Optiplex 3050 - what's involved to get dual screens working on that?
On a Dell optiplex 3050, it has HDMI and DP video ports
The DP port is connected to a Dell H2216 monitor (that monitor also has 1 other port - a VGA port.
The user is asking for a 2 screen experience.
Is that doable on the 3050? Using the HDMI port to another monitor? Or a video card? any recommendation on a video card that would support 2 screens. NOT for anything exotic / fast refresh... just email / word / things like that.
THey are looking at this as a kluge -- they want to use the OLD VGA monitor as the 2nd monitor... thoughts on that? It's an OLD monitor so getting a newer monitor would be an easy pitch to them. 2 the same size / model woudl be good. Can we just get 2 monitors with DP and HDMI ports on them (or can you convert DP to HDMI or the other way around?) and connect using the 2 current video ports on the desktop computer?
thanks!
The DP port is connected to a Dell H2216 monitor (that monitor also has 1 other port - a VGA port.
The user is asking for a 2 screen experience.
Is that doable on the 3050? Using the HDMI port to another monitor? Or a video card? any recommendation on a video card that would support 2 screens. NOT for anything exotic / fast refresh... just email / word / things like that.
THey are looking at this as a kluge -- they want to use the OLD VGA monitor as the 2nd monitor... thoughts on that? It's an OLD monitor so getting a newer monitor would be an easy pitch to them. 2 the same size / model woudl be good. Can we just get 2 monitors with DP and HDMI ports on them (or can you convert DP to HDMI or the other way around?) and connect using the 2 current video ports on the desktop computer?
thanks!
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It think you should give it a try,
https://www.dell.com/community/Desktops-General/Help-connecting-Dell-OptiPlex-3050-to-Dual-Dell-E2416H-Monitors/td-p/5165603
It would be helpfull if you post your specifications from Dell optiplex 3050 as it is easier to say if it will work or not.
https://www.dell.com/community/Desktops-General/Help-connecting-Dell-OptiPlex-3050-to-Dual-Dell-E2416H-Monitors/td-p/5165603
It would be helpfull if you post your specifications from Dell optiplex 3050 as it is easier to say if it will work or not.
Why not buy a single additional monitor with in and out DP ports on it? You could then connect it as the first screen and daisy-chain your existing monitor to it as the second screen. You won't then have to fiddle about with adapters and splitters and goodness knows what else.
Pera: sounds good, but what's the odds of finding a monitor at a reasonable price and then buy 2 of them so they match size / shape?
can you suggest a low cost (pair) of monitors with those connectors?
And that's all it takes? just plug monitor 1 in (any computer's??) DP port, then daisy chain?
Any PC with DP port will support 2 monitors like that? Yes, the easiest.... but expensive?
can you suggest a low cost (pair) of monitors with those connectors?
And that's all it takes? just plug monitor 1 in (any computer's??) DP port, then daisy chain?
Any PC with DP port will support 2 monitors like that? Yes, the easiest.... but expensive?
Tiborg: It's a 'standard' low end 3050 with the integrated video card on the mobo. The PC has 2 connectors - a DP and HDMI
Masq: yes, a typo on my part : ( the monitors are S2216H??? or maybe E2216H? I think the latter. What's the difference between S and E? Do you know?
The processor is an i5
They are asking for dual monitor for a PC I already got them. So the cost is on them if they really want 2 screens.
you talk of a splitter and 2 DP monitors? they have a S2216H already. Get another one of those ($125)and something like this? ($75)
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1326301-REG/startech_mstdp122dp_displayport_to_displayport_multi_monitor.html
Total cost being $125+125 + 75= 325 for dual monitor (and like the daisy chain.... a single DP connector out of the PC will support dual monitors with this arrangement?)
vs. 2 monitors that let me daisy chain... not sure what to look for to see which have the in and out DP ports.
The processor is an i5
They are asking for dual monitor for a PC I already got them. So the cost is on them if they really want 2 screens.
you talk of a splitter and 2 DP monitors? they have a S2216H already. Get another one of those ($125)and something like this? ($75)
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1326301-REG/startech_mstdp122dp_displayport_to_displayport_multi_monitor.html
Total cost being $125+125 + 75= 325 for dual monitor (and like the daisy chain.... a single DP connector out of the PC will support dual monitors with this arrangement?)
vs. 2 monitors that let me daisy chain... not sure what to look for to see which have the in and out DP ports.
"the monitors are S2216H??? or maybe E2216H? I think the latter. What's the difference between S and E? Do you know?"
'S' has HDMI/VGA inputs - 'E' has DP/VGA inputs - so sounds like you have the E version :)
To Daisy-Chain you'll need two monitors that support DP 1.2 and have both DP input and output ports.
Sadly your E2216H only has VGA and DP inputs so you can't use that :(
"you talk of a splitter and 2 DP monitors? they have a S2216H already. Get another one of those ($125)and something like this? ($75)"
Yes, that hub and an identical monitor so the MST hub is driving two identical DP displays would be the most economic solution. The new monitor will come with a DP cable so you only need to buy monitor and hub - no fancy adaptors!.
