Connecting Second Monitor..what am i doing wrong?

P

pleasehelpmee

New Member
i have purchased a brand new dell computer and am trying to connect the second monitor..i have read the forums and people have had similar problems but all have been solved and i have followed the stages that have solved other ppl's problems and my dual monitor still isnt working..i have gone on display options and enabled the second monitor at least 5 times, i have put the resolution to its poorest quality on both monitors and selected extend my display on to this monitor on the second monitor but when i click apply it just makes the settings on the first monitor go rubbish and the second is still a black screen saying 'check signal cable' any help would be super appreciated , thanks in advance!

Dell 256MB - ATI - Radeon HD 2400 XT - Graphics Card - Dual DVI/Dual VGA

this is the graphics card installed or something very similar
 

My Computer

System One

What is the model of your dell? Have you downloaded the ATI drivers? Did you install Hydravision?
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    AMD Phenom x4 9600 Agena
    Motherboard
    Asus M3A-H/HDMI
    Memory
    8GB OCZ Fatal1ty PC2-6400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Powercolor Radeon HD4830
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP W2408h, Gateway VX1100
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200, 1600x1200
    Hard Drives
    Maxtor 200GB IDE (x2)
    WD Caviar SE16 640GB SATA (x2)
    PSU
    CoolerMaster eXtreme Power Plus 500w
    Case
    CoolerMaster ATCS 210
    Keyboard
    MS Wireless Keyboard for Bluetooth
    Mouse
    MS Wireless Mouse for Bluetooth
studio slim...brand new shipped yesterday

i went on drivers and update driver and now it says syncmaster T220 on the first monitor and ati radion hd 3450 on the 2nd display..i havent done the third thing you said...

my monitors are samsung 22 inch both the same
 

My Computer

System One

I'm assuming both are DVI connectors. First try the obvious, switch the cables and monitors around and try them all on the primary output to make sure they all work.

Then I think you should visit the ATI website or the sticky here and download/install the latest ATI catalyst drivers including hydravision.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    AMD Phenom x4 9600 Agena
    Motherboard
    Asus M3A-H/HDMI
    Memory
    8GB OCZ Fatal1ty PC2-6400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Powercolor Radeon HD4830
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP W2408h, Gateway VX1100
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200, 1600x1200
    Hard Drives
    Maxtor 200GB IDE (x2)
    WD Caviar SE16 640GB SATA (x2)
    PSU
    CoolerMaster eXtreme Power Plus 500w
    Case
    CoolerMaster ATCS 210
    Keyboard
    MS Wireless Keyboard for Bluetooth
    Mouse
    MS Wireless Mouse for Bluetooth
you have a radeon hd 2400 XT and a radeon hd 3450? the hd 3450--is it intergrated graphics? meaning, do you hook your monitor(s) cable directly to the computer motherboard or is it (are they) connected to the installed graphics card?

on the photo, number 1 is integrated graphics (vga) and number two is installed (discrete, premium, etc) graphics (dvi). it sounds to me that you are trying to install one monitor to the integrated port and the other monitor to the installed graphics card. first, make sure that they are both installed on the installed graphics card. you may have to enter you computer bios to disable integrated graphics set up the bios so that the primary graphics adapter is PCIe.

as far as hydravision is concerned, it is not a necessity to have. to enable your desktop to span across both monitors can be done from the catalyst control center. hydravision is a multi-monitor control center that you download from the amd/ati website and it integrates into the catalyst control center.
 

Attachments

  • DSC00415a.JPG
    DSC00415a.JPG
    121.4 KB · Views: 137
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Garage PC
    CPU
    Intel Pentium E3300 @ 2.5GHz
    Motherboard
    BioStar G41-M7
    Memory
    A-Data PC2-6400 (2 X 2GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Diamond Radeon HD 4650
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP Mx705 (CRT)
    Screen Resolution
    1152x864
    Hard Drives
    320 GB Hitachi - System Drive /
    100 GB Maxtor - Diagnostic Application /
    PSU
    LOGISYS PS480E12 480W
    Case
    Generic Barebones Case
    Cooling
    Stock Intel HSF
    Keyboard
    Generic PS/2
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    10 d / 1 u
He has an HD3450 and the 3450 isn't integrated, the highest integrated ATI chip is the HD3300. I asked if he had a dual dvi head because I was trying to figure out if he was using both of the ports on the video card or one from the video card and one from the integrated graphics. The Dell motherboard in that computer has an intel graphics chip integrated as well though I don't know what connection type it outputs to.

