How to connect a second monitor or TV to a computer or laptop. How to connect two or more monitors to one computer: from theory to practice How to connect a second computer with a screen

One of my readers had a question about how to connect a second monitor in “clone” mode. To be honest, I didn’t think such a question could arise. But after browsing the forums, I realized that this kind of question is not uncommon.

Some people can’t connect a monitor, some have a modern TV, some can’t play a new game in multiscreen mode (displaying images on multiple screens), etc. So I had a desire to write a more or less detailed description of possible solutions to the problem of connecting a second monitor.

Below I will present 4 options for solving the problem, one of them should suit you.

connecting a second monitor in windows 7

Those of you who have the Windows 7 operating system installed on your computer are most likely the luckiest ones. The developers of this OS studied the most important problematic issues of users and provided fairly effective solutions.

So, if you have windows7 OS installed, do the following:

1. Connect a second monitor to the video card output.

2. Press the key combination “WIN+P” on the keyboard, this picture will appear

3. Select the required option and enjoy the resulting picture.

connecting a second monitor to a laptop

If you have a mobile laptop, then, as a rule, software developers for it have already taken care of the issue of connecting an external device to output a video signal. It’s not always convenient to work behind a small monitor, and you don’t want to strain your eyes.

To connect an external monitor or TV to a laptop or netbook, you need to use the preinstalled system tools. Most often, a utility from Intel is installed. Look in the lower right corner on the taskbar next to the clock there should be a blue icon (if not an Intel utility, then a different color) icon.

Right-clicking on it will open the graphics adapter management menu.

Or the second option for calling this panel is to simply click on an empty space on the desktop.

Next, select the “Output to” item -> and in the window that opens, select the option we need. To transmit the same picture as on the main monitor, you must select the “Display Clone” mode (underlined in red).

proprietary utilities from nvidia and radeon

I use this method, and it is suitable for all Windows operating systems. What needs to be done? Yes, just open the “Video Card Control Panel”, the icon of which is usually located near the clock.

If you are the happy owner of a GeForce video card from NVidia, then the icon is green (as in the picture), and if you have an Ati Radeon card, then it is red, with the inscription “Ati” on it.

Double-click on this icon -> go to the “Video Card Control Panel” -> find “Display Manager” in the menu on the left -> then go to the “Install multiple displays” item and set the resolution for each monitor by selecting the image display option.

working with CATALYST Control Center

This method is also universal, but unlike the previous one, it has great capabilities in the field of fine-tuning and adjusting the image to a specific situation and a specific application.

The name of this universal tool for managing the connection of external information output devices is “CATALYST Control Center”.

You can download the latest version from the developer’s official website by selecting the appropriate platform.

Installing the program should not cause you any problems. After launching the program, go to the “Display Manager” item in the left menu.

In this section, you are asked to assign the main and secondary displays, select the desktop resolution and color depth for each of them, and also rotate the image if your monitor supports this mode.

Setting up the desktop of each monitor is carried out using the context menu, called by right-clicking on the image of the corresponding display:

You can choose one of three desktop configurations:

  • By default, the found display is connected in extended desktop mode. All programs will open on the main desktop, but you can drag them to the second one with the mouse.
  • Cloning simply creates a copy of the desktop on the second display. This is convenient, for example, for organizing training or various presentations. You just need to connect a larger projector or plasma panel.
  • A stretched desktop is convenient when using two monitors installed in close proximity to each other. Your desktop completely stretches across both displays, forming a kind of panorama.

Perhaps some of you will say that a second monitor is overkill. But, I assure you that for those who use a computer not only for Internet surfing, but also for work, it creates great convenience and comfort, and also increases productivity (improves ergonomics).

Also, recently, connecting multiple monitors has become popular among computer game lovers. For example, I often connect the TV to the computer so that the whole family can watch online movies from the Internet on the big screen.

By the way, about monitors, here is a picture to cheer you up, called “Milk formula gives 10 health and 10 mana” (don’t forget to comment).

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How to connect a second, third... tenth monitor to one computer

Today you won’t surprise anyone with a multi-monitor PC configuration. And soon, we can expect that having a single display on a desk will become the exception, not the rule. This is what people say who have had the opportunity to compare the convenience of working at a computer with one and multiple monitors. And the second option, if you believe their words, is much more convenient than the first.

Statisticians share the same opinion. According to their research, if you connect 2 monitors instead of one, the productivity of personnel involved in processing large amounts of information increases by 15-60%. What can we say about gamers, for whom multi-monitor systems are the only opportunity to plunge headlong into the virtual world?

How many monitors can be connected to one computer? Connection conditions

It is unlikely that anyone is able to name the exact number of possible monitor connections to one PC, but 50 or more is definitely possible. It all depends on the budget you are willing to allocate for it. To create video walls from dozens of modules, such as in the photo below, special controllers are used. Their task is not just to display the image on many screens, but also to provide each picture with decent quality.

