Dual Monitor Set up - HD Radeon 6450 Help Please!

DR.Magoo

Hi guys, I have been struggling with this problem for a while and was hoping someone here could help me!

I want to run a dual monitor set up on my new computer. It has a Radeon 6450 graphics card which has a VGA, HDMI and DVID connection, as seen below.



The two monitors I have are both Dells, and only have a VGA connection to them. Currently I have one of my monitors working, just by using a VGA to VGA cable from the graphics card to the monitor.

I want to runa a Dual Monitor set up, as previously mentioned. How can I go about this in expensively?

I have tried using a VGA to DVID converter to run the second monitor, but when I go into my screen resolution on WIN 7 it isn't recognized, even when I press detect. Only the VGA - VGA connected monitor is showing.

I was full sure that converting the DVID to VGA using a converter (pic below) would work but obviously it isn't



This is really bugging me now, I thought it would be relatively straight forward but so far it hasn't proven to be.

Can someone please help me as to what I need to do?

Thank you!

Magoo.

yoyo

It looks like that card has a dual link DVI so should be ok to VGA, have you tried updating Gfx Card drivers, also have a look around in catalyst control center for any display settings

Nick

DR.Magoo

yoyo wrote: »

It looks like that card has a dual link DVI so should be ok to VGA, have you tried updating Gfx Card drivers, also have a look around in catalyst control center for any display settings

Nick

Thanks for that Nick. Had trouble identifying the correct driver I need online, got one there so going to give it a try. Is Catalyst Control an App that I need to download?

Many thanks for the help.

dyer

as yoyo pointed out.. you might need to detect a new display in your catalyst software/set resolution etc before it works (or try extending/duplicating the current one)

btw :

DVI-Digital (DVI-D) supports digital displays only.

DVI-Integrated (DVI-I) supports both digital and analog displays.

DVI-A ..for analog only.



ive a radeon hd4890 and i use the DVI-I adapter in the pic above to connect to my vga CRT monitor.. i used a vga to DVI(something or other) to connect to my flatpanel in a dual setup which i dont have connected atm so i cant check for ya.

according to the spec sheet of the hd6450

Dual-link DVI with HDCP

Max resolution: 2560x1600

VGA

Max resolution: 2048x1536
http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/amd-radeon-hd-6000/hd-6450/pages/amd-radeon-hd-6450-overview.aspx#2

so looks like a dvi-i adapter is what you need.

dyer

Is Catalyst Control an App that I need to download?

you can download a driver package that includes catalyst control.

goto > http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx
enter your model and OS and it'll send you to a download page, you don't need to worry what version you use as the newest version will support all previous cards.

once its installed, right click anywhere on the desktop and select AMD vision control center.

oisin

There are different types of DVI connectors, DVI-I, DVI-D and DVI-A, some have more pins connected than others,

http://www.lyberty.com/encyc/articles/tech/img/all-DVI-types.jpg

Not sure which one you need, but the one you are using might be the wrong one.


Edit:Oops dyer beat me to it!

DR.Magoo

Many thanks for all the replys lads!

Okay here is where it gets confusing.

Beside the port it has DVID engraved into it. But the connection is actually a DVII and so is the adaptor I have.

So I can't see where my problem is?

DR.Magoo

dyer wrote: »

you can download a driver package that includes catalyst control.

goto > http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx
enter your model and OS and it'll send you to a download page, you don't need to worry what version you use as the newest version will support all previous cards.

once its installed, right click anywhere on the desktop and select AMD vision control center.

Okay I have done this now, and I am in the Catalyst Control Centre, where do I go from here now?

Many thanks!

DR.Magoo

Okay, from here I have gone into the Creating and Arranging Desktops part of Catalyst Control Centre, I have tried to detect the second display, but no luck unfortunately.

Is there any direction to go from from here?

yoyo

DR.Magoo wrote: »

Okay, from here I have gone into the Creating and Arranging Desktops part of Catalyst Control Centre, I have tried to detect the second display, but no luck unfortunately.

Is there any direction to go from from here?