No hydravision isn't required, but technically neither is the catalyst control center. It was my opinion that since the driver is bundled in with the CCC download he might as well get the pack with all of it and install everything. Though it might be of use if he's trying to do a dual monitor setup off the ati chip while leaving the integrated graphics on.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    AMD Phenom x4 9600 Agena
    Motherboard
    Asus M3A-H/HDMI
    Memory
    8GB OCZ Fatal1ty PC2-6400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Powercolor Radeon HD4830
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP W2408h, Gateway VX1100
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200, 1600x1200
    Hard Drives
    Maxtor 200GB IDE (x2)
    WD Caviar SE16 640GB SATA (x2)
    PSU
    CoolerMaster eXtreme Power Plus 500w
    Case
    CoolerMaster ATCS 210
    Keyboard
    MS Wireless Keyboard for Bluetooth
    Mouse
    MS Wireless Mouse for Bluetooth
MadDog56 said:
He has an HD3450 and the 3450 isn't integrated, the highest integrated ATI chip is the HD3300. I asked if he had a dual dvi head because I was trying to figure out if he was using both of the ports on the video card or one from the video card and one from the integrated graphics. The Dell motherboard in that computer has an intel graphics chip integrated as well though I don't know what connection type it outputs to.

No hydravision isn't required, but technically neither is the catalyst control center. It was my opinion that since the driver is bundled in with the CCC download he might as well get the pack with all of it and install everything. Though it might be of use if he's trying to do a dual monitor setup off the ati chip while leaving the integrated graphics on.
Click to expand...


ermm i have one monitor plugged into the white dvi port or whatever it is..and one plugged into the blue vga or whatever its called...they are plugged directly them ports and when only one is working it only works in the white port but when two are going the other one should woprk in the vga i think..but it is just saying check signal on the other monitor..i have definitely not followed the basic set up wrong but there may be something i am missing?
 

My Computer

System One

is it possible to take a snapshot of your connections?

as far as i know, you should be able to connect a vga monitor and dvi monitor on the same card and have them both be detected and work... maybe someone who uses a card that has a vga and dvi connection can comment on this, but i would think they would both work. i'm still a little confused about whether you have two cards connected in your computer, as you stated that you have an 2400 XT and a 3450. if that is true, then you have at least 5 different connection ports available to you--2 on the 2400; 2 on the 3450; and 1 on your motherboard. how are your monitors hooked up? a drawing would be helpful too.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Garage PC
    CPU
    Intel Pentium E3300 @ 2.5GHz
    Motherboard
    BioStar G41-M7
    Memory
    A-Data PC2-6400 (2 X 2GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Diamond Radeon HD 4650
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP Mx705 (CRT)
    Screen Resolution
    1152x864
    Hard Drives
    320 GB Hitachi - System Drive /
    100 GB Maxtor - Diagnostic Application /
    PSU
    LOGISYS PS480E12 480W
    Case
    Generic Barebones Case
    Cooling
    Stock Intel HSF
    Keyboard
    Generic PS/2
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    10 d / 1 u
mpcrsc562 said:
maybe someone who uses a card that has a vga and dvi connection can comment on this
Click to expand...

Well, almost but not quite. I have a 19" LCD connected via DVI and a 17" CRT connected via a DVI-VGA adapter, with the LCD running at 1440x900@60 Hz and the CRT running at 1280x1024@85 Hz (old IBM P76 that can do 1600x1200@75 Hz); and both work perfectly.

It definitely sounds like pleasehelpmee has one monitor connected to the card and one connected to the onboard video port, which would certainly explain the one monitor no signal.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Me
    CPU
    Athlon x2 7750 BE
    Motherboard
    Asus M4A78 Pro
    Memory
    2x2gb Kingston
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire HD 4830
    Sound Card
    X-Fi Xtreme Music
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer P221w and Acer 1916w
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050 and 1440x900
    Hard Drives
    2x80 GB Seagate 7200.10 in RAID0, 500 GB Seagate 7200.12
    PSU
    Antec Earthwatts 500W
    Case
    Antec Sonata III
    Cooling
    AC Freezer 64 Pro and a couple of 120 mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech G5 v2
    Internet Speed
    10000/1000
make sure you are only using the ports on the card itself and not any other ports on the computer the onboard graphics are automatically disabled when a graphics card is installed so the ports from your motherboard will not work.

before applying any setting set to default and and press the button that says to identify your monitors you should get a 1 and 2 on both monitors they will both go to thier native resolution when you extend your desktop or at least they should all of this can be done from the windows display settings if you don't see the 2 displayed on your second monitor consider checking what dvi adapter you are using as i found that they are not all compatable with ati signals for example my old gpu 2600xt vga-hdmi didn't work with the 3870 so it may be a similar issue if you are using different adapaters.

let us know :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    me
    CPU
    intel Q6600 @3.0Ghz
    Motherboard
    gigabyte EP35C DS3R
    Memory
    8 GB OCZ 1066 HPC REAPER
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire 4870 HD 1024mb gddr5
    Monitor(s) Displays
    lg flatron 20.1
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    western digital 350gb
    samsung spinpoint 120gb
    PSU
    900w
    Case
    thermaltake aguila
    Cooling
    2x 120mm 2x 10cm
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top