However, video wall controllers are an extremely expensive solution that not every enterprise can afford. A more affordable option is a video server with several multi-channel video cards. But it can cost the owner several hundred thousand rubles.

The average user, like most of us, does not need such excesses. Home gaming systems usually consist of no more than six monitors, and they can be connected not just to one computer, but to one video card. But in order to achieve the highest possible image quality, it is better to distribute the monitors so that there are no more than two or three per video camera.

Connecting two monitors is supported by almost any modern video card, even one built into the processor (chipset). Three or more - all AMD models, starting with series 5, as well as NVIDIA GTX 600 and newer.

In addition to multi-channel support, the following are important for creating multi-monitor configurations:

  • Availability of outputs on video cards that coincide with monitor inputs (the use of adapters is allowed in extreme cases when there is no other way to connect). Moreover, AMD requires a mandatory DisplayPort interface on at least one of the displays (with the exception of certain branded video cards with a built-in DisplayPort-DVI adapter). NVIDIA does not impose such conditions.
  • Video driver support for all monitor resolutions.
  • Sufficient amount of video memory. 2048 Mb is the conditional minimum for a two- or three-monitor configuration in a non-gaming system. For four or more monitors, especially if you plan to use the computer for games, there should be at least 2 times more memory.
  • High data bus bandwidth (from 128 bits) and good memory speed (the more, the better). The narrower the tire, the higher the speed should be.

To connect monitors to different video cards, the latter do not need to be combined into SLI or Crossfire. In some cases, in addition to a discrete card (inserted into the connector), you can use the built-in video if the motherboard BIOS supports it (there is an “Always Enable” option for the built-in video card output). But in such configurations, each pair of displays served by one video chip operates independently of the other. This means that you won't be able to create a common visual space across all screens.

If your computer is equipped with a single video card, you can connect monitors to several of its ports or to one. To connect 2 or more screens to one video card with 1 input, you will need a signal divider - a splitter. For example, as in the photo below. This modification can distribute a signal to 4 monitors, but the picture quality usually decreases (it depends not so much on the splitter as on the video capabilities). If the flow is barely enough for a single screen, dividing it into “rivulets” will reduce the resolution, clarity and scan frequency. And the more connections, the lower the quality.

When you connect a splitter to displays with different resolutions, the picture quality on them will be different: on some it is better, on others it is worse. And you won’t be able to correct it individually, except perhaps through the settings of the monitors themselves.

AMD cards that feature Eyefinity technology (based on the ATI Radeon R800 line of GPUs) allow you to attach up to 6 displays to them and combine them into a single visual space. But here everything is tied to the DisplayPort interface, which, unfortunately, not all devices are equipped with.

The following are acceptable combinations of connection interfaces when building multi-monitor systems using AMD Eyefinity technology:

  • To combine 3 monitors into one system, one of them must be connected via DisplayPort or miniDisplayPort (miniDP), the second via DVI, and the third via VGA, HDMI or the same DVI.
  • If there are 4 monitors, two devices must be connected to DisplayPort, the third to DVI, and the fourth to VGA or HDMI.
  • In a five-monitor system, all 5 or 3 monitors are connected to DisplayPort (miniDisplayPort), one or two to DVI, and one, if any, to HDMI.
  • The six-monitor configuration provides a connection via miniDisplayPort only.

NVIDIA Surround/3D Vision multi-monitor support technology allows you to create a shared gaming space from three monitors. However, for this you will need either a dual-processor video card, or combining two or three cards in SLI. You can connect several more displays to the remaining video outputs; they will work independently of the others.

If you do not have the task of building a video wall to display one picture on several screens, it is not necessary to adhere to the rules described above. Monitors can be connected in any configuration through any interfaces, based on 2 devices per 1 video processor. In this case, each of them will display its own desktop, and you can switch between them, drag windows from one desktop to another, etc.

The procedure for connecting and setting up additional monitors in Windows

Physical connection of devices

The process of physically connecting a second, third, etc. monitor to the video card ports is not difficult. Simply insert the connectors of the connecting cables into the sockets of both devices, remembering to first unplug them from the outlet.

When creating a dual-monitor setup, use the same interfaces whenever possible, for example, DisplayPort only or HDMI only, so that the image quality on the two screens does not differ much. If there are no identical ports on your video card, connect via different ones, for example, DVI and HDMI or HDMI and VGA. It is permissible to use adapters from one interface to another only in extreme cases, since signal conversion is always accompanied by losses, sometimes significant. The same goes for splitters. If you can do without them, try to do without them.

After making the connection, turn on the power to the system unit and monitors. Recognition of the latter, as a rule, occurs automatically. All you have to do is customize them to suit your needs.

