dkozakoff
asked on
Dual Monitors in Windows 7
I want to connect a second VGA monitor to a Compaq Presario CQ5320F running Windows 7. I have tried using an old PCI graphics card (ATI Mach 64) that I used on my old Win XP and Win 98 machines. This works on the CQ5320F when designated as the primary adapter in BIOS -- but the onboard adapter (NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430) stops working. Alternatively, if the onboard adapter is designated as the primary it works, but the ATI card does not. In this case Device Manager indicates that the ATI card is a Standard VGA Adapter and that the device "cannot be started". The driver is identified as vgapnp.sys.
I presume that either the driver for this card is inappropriate with Windows 7 or that the ATI card is incompatible with either Win 7 or the onboard adapter.
Can anyone suggest a driver which might work with this card (the driver I have on CD for the ATI is not accepted by Win 7 and ATI does not admit to having an update)? Alternatively, can anyone suggest a graphics adapter card (PCI, PCIex1, or PCIex16) with a VGA output which is compatible with Win 7 & and the onboard adapter? I am not a gamer, so what I am looking for is an inexpensive graphics card to just drive my second monitor and extend my desktop space.
I presume that either the driver for this card is inappropriate with Windows 7 or that the ATI card is incompatible with either Win 7 or the onboard adapter.
Can anyone suggest a driver which might work with this card (the driver I have on CD for the ATI is not accepted by Win 7 and ATI does not admit to having an update)? Alternatively, can anyone suggest a graphics adapter card (PCI, PCIex1, or PCIex16) with a VGA output which is compatible with Win 7 & and the onboard adapter? I am not a gamer, so what I am looking for is an inexpensive graphics card to just drive my second monitor and extend my desktop space.
On most motherboards trying to get the integrated video adapter to play nicely with an add-in card is a PITA. The best option would be to get a card that supports dual monitors(most newer cards do and are inexpensive). Here's a card that supports dual monitors for $32 shipped. If you need 2 vga connection just use a dvi to vga adapter.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127473
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127473
ASKER
Ah ... your responses beg more questions:
Peralesa: your suggestion is to "download the Vista driver" ... I presume you mean to go to the
MS Vista site (why not the MS Win 7 site?); but how do I identify what I want?
jamietoner: I am not familiar with the acronym "PITA", but it sounds like something I might
want in my repetoire, what does it mean? I checked out the newegg link you suggested. That
board is described as a "PCI Express 2.0 x16". Since the last time I cracked open my machine (6
years ago) the number of different connectors has proliferated and I am not sure of the
differences. I am sure that PCI Express 2.0 x16 is different from PCI, but how is it related to
PCI Express x1 and PCI Express x16? I am guessing that PCI Express 2.0 x16 is different from
these two -- which are on my mother board.
Peralesa: your suggestion is to "download the Vista driver" ... I presume you mean to go to the
MS Vista site (why not the MS Win 7 site?); but how do I identify what I want?
jamietoner: I am not familiar with the acronym "PITA", but it sounds like something I might
want in my repetoire, what does it mean? I checked out the newegg link you suggested. That
board is described as a "PCI Express 2.0 x16". Since the last time I cracked open my machine (6
years ago) the number of different connectors has proliferated and I am not sure of the
differences. I am sure that PCI Express 2.0 x16 is different from PCI, but how is it related to
PCI Express x1 and PCI Express x16? I am guessing that PCI Express 2.0 x16 is different from
these two -- which are on my mother board.
A pci express 2.0 x16 will work fine in a pci express x16 port, but given the model of system you have was releases Nov of 09 it more than likely a pci-e 2.0 slot. PITA is an acronym for Pain In The A$$.
ASKER
Peralesa: Could you elaborate on your suggestion to "download the Vista driver"? How do I identify what I want? How do I force a manual install with Device Manager?.
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ASKER
That's exactly what I did.
After much reading, I was led to believe that, with this motherboard, installing a PCI graphics card would disable the onboard video adapter -- unless the PCI and the onboard adapter both used the same driver. This is consistent with what I was seeing with my old card.
I got a GeForce 7200GS PCI x16 card because of its low power requirement (my machine only has a 250 watt supply). This card does not disable the onboard GeForce 6150SE -- I presume they have compatible drivers -- though I have disabled it anyway to reduce power usage.
After much reading, I was led to believe that, with this motherboard, installing a PCI graphics card would disable the onboard video adapter -- unless the PCI and the onboard adapter both used the same driver. This is consistent with what I was seeing with my old card.
I got a GeForce 7200GS PCI x16 card because of its low power requirement (my machine only has a 250 watt supply). This card does not disable the onboard GeForce 6150SE -- I presume they have compatible drivers -- though I have disabled it anyway to reduce power usage.
Newegg has many cards listed with vga and dvi outputs...