Try connecting just one display to the DVI/VGA adaptor and see if it works,

Nick

DR.Magoo

yoyo wrote: »

Try connecting just one display to the DVI/VGA adaptor and see if it works,

Nick

Just try'd that there Yoyo and it didn't work.

So in theory, everything I have connected and installed should be working right?

I'm going to get another VGA to DVID converter tommorow and try it out, just to see if that is the problem.


There's never anything too easy eh?

yoyo

DR.Magoo wrote: »

Just try'd that there Yoyo and it didn't work.

So in theory, everything I have connected and installed should be working right?

I'm going to get another VGA to DVID converter tommorow and try it out, just to see if that is the problem.


There's never anything too easy eh?

You cannot go DVI-D to VGA, DVI-A (Analog) or DVI-I (Analog & digital) should work ok. I wonder does the video card you have not support DVI-I and only DVI-D, its possible... I thought DVI Dual Link meant it could carry both analog and digital signals, but seemingly not always, Its quite likely your card only does DVI-D

Nick

Nick

DR.Magoo

yoyo wrote: »

You cannot go DVI-D to VGA, DVI-A (Analog) or DVI-I (Analog & digital) should work ok. I wonder does the video card you have not support DVI-I and only DVI-D, its possible... I thought DVI Dual Link meant it could carry both analog and digital signals, but seemingly not always, Its quite likely your card only does DVI-D

Nick

Nick

Apologies Nick, in my last post I should have said DVI-I, not DVI-D.

So, i'll pick up another DVI-I converter tomorrow and try it out.


If that won't work, what other options have I to connect another monitor?
Obviously get rid of the second VGA monitor I have and replace it with something compatible with something else?

yoyo

DR.Magoo wrote: »

Apologies Nick, in my last post I should have said DVI-I, not DVI-D.

So, i'll pick up another DVI-I converter tomorrow and try it out.


If that won't work, what other options have I to connect another monitor?
Obviously get rid of the second VGA monitor I have and replace it with something compatible with something else?

Looks like that video card sometimes only does DVI-D so you'll be out of luck to get an adaptor (like you have) working DVI->VGA. Something like this should work!

Nick

DR.Magoo

yoyo wrote: »

Looks like that video card sometimes only does DVI-D so you'll be out of luck to get an adaptor (like you have) working DVI->VGA. Something like this should work!

Nick

So it would be easier if I was to just swap the graphics card for the one you linked me rather than changing monitors etc or trying to get my current graphics card to work?

Thanks a million for your help, I genuinely really appreciate it, as it is the first time i've ever dealt with such a problem, so your experience is a god send!

Is it hard or tricky to replace a graphics card on a desktop? Would it even still be possible to get a graphics card with 2 VGA outputs? Or even if I was to us a VGA splitter cable such as below, could that work?

http://site.ambery.com/webgraph/VGA-YCable-Diagram.gif

yoyo

DR.Magoo wrote: »

So it would be easier if I was to just swap the graphics card for the one you linked me rather than changing monitors etc or trying to get my current graphics card to work?

Thanks a million for your help, I genuinely really appreciate it, as it is the first time i've ever dealt with such a problem, so your experience is a god send!

Is it hard or tricky to replace a graphics card on a desktop? Would it even still be possible to get a graphics card with 2 VGA outputs? Or even if I was to us a VGA splitter cable such as below, could that work?

http://site.ambery.com/webgraph/VGA-YCable-Diagram.gif

The card I linked to does both DVI-I and VGA, so your DVI->VGA adaptor will work along with simply VGA->VGA. No current cards will do VGA only (High end cards are only DVI) due to digital being a better quality signal. To replace the card is simple enough, just make sure your current card is a PCIexpress one, I'm sure it is. The card I linked to comes with both full a low profile brackets, smaller cases use low profile, standard full profile etc. You can just screw one off scre another on etc. Install is about a 10 minute job max.
Just uninstall the ATI drivers before shutting Windows down, remove old card, install new one then turn on computer and install the Nvidia drivers (will come with a CD but best off getting newset ones off www.nvidia.com).
I've no expierience with a VGA Y cable, but you would only have a cloned display, rather than an aditional one (if the same signal be going to both monitors)
Another Edit (Tired tonight! ): Make sure to completely unplug the computer and touch a piece of the unpainted metal of the case whenever changing computer hardware, not doing so may cause components to get fried with static (rare to happen but good to be careful all the same)