Connecting a second monitor to laptops is done in the same way as to desktop PCs. The only difference is that the video card that will serve the additional screen is determined by the system, not the user.

Multi-display adapters

If the picture quality on the main and additional displays varies greatly, and also if you need to connect not one, but 2 additional monitors to your laptop, a specialized device - a multi-display adapter - will help out. This is a small box with a processor inside, reminiscent of a multiport splitter, and several cables included. One cable connects the box to the output of the video card, the rest are connected to the monitor inputs. It receives power from a USB port or an external adapter.

An example of such a device is Matrox DualHead2Go Digital SE.

Setting up additional screens in Windows 10 and 8.1 and 7

After the first turn on, the image on the additional monitor, as a rule, duplicates the main one. Sometimes the desktop stretches across 2 screens at once. To select the desired mode, press the key combination windows+P (Latin) - this will open the projection panel.

In windows 10 and 8.1 it looks like this:

In windows 7 - like this:

The Duplicate option plays the same picture on all displays. “Extend” - makes the second screen a continuation of the first.

If the system was unable to automatically recognize the second display, open “Display Settings” through the desktop context menu.

Click the "Discover" button (In Windows 7 - "Find").

If the device is physically functional and connected correctly, the system will most likely recognize it immediately. If not, open the Multiple Displays list and select "Try anyway to connect..." to a monitor that is not detected.

If this does not help, you should check the contacts and, if possible, connect the device with another known-good cable to another video output or another video card.

The “Define” button in the same section allows you to select which of the two displays will be the main (first) and which will be the additional (second, third, etc.).

To change the settings of one of the displays of a multi-monitor system - the size of the displayed elements, brightness level, orientation, resolution, color rendering, etc., click on the rectangle with its serial number in the gray field under the “Customize your screen” heading.

The changes will take effect after saving. You do not need to restart your computer for this.

Additional multi-display configuration settings are available in the NVIDIA and AMD Catalyst Control Panel menus.

Setting up additional screens in Windows XP

To access screen settings in Windows XP, also open the desktop context menu and click “Properties”. Next, go to the “Options” tab.

If the second monitor is correctly recognized, 2 display icons with sequential numbers will appear in the gray field. The “Find” option, as in modern versions of Windows, is not here.

By default, both screens display the same desktop image. If you want to expand it, click on the second display icon and check the “Extend desktop onto this monitor” checkbox.

Setting up each screen individually is done in the same way as in Windows 10: click on the monitor icon on the gray field and set the desired parameters. The “Screen Resolution” and “Color Quality” options are located here, and the rest - scale, adapter properties, etc., is hidden behind the “Advanced” button.

Most of the settings take effect immediately, but some only after the computer is restarted.

CompConfig.ru

Connecting a second monitor (TV). Switching between monitors in windows. +90

Sometimes the question arises of connecting an external monitor, TV or projector to your computer. The reasons for this action can be different: there is not enough workspace on one monitor, there is a desire to watch a video or play on a new large-diagonal TV, or you need to make a presentation by connecting a projector to the computer.

Connecting a second monitor. Connector types

To implement one of the above tasks, or something similar, first, you need to acquire the necessary equipment. To connect a second monitor or TV to a computer, you need a video card with at least two outputs (HDMI, DVI, VGA, etc.). Most modern video cards are equipped with two or three output connectors, so this should not be a problem

Attention! Make all connections to the video card with the computer turned off.

If everything is connected correctly, then immediately after turning on the computer, the image will be shown on both monitors, but after a few seconds, the additional screen will go dark. This is explained by the fact that the video driver controls the output of images, and until it loads, two monitors will work.

Configuring Windows to work with two monitors

Now all that remains is to configure the display on the main and additional monitors. The fact is that the computer defines one monitor as the main one, and the other as an additional one. You can configure dual monitor modes in Windows 7 in the Display Settings window. To do this, click on the Screen resolution link from the desktop context menu

In this window, you can designate the main monitor and secondary monitor, set the screen resolution, select the display orientation, and also select the display mode on two monitors.

In the settings it is possible to change their roles and places. There are four options for image output when connecting a second monitor (projector, TV):

  1. Display desktop on 1 only In this case, the image will be displayed only on the main monitor.
  2. Display desktop only on 2 Option is similar to the previous one, only the image is displayed on an additional monitor.
  3. Duplicate these screens When this mode is active, the image is duplicated on both monitors.
  4. Extend these screens When this mode is activated, the taskbar will be displayed only on the main monitor, and the second monitor will expand the boundaries of the first. By default, opened programs will be displayed on the main monitor. They can be easily dragged onto an additional screen by grabbing the window title with the mouse.

Depending on the location of the main and additional monitors, the space can expand in different directions. The relative position of the two monitors can be adjusted by simply dragging the monitor icons in the screen settings window

The Determine button allows you to determine which monitor you are currently on. When you click on it, a large number appears on each monitor, indicating the monitor number in the Windows settings.