'S' has HDMI/VGA inputs - 'E' has DP/VGA inputs - so sounds like you have the E version :)
To Daisy-Chain you'll need two monitors that support DP 1.2 and have both DP input and output ports.
Sadly your E2216H only has VGA and DP inputs so you can't use that :(
"you talk of a splitter and 2 DP monitors? they have a S2216H already. Get another one of those ($125)and something like this? ($75)"
Yes, that hub and an identical monitor so the MST hub is driving two identical DP displays would be the most economic solution. The new monitor will come with a DP cable so you only need to buy monitor and hub - no fancy adaptors!.
@MASQ:
Why can't the OP use his existing single-DP monitor with a new screen having DP input and output ports, as I suggested in my first post?
Why can't the OP use his existing single-DP monitor with a new screen having DP input and output ports, as I suggested in my first post?
@Perarduaadastra
There's no reason why not, nor do the monitors need to be identical.
As you know you could even terminate the chain with a DP 1.1 monitor.
BeGentleWithMe-INeedHelp is looking for any suggestions on how to solve this & there are many.
They asked you in an earlier post if you could suggest one with a built-in MST hub.
Please add some suggested monitors for them to consider.
There's no reason why not, nor do the monitors need to be identical.
As you know you could even terminate the chain with a DP 1.1 monitor.
BeGentleWithMe-INeedHelp is looking for any suggestions on how to solve this & there are many.
They asked you in an earlier post if you could suggest one with a built-in MST hub.
Please add some suggested monitors for them to consider.
Assuming that the display adapter in your Optiplex is DP 1.2 compliant, a list of certified MST-enabled monitors can be found here:
https://www.displayport.org/product-category/monitors-tvs/page/2/?ps&pcat%5B0%5D=pc-digital-displays-multi-stream
Unfortunately the list is short and none of these displays are at the budget end of the market...
A more economical approach might be to obtain an MST hub separately to drive a second DP-enabled monitor of more modest price and proportions and allow you to use pretty much any DP-equipped display; an example of such a hub can be found here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-DisplayPort-Multi-Monitor-Splitter-Black/dp/B00XXPYGPO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1534018185&sr=8-1&keywords=displayport+mst+hub
An overview of the capabilities and limitations of DP 1.2 can be found here:
https://www.displayport.org/cables/driving-multiple-displays-from-a-single-displayport-output/
Just so you know, the current DisplayPort standard is now 1.4a...
https://www.displayport.org/product-category/monitors-tvs/page/2/?ps&pcat%5B0%5D=pc-digital-displays-multi-stream
Unfortunately the list is short and none of these displays are at the budget end of the market...
A more economical approach might be to obtain an MST hub separately to drive a second DP-enabled monitor of more modest price and proportions and allow you to use pretty much any DP-equipped display; an example of such a hub can be found here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-DisplayPort-Multi-Monitor-Splitter-Black/dp/B00XXPYGPO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1534018185&sr=8-1&keywords=displayport+mst+hub
An overview of the capabilities and limitations of DP 1.2 can be found here:
https://www.displayport.org/cables/driving-multiple-displays-from-a-single-displayport-output/
Just so you know, the current DisplayPort standard is now 1.4a...
First, thank you all for all the info.
Yes, several ways to get the same end result.... that's the case with most everything it seems.
Perarduaadastra: Some questions if you don't mind, working from the bottom up:
you said The DP standard is now 1.4a. So a machine that's at 1.2 - is that upgradable with software / firmware? Or it's baked into the hardware / it is what it is?
one of my pet peeves - that link at the bottom of your post... it talks of daisy chaining and 'these hub devices will also become available next year, '. They don't put a date on their blog, so who knows if they are already out yet : ) ??
And yes, not looking to spend more than needed and I think the 2 monitors should be the same - for appearance, scrolling across screesn, hight, same visual appearance - brightness, etc. you could go with different but 2 monitors for this person is overkill anyway... don't want them having to deal with moving the cursor acrss screens and losing sight of it because 1 screen is a different size than the other.
Looks like we'll get another of the monitor we already have, get a hub and see how that works.
Yes, several ways to get the same end result.... that's the case with most everything it seems.
Perarduaadastra: Some questions if you don't mind, working from the bottom up:
you said The DP standard is now 1.4a. So a machine that's at 1.2 - is that upgradable with software / firmware? Or it's baked into the hardware / it is what it is?
one of my pet peeves - that link at the bottom of your post... it talks of daisy chaining and 'these hub devices will also become available next year, '. They don't put a date on their blog, so who knows if they are already out yet : ) ??
And yes, not looking to spend more than needed and I think the 2 monitors should be the same - for appearance, scrolling across screesn, hight, same visual appearance - brightness, etc. you could go with different but 2 monitors for this person is overkill anyway... don't want them having to deal with moving the cursor acrss screens and losing sight of it because 1 screen is a different size than the other.
Looks like we'll get another of the monitor we already have, get a hub and see how that works.
You have hdmi to vga adapters so no problems and via versa, you can get any adapter you wish all you need to do is search for it on web.
Old monitor will do fine, but it looks better if there are 2 same monitors.
Same is for DP and HDMI there are adapters for everything.