and a serial port, and a parallele port, so how is it dual
monitor capable and how can I connect second monitor. I have severe sight
loss so I really need to connect 2nd monitor. Please help.
http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/d845grg/sb/cs-010413.htm#13.3
"What is the Intel Extreme Graphics controller?
----------------------------------------------
Intel Extreme Graphics controller is the integrated graphics controller within
the Intel 82845G Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH). The Intel 845G chipset
contains two separate, mutually exclusive graphics options. Either the Intel
Extreme Graphics controller (contained within the 82845G GMCH) is used, or an
AGP add-in video card can be used. When an AGP add-in video card is installed,
the on-board Intel Extreme Graphics controller is disabled.
What is an ADD card?
--------------------
An AGP Digital Display (ADD) card can be used to provide two multiplexed DVO port
interfaces in support of a TV-OUT connector or a flat panel output connector. Only
one DVO channel may be in use at any one time.
What happens if I install an ADD card and connect a monitor to the back panel VGA connector?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When a video AGP add-in card is used, the Intel Extreme Graphics controller is disabled
and the AGP connector operates in AGP mode.
When an ADD card is detected, the Intel Extreme Graphics controller is enabled and
the AGP connector is configured for DVO mode."
To rephrase that, if you add an ordinary AGP video card, it has two connectors on it,
and you could run dual monitors that way. The video connector on the back of the computer,
in the I/O plate area, would be disabled.
If you purchase an ADD card, and plug that into the AGP slot, that is a "display
converter". It takes signals from the AGP slot and converts them to video. It
isn't an ordinary video card as such. You don't install a driver for the card.
The card has no identity. It's function is purely mechanical (convert DVO to TV
or DVO to DVI).
The ADD card drives one monitor, while the VGA connector on the back of the
computer drives the second monitor.
You have to be careful when buying ADD cards. There is ADD and there is ADD2,
and there might even be another flavor for all I know. You have to identify the
correct product to buy, before you'll be able to drive a second monitor from
your motherboard.
I think in one case, a motherboard may have shipped with the ADD card included
in the motherboard box. But in most other cases, this idea of adding the ADD
card is a joke. Most people are unable to find a product for sale, when they
need one. You'd be better off just shopping for an ordinary AGP video card
with two connectors on it.
This product is an example of an ADD-type card. Notice it doesn't have big
heatsinks like an AGP video card. Such cards have one or more, relatively
"dumb" chips. This card appears to drive a mini-DIN connector, for a TV set,
as well as a DVI connector. You could only use one of the two connectors
at any one time. In other words, you could use the regular VGA already
on the back of the computer, and drive a new LCD monitor with the DVI
connector on the ADD card. I can't even find documentation for this
card on the Intel site (using the LADKITADDS1 part number), so I can't
tell you what motherboards it is for.
http://www.amazon.com/INTEL-LADKITA...7?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1265845107&sr=8-7
There is a second example picture here, which is a little bit easier to see.
Apparently this card works with 865G, which is a more modern chip than
845G.
http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/intel865g/sb/CS-009166.htm
Note as well, that driving two monitors with an anemic graphics chip, doesn't
invite snappy performance. Which is another reason to consider using
a proper AGP card instead. An AGP card has private, high bandwidth memory
on board, for best performance.
There are sample AGP video cards here. Some of these cards are better than
others.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...9639&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&Subcategory=48
This page can help you select a compatible card to work with your motherboard
chipset. For example, an 845G is the same as "845" and is an "AGP 1.5V Motherboard".
The "Practical Motherboard And Card Compatibility" table shows that kind of
motherboard works with anything, except video cards which operate at 3.3V only.
The slot pattern on the video card, is one clue to the voltage. This page doesn't
do a good job identifying modern "bridged" AGP video cards, so this page
still isn't as complete as it could be. Some video card part numbers won't be on
here.
http://www.playtool.com/pages/agpcompat/agp.html
This is one example, out of the list of cards on Newegg. It has
VGA and DVI connectors. The DVI probably supports monitors with
decent resolutions, unlike some of the even older cards. Some of the
older cards, may have DVI resolution limits caused by an inability
to meet the 165MHz DVI clock spec. There are a few older cards that
only make it to about 135MHz, and the driver writers artificially
limit the resolution settings offered, so you can't see the uglyness.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143069
For older cards like that, *always* read the customer reviews, because
the customers have learned a great many things about their purchases.
Such as where to find the best drivers, whether there are
resolution limits, and so on. That will help you refine your
selection, to something worth purchasing.
Paul