It is very convenient to switch image output modes to monitors using the hotkey combination Win + P. When you press win + P, all 4 options for outputting images to monitors are available. Switching between monitors is carried out as follows: press Win + P simultaneously and, without releasing Win, press P until the desired mode is selected

Also, the Win + P hotkey combination may be needed in the following case. You used two monitors, and then removed one of them from the system, and the main one at that. The next time you turn on a computer with one monitor, the screen may be black. This is where you need the Win + P combination to switch the mode.

If you have an ATI video card and when outputting to a TV or projector, the image does not occupy the entire screen, and you see black bars around the edges, then you need to turn off the scaling mode in the Catalyst Control Center video card driver settings by setting the slider to 0. The scaling mode is used in if the resolution of the additional monitor or TV is higher than the main one.

populararno.com

How to use multiple monitors in windows 7

When I work a lot with the computer, a way to increase efficiency and organize myself better tasks is to use multiple monitors for the same computer. In windows 7, adding a second (and third - if you have two VGA ports computer/laptop) monitor can be configured simply in two ways:

  • shortest path Keyboard: Use the windows key combination + P (where the windows key is the windows key sign on it)
  • Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Display > Change Display Settings (Or just right-click on your desktop > Screen Resolution)

Using the windows + P key combination highlights one desktop Quick Menu of options (which can be accessed from Control Panel > Display > Connect to Projector), namely: Computer only (Use primary monitor only) Duplicate (Shows the same desktop on both monitors) Extend (Extended desktop on two monitors connected) and Projector only (Use only the second monitor), from which you can choose the one most convenient for you (usually, when you connect a second monitor to a laptop, the windows option is automatically selected, duplicates ).

The second method is to configure multiple monitors Screen Resolution. The 1 and 2 numbers displayed on the monitors will help you differentiate between the primary monitor and the secondary monitor when you want to change the settings for them (okay, you can click on the Identify button to ensure they show up correctly).

To set the display mode on multiple monitors use the drop-down following Multiple Screens It contains all the quick menu options displayed by the contextual windows + P.

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How to connect two monitors to a computer or laptop: setup in Windows

In order to increase productivity when working at a computer, many users decide to connect two monitors to a system unit or laptop. By working on two screens, you can expand the desktop space or, if necessary, duplicate the image from one of them to the other. You can connect two monitors to almost any computer or laptop, but this procedure has a number of nuances, both on Windows 7 and Windows 10, which we will pay attention to in this article.

What you need to connect two monitors to a computer

An external monitor is connected to the system unit or laptop through the output on the video card. To connect two screens, the video card must be able to send a signal through at least two outputs. Almost all video cards released since 2005 have two or more connectors for connecting an external monitor. On laptops, as a rule, there is only one such connector, but in this case the laptop display itself can serve as a second monitor.

Most often, DVI, VGA and HDMI connectors (various versions) are used to connect a monitor. On modern laptop models, a USB Type C or Thunderbolt connector can also be used to transfer information to an external monitor. Due to the obsolescence of VGA technology, the user may encounter a situation where connecting a monitor is impossible due to the lack of a corresponding connector on the video card. In such a situation, adapters will help, for example, HDMI-VGA, which are easy to purchase.

Please note: Your monitor may have multiple ports for connecting to your computer. Before purchasing an adapter, we recommend that you carefully examine all the connectors on the back of the display.

How to set up dual monitors

Most often, when you connect a system unit in the Windows operating system to a monitor, all the necessary settings are performed automatically. Accordingly, immediately after the system boots, both screens will work, and the user will only have to configure the operating mode of the monitors. The following three options are possible for a computer running Windows to work with a monitor:


Managing the operation of two monitors is carried out differently on modern Windows 10 and earlier versions of the operating system. Let's look at how to set up two monitors in different versions of Windows:


Please note that if the image on the monitor appears blurry, you also need to select the correct resolution in the screen settings.

It is worth noting that some video card manufacturers produce their own software that allows you to configure the operation of two monitors on your computer. If you have such software, you can use it to customize the screens; most often it is more functional than the standard settings in Windows.

The use of multiple monitors has long been adopted by computer users, and each of them simply needs to know how to set up a second monitor in Windows 7 or another OS. A person on one of the monitors conducts the main activity, and uses the second for interactivity or multimedia.

Sometimes a laptop or other gadget with a small screen is connected to see the image in good resolution.

Those who have never connected a second monitor may think that this procedure is very complicated and time-consuming, but in fact everything can be done in a couple of steps, which depend on the connection method.