Nick

DR.Magoo

yoyo wrote: »

The card I linked to does both DVI-I and VGA, so your DVI->VGA adaptor will work along with simply VGA->VGA. No current cards will do VGA only (High end cards are only DVI) due to digital being a better quality signal. To replace the card is simple enough, just make sure your current card is a PCIexpress one, I'm sure it is. The card I linked to comes with both full a low profile brackets, smaller cases use low profile, standard full profile etc. You can just screw one off scre another on etc. Install is about a 10 minute job max.
Just uninstall the ATI drivers before shutting Windows down, remove old card, install new one then turn on computer and install the Nvidia drivers (will come with a CD but best off getting newset ones off www.nvidia.com).
I've no expierience with a VGA Y cable, but you would only have a cloned display, rather than an aditional one (if the same signal be going to both monitors)
Another Edit (Tired tonight! ): Make sure to completely unplug the computer and touch a piece of the unpainted metal of the case whenever changing computer hardware, not doing so may cause components to get fried with static (rare to happen but good to be careful all the same)

Nick

Thats great info right there Nick, thanks a million. I think i'll go order that graphics card so and try out the dual monitor system with that. Fingers crossed it will work! How would I go about checking if my current graphics card is a PCI express one?

yoyo

DR.Magoo wrote: »

Thats great info right there Nick, thanks a million. I think i'll go order that graphics card so and try out the dual monitor system with that. Fingers crossed it will work! How would I go about checking if my current graphics card is a PCI express one?

GPUz will do it (Bus Interface) Should be PCIe x16

Nick

dyer

wut? you dont need to order a new gfx card at all.. just figure out the connections that you need..

do you have any mates who are knowledgeable with computers? ask them... save yourself a few hundred quid

yoyo

dyer wrote: »

wut? you dont need to order a new gfx card at all.. just figure out the connections that you need..

do you have any mates who are knowledgeable with computers? ask them... save yourself a few hundred quid

Whats the alterinative . Buy an external DAC or buy a new monitor with DVI? You can't go digital to analog without conversion first, and buying a converter will possibly be much more than a new video card, from a quick google

Nick

freeze4real

Did you manage to sort this out ?

I'm getting this card this week and i already bought a DVI to vga converter, will it still work ?

SO are you basically saying that HD 6450 cant run a dual set up with a splitter ?

yoyo

freeze4real wrote: »

Did you manage to sort this out ?

I'm getting this card this week and i already bought a DVI to vga converter, will it still work ?

SO are you basically saying that HD 6450 cant run a dual set up with a splitter ?

DVI-A or DVI-I will do analogue/VGA with a converter, DVI-D (digital) will not. The card I linked to has a DVI-I port so it should work fine

Nick

freeze4real

yoyo wrote: »

DVI-A or DVI-I will do analogue/VGA with a converter, DVI-D (digital) will not. The card I linked to has a DVI-I port so it should work fine

Nick

so if I were to get this card then I should get DVI-A or DVI-I card, and it'll work fine ?

yoyo

freeze4real wrote: »

so if I were to get this card then I should get DVI-A or DVI-I card, and it'll work fine ?

Best of getting a DVI-I card (I'm not sure they make DVI-A cards these days) should work fine, a DVI-D port will not allow use with a DVI->VGA converter

Nick

freeze4real

yoyo wrote: »

Best of getting a DVI-I card (I'm not sure they make DVI-A cards these days) should work fine, a DVI-D port will not allow use with a DVI->VGA converter

Nick

thanks Nick

DR.Magoo

Just want to thank Yoyo for his advice, received my bits from Elara today after a **** up from DPD, installed them and its working away perfect, couldn't be happier!

Thanks to Yoyo, a great asset to the forum!

yoyo

DR.Magoo wrote: »

Just want to thank Yoyo for his advice, received my bits from Elara today after a **** up from DPD, installed them and its working away perfect, couldn't be happier!

Thanks to Yoyo, a great asset to the forum!

Always happy to help

Nick