Setting up a second monitor

If you are the owner of the seventh operating system, then you are in luck. Many issues associated with setting up a second monitor have been resolved in this version. So, in your case, you can configure the second Windows 7 monitor as follows:

  • First you need to connect the second screen to the video card connector;
  • then type the combination “WIN+P” on the keyboard;
  • Next you will see a panel on which you will be asked to select the appropriate option.

That's it, the monitor is ready to use!

Let's consider another option for connecting a second monitor

Connecting an external device is often necessary due to the very small monitor of the device. When developing software for mobile devices, the manufacturer takes into account the possibility of connecting a second screen to a laptop, so first use the tools offered by the pre-installed system.

So, you need to find the blue square icon, it is located on the bottom panel. To connect a second Windows 7 monitor, right-click on the icon to be able to configure the graphics adapter. To open the menu, click on an empty area of ​​the desktop.

Click the “Output to” item, then select the appropriate option. If you want two monitors to show the same picture, give preference to the “Display Clone” mode in the settings.

Other methods

Methods that are universal for all versions of Windows are also used. First, open the video card settings panel on your computer, then open the display settings through the screen panel and select the desired image display method. All! Job completed!

As many people have experienced, using two monitors can be useful for different purposes. At work and at home, communicating online, watching movies and much more becomes much more convenient.

Hello, dear readers!

The connected monitors are shown schematically at the top. Usually the operating system detects them immediately, if this does not happen, click on the button Find.

After pressing the button Define Numbers appear on the screens indicating which monitor is the first and which is the second.

First, Screen– select the monitor to configure.

Second, Permission, it is usually indicated as recommended, it is better not to change.

Third, , it can be made landscape or portrait. This will become clearer after considering additional parameters.

Fourth, the most important thing for us, There are four points here if you select Duplicate these screens, then they will display the same thing, the two mouse pointers will move exactly the same. This option should be chosen if the second monitor is used for demonstration to other people.

For individual work, it is better to choose the second option - Expand these screens. In this case, the screen of the second monitor will become a continuation of the first. There will be one mouse pointer, it can be moved from screen to screen, and you can drag objects, for example, program windows or folders. Look at the screenshot and photo below - part of the window can be on one screen, and the other on the second. This is exactly the mode I use in my work, I’m used to it and am very pleased that there is such an opportunity.

There are two more options - Display desktop on 1 or 2 screens only. There is such an opportunity, but it’s hard to say why to use it, maybe someone will share how to use it.

Even lower, you can determine which monitor will be the main one. The main one is the one on which the button is located Start And Task bar.

Now let's move on to additional parameters. They are determined by the capabilities of your video card, so the window that opens may vary. Again, I’ll show you with my own example.

There are several tabs here, I'm interested Graphics Control Panel.

Using the settings in this panel, you can rotate the image by 90, 180 or 270 degrees. As an example, I placed the monitor vertically and rotated the image 90 degrees. This option can be used, for example, when processing photographs with portrait orientation.

This is how you can connect and configure a second monitor.

Most often, having bought a computer or laptop, people do not use it to the fullest, irrationally. This is due to the lack of special knowledge. Such gaps can be filled by studying course by Evgeny Popov “Secrets of productive work at the computer.” In this video course, Evgeniy introduces many secrets that make working at the computer more convenient and productive.

Write in the comments which options you use and for what purposes. Recommend this article on social networks and don’t forget subscribe to blog updates to receive announcements of new articles directly to your email.

See you soon.

Catch the cat

A simple logic game. The goal of the game is to surround the cat with dots so that he cannot escape from the field. If you fail, start the game again!

How to connect two monitors to one computer? There are three versions for this, which every user can use, even without special knowledge. However, to use the most advanced methods, you need to spend a little.

What need forces a user to connect two monitors? There are a large number of factors that require using two screens when working on a computer. One of the first reasons to use two monitors is the ability to have significantly more open windows in front of your eyes. This is especially important for design specialists, photographers, and designers.

After all, with this option of using two screens, you can always see all the necessary objects more comprehensively. At the same time, the work efficiency is doubled, which is especially suitable for those who are developing various schemes. By using two displays, there is no need to constantly switch to different pages of the same document. All this can be done easily if you know.


Using two monitors at work

There is still a fairly good reason for using 2 screens - computer games. With this constructive approach to ensuring the greatest comfort in games, excellent lateral visibility is created. And for those who play using laptops, a double view is created; this looks especially effective when connecting a widescreen TV.


Two monitors in computer games

There is a useful use for two displays for specialists involved in programming. In this type of work organization, it is most productive to see the result of your creation in front of you in several windows at once. At production sites, during the assembly of certain structures or in design offices, it is also most often necessary to display information simultaneously on several screens. These are the advantages of creating such a connection, of course with the condition that you know how to connect two monitors to one computer.

In terms of savings, this also gives a big plus - now there is no need for two employees to be at one monitor, therefore, there is no need to buy an additional computer. After all, it will be cheaper to purchase another monitor than a system unit.

Step-by-step connection options

The initial step of connecting two screens to a computer is not difficult. Here, one of the conditions is the presence of a certain number of input connectors on the system unit. That is, there must be connectors designed for connecting additional monitors, and the same number of cords to them.

If you already know the first steps in combining a computer and 2 monitors and have an idea how to connect two monitors to one computer. Then you may also need special adapters for these inputs. Subsequently, the system will recognize the two connected devices and automatically adjust the image displayed on them. Otherwise, you can configure it yourself using standard operating system tools.

There are two connection options, and there are 3 monitors:

    1. Using a graphics adapter that has several output connectors. If you have a computer intended for use with graphic images, then you can assume that the video card is quite sophisticated. Consequently, it already has a number of connectors built in: HDMI or VGA. If there is only one input, then you should replace this graphics adapter with one that meets the requirements.


Graphics card with two HDMI input connectors

    2. Installing an additional video adapter in another slot on the motherboard. This method will be relevant if the computer has an outdated version of the video card. But buying a cool card with two input connectors is limited by financial capabilities.


Installation of additional video adapters.

    3. Use of a specialized adapter (splitter). This option is a fairly cheap connection method and can be performed on almost any computer. Although there are some undesirable nuances that can reduce the frequency bandwidth of the monitor.

Consequently, the image will lose its quality, mainly when using the FullHD video format. And if it is necessary to launch static images, then the use of the adapter affects the quality of the images completely correctly. Don’t forget, to do all this, you need to know exactly how to connect two monitors to one computer.


Connecting two monitors via a splitter

Advice: when using a laptop, the ability to connect a second monitor should already be provided (there is an additional connector on the side). Changing the video card on many laptop computers is not only expensive, but often simply impossible. However, most modern laptops and even netbooks have a monitor input by default.

Technical compatibility of wires and input connectors

When connecting the display to computers, a cord is always used that aligns their connectors. To connect two monitors, there must be the same number of wires of the appropriate type.

The types of connectors available for these purposes are:

VGA connector. Even in the recent past, it was considered a standard connector for connecting a monitor to a computer. Currently, to combine an older version of a computer with a modern display, you will need an adapter.


Having a VGA cable available, you can easily connect not only a PC, but also a laptop

DVI connector . This type of protocol is already structurally modern, guaranteeing support for playback of both digital and analog signals.


This is what a DVI connector looks like

HDMI digital interface. This protocol is used to connect a PC to devices transmitting audio/video data in digital format with very high definition. These devices include, for example: modern televisions and plasma panels. Modern technologies do not stand still, but become more complex every year, so knowledge how to connect two monitors to one computer.


HDMI connector in the tablet body and on the computer system unit

There is another digital audio/video standard, DisplayPort, which is usually installed on “business-class” devices. This 20-pin full-size connector has a locking mechanism that keeps the wire in the connector from being accidentally pulled out. Using this protocol, it is possible to simultaneously connect several high-resolution screens, up to 4096 by 2160 pixels.


Adapter cable from DisplayPort to regular VGA

USB port. The USB serial interface is an integral component of a computer and other modern digital equipment. But it is not used to transmit high-definition images, so it is very rare to find it built into a modern monitor. Although, it may be useful for compatibility between a laptop and a netbook if they do not have other types of video outputs.

For laptops with a display connector, there should be no problems at all. If you need to connect your computer to a monitor or TV located at a certain distance, then it is possible to use a Wi-Fi signal extender. However, without knowledge how to connect two monitors to one computer still can't do it.


WiFi extender with HDMI connector

Monitor setup process

When you connect two monitors to your computer, the OS will automatically recognize them after a while and configure both displays itself. In this case, the same pictures will be displayed on each screen. This can be useful when multiple users need to receive the same data.

Advice: When monitors have different resolutions, the images on them are automatically adjusted. Therefore, it is advisable to use screens with the same aspect ratio (4:3 or 16:9).

However, at some points the settings in automatic mode do not happen, and one of the monitors starts normally, while the other remains without a signal. This is mainly observed when the signal quality leaves much to be desired. Most often, the culprit for this condition is the splitter through which the signal is supplied to two displays. Another reason for such a problem may be a failure in the configuration of the system itself. To correct this situation, you need to do some manipulations:


Making settings for another monitor in Windows 7

In the case when both displays are connected and performing the work correctly, two pictures indicated by numbers will be displayed on the screen. In the same window you can set the desired resolution for both monitors. If the background of either of the two screens is dark, click the “Find” button. Provided the display is connected correctly, after a certain period of time the OS will configure it. If you need to see the settings panel, you need to simultaneously click on the Win + P keys.


Window for adjusting the image on two monitors

If you select “Duplicate”, the same image will be displayed on each screen. If you select “Expand”, then the image will be present on all monitors connected to the PC, of ​​which there can be up to nine units. As for laptops, in some models you can use a special key; after pressing it, an additional monitor will be automatically connected and configured.


Button on a laptop keyboard to configure an additional screen

Using this key you can transfer the image from your mobile computer to the big screen. At the same time, it is possible for a laptop to display the same picture, or part of it, or turn off completely.


A clear example of an extended desktop using a laptop

There are two desktops on the screens

Very often it is required that monitors display not a duplicated or expanded image, but absolutely two different images. It is impossible to perform such a task on a computer. To make all this a reality, you will need to buy a graphics adapter for professional use and then create a number of information streams.

There is another option - this is the use of a specialized device, the function of which is to organize the connection of two screens to a computer. Therefore, you need to be clear about how to connect two monitors to one computer. The device is called Matrox DualHead2Go, in fact it is an external multi-display adapter that supports the functioning of two displays.

Moreover, this device performs its task even when a weak video card with an analog output is installed on board. In addition to connecting this device, for its correct operation, you must install the drivers included with the adapter.


Matrox DualHead2Go Multi-Display Adapter

When there is a need to connect two monitors to a laptop, then the Matrox DualHead2Go adapter will come to the rescue. It follows from this that the laptop will receive three screens at the same time, two of them will display the same picture, and the third will display a different one.

One computer - two monitors. How and why?

How to connect two monitors to one computer

Today you won’t surprise anyone with a multi-monitor PC configuration. And soon, we can expect that having a single display on a desk will become the exception, not the rule. This is what people say who have had the opportunity to compare the convenience of working at a computer with one and multiple monitors. And the second option, if you believe their words, is much more convenient than the first.

Statisticians share the same opinion. According to their research, if you connect 2 monitors instead of one, the productivity of personnel involved in processing large amounts of information increases by 15-60%. What can we say about gamers, for whom multi-monitor systems are the only opportunity to plunge headlong into the virtual world?

How many monitors can be connected to one computer? Connection conditions

It is unlikely that anyone is able to name the exact number of possible monitor connections to one PC, but 50 or more is definitely possible. It all depends on the budget you are willing to allocate for it. To create video walls from dozens of modules, such as in the photo below, special controllers are used. Their task is not just to display the image on many screens, but also to provide each picture with decent quality.

However, video wall controllers are an extremely expensive solution that not every enterprise can afford. A more affordable option is a video server with several multi-channel video cards. But it can cost the owner several hundred thousand rubles.

The average user, like most of us, does not need such excesses. Home gaming systems usually consist of no more than six monitors, and they can be connected not just to one computer, but to one video card. But in order to achieve the highest possible image quality, it is better to distribute the monitors so that there are no more than two or three per video camera.

Connecting two monitors is supported by almost any modern video card, even one built into the processor (chipset). Three or more - all AMD models, starting with series 5, as well as NVIDIA GTX 600 and newer.

In addition to multi-channel support, the following are important for creating multi-monitor configurations:

  • Availability of outputs on video cards that coincide with monitor inputs (the use of adapters is allowed in extreme cases when there is no other way to connect). Moreover, AMD requires a mandatory DisplayPort interface on at least one of the displays (with the exception of certain branded video cards with a built-in DisplayPort-DVI adapter). NVIDIA does not impose such conditions.
  • Video driver support for all monitor resolutions.
  • Sufficient amount of video memory. 2048 Mb is the conditional minimum for a two- or three-monitor configuration in a non-gaming system. For four or more monitors, especially if you plan to use the computer for games, there should be at least 2 times more memory.
  • High data bus bandwidth (from 128 bits) and good memory speed (the more, the better). The narrower the tire, the higher the speed should be.

To connect monitors to different video cards, the latter do not need to be combined into SLI or Crossfire. In some cases, in addition to a discrete card (inserted into the connector), you can use the built-in video if the motherboard BIOS supports it (there is an “Always Enable” option for the built-in video card output). But in such configurations, each pair of displays served by one video chip operates independently of the other. This means that you won't be able to create a common visual space across all screens.

If your computer is equipped with a single video card, you can connect monitors to several of its ports or to one. To connect 2 or more screens to one video card with 1 input, you will need a signal divider - a splitter. For example, as in the photo below. This modification can distribute a signal to 4 monitors, but the picture quality usually decreases (it depends not so much on the splitter as on the video capabilities). If the flow is barely enough for a single screen, dividing it into “rivulets” will reduce the resolution, clarity and scan frequency. And the more connections, the lower the quality.

When you connect the splitter to displays with different resolutions, the picture quality on them will be different: on some it is better, on others it is worse. And you won’t be able to correct it individually, except perhaps through the settings of the monitors themselves.

AMD cards that feature Eyefinity technology (based on the ATI Radeon R800 line of GPUs) allow you to attach up to 6 displays to them and combine them into a single visual space. But here everything is tied to the DisplayPort interface, which, unfortunately, not all devices are equipped with.

The following are acceptable combinations of connection interfaces when building multi-monitor systems using AMD Eyefinity technology:

  • To combine 3 monitors into one system, one of them must be connected via DisplayPort or miniDisplayPort (miniDP), the second via DVI, and the third via VGA, HDMI or the same DVI.
  • If there are 4 monitors, two devices must be connected to DisplayPort, the third to DVI, and the fourth to VGA or HDMI.
  • In a five-monitor system, all 5 or 3 monitors are connected to DisplayPort (miniDisplayPort), one or two to DVI, and one, if any, to HDMI.
  • The six-monitor configuration provides a connection via miniDisplayPort only.

NVIDIA Surround/3D Vision multi-monitor support technology allows you to create a shared gaming space from three monitors. However, for this you will need either a dual-processor video card, or combining two or three cards in SLI. You can connect several more displays to the remaining video outputs; they will work independently of the others.

If you do not have the task of building a video wall to display one picture on several screens, it is not necessary to adhere to the rules described above. Monitors can be connected in any configuration through any interfaces, based on 2 devices per 1 video processor. In this case, each of them will display its own desktop, and you can switch between them, drag windows from one desktop to another, etc.

How to connect and configure additional monitors in Windows

Physical connection of devices

The process of physically connecting a second, third, etc. monitor to the video card ports is not difficult. Simply insert the connectors of the connecting cables into the sockets of both devices, remembering to first unplug them from the outlet.

When creating a dual-monitor setup, use the same interfaces whenever possible, for example, DisplayPort only or HDMI only, so that the image quality on the two screens does not differ much. If there are no identical ports on your video card, connect via different ones, for example, DVI and HDMI or HDMI and VGA. It is permissible to use adapters from one interface to another only in extreme cases, since signal conversion is always accompanied by losses, sometimes significant. The same goes for splitters. If you can do without them, try to do without them.

After making the connection, turn on the power to the system unit and monitors. Recognition of the latter, as a rule, occurs automatically. All you have to do is customize them to suit your needs.

Connecting a second monitor to laptops is done in the same way as to desktop PCs. The only difference is that the video card that will serve the additional screen is determined by the system, not the user.

Multi-display adapters

If the picture quality on the main and additional displays varies greatly, and also if you need to connect not one, but 2 additional monitors to your laptop, a specialized device - a multi-display adapter - will help out. This is a small box with a processor inside, reminiscent of a multiport splitter, and several cables included. One cable connects the box to the output of the video card, the rest are connected to the monitor inputs. It receives power from a USB port or an external adapter.

An example of such a device is Matrox DualHead2Go Digital SE.

Setting up additional screens in Windows 10 and 8.1 and 7

After the first turn on, the image on the additional monitor, as a rule, duplicates the main one. Sometimes the desktop stretches across 2 screens at once. To select the desired mode, press the Windows + P (Latin) key combination - this will open the projection panel.

In Windows 10 and 8.1 it looks like this:

In Windows 7 - like this:

The Duplicate option plays the same picture on all displays. “Extend” - makes the second screen a continuation of the first.

If the system was unable to automatically recognize the second display, open “Display Settings” through the desktop context menu.

Click the “Discover” button (In Windows 7, “Find”).

If the device is physically functional and connected correctly, the system will most likely recognize it immediately. If not, open the Multiple Displays list and select "Try anyway to connect..." to a monitor that is not detected.

If this does not help, you should check the contacts and, if possible, connect the device with another known-good cable to another video output or another video card.

The “Define” button in the same section allows you to select which of the two displays will be the main (first) and which will be the additional (second, third, etc.).

To change the settings of one of the displays of a multi-monitor system - the size of the displayed elements, brightness level, orientation, resolution, color rendering, etc., click on the rectangle with its serial number in the gray field under the “Customize your screen” heading.

The changes will take effect after saving. You do not need to restart your computer for this.

Additional multi-display configuration settings are available in the NVIDIA and AMD Catalyst Control Panel menus.

Setting up additional screens in Windows XP

To access display settings in Windows XP, also open the desktop context menu and click “Properties”. Next, go to the “Options” tab.

If the second monitor is correctly recognized, 2 display icons with sequential numbers will appear in the gray field. There is no “Find” option, as in modern versions of Windows.

By default, both screens display the same desktop image. If you want to expand it, click on the second display icon and check the “Extend desktop onto this monitor” checkbox.

Setting up each screen individually is done in the same way as in Windows 10: click on the monitor icon on the gray field and set the desired parameters. The “Screen Resolution” and “Color Quality” options are located here, and the rest - scale, adapter properties, etc., is hidden behind the “Advanced” button.

Most of the settings take effect immediately, but some only after you restart the computer.


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