Can't get 2nd monitor to be recognized by Dell Optiplex 3050
I had this question after viewing Can't get 2nd monitor to be recognized by Dell Optiplex 3050. I have two monitors to connect to a Dell 3050 but they only have VGA connectors. If I connect the monitors separately they work, but if I try to connect them at the same time only one will work.
I am looking at the back of a Dell Optiplex 3050, and the ones I have here at work have a display port and HDMI. Not VGA. The video card is built in on the motherboard. Also searching online shows the same thing.
So as John states does your video card have two VGA outputs?
The other option here if you are able to connect both VGA monitors, is to try going through Windows display settings to extend or duplicate your display onto the secondary monitor.
Set up dual monitors on Windows 10
Content provided by Microsoft
To connect your PC to additional monitors:
1. Make sure your cables are connected properly to the new monitors. Your PC should automatically detect them and show your desktop.
2. Right-click anywhere on the desktop on any screen and choose Display settings. Scroll down to Multiple Displays, click the drop-down menu and choose a display setting.
3. Choose one of the Duplicate desktop options to show the same things on multiple screens. Pick Extend desktop to extend your work surface
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4340331/windows-10-set-up-dual-monitors
Let us know what you come up with or more details.
So as John states does your video card have two VGA outputs?
The other option here if you are able to connect both VGA monitors, is to try going through Windows display settings to extend or duplicate your display onto the secondary monitor.
Set up dual monitors on Windows 10
Content provided by Microsoft
To connect your PC to additional monitors:
1. Make sure your cables are connected properly to the new monitors. Your PC should automatically detect them and show your desktop.
2. Right-click anywhere on the desktop on any screen and choose Display settings. Scroll down to Multiple Displays, click the drop-down menu and choose a display setting.
3. Choose one of the Duplicate desktop options to show the same things on multiple screens. Pick Extend desktop to extend your work surface
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4340331/windows-10-set-up-dual-monitors
Let us know what you come up with or more details.
If desktop computer it needs two equal outputs for two monitors (not two different connectors to the same port)
You didn't tell us whether this unit has only the motherboard video interface, or whether it was purchased with an add-in video interface. The Optiplex 3050 is supplied by default with "Intel Integrated Graphics", which (at least in all the boards I've seen) supports only one monitor.
https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/cty/optiplex-3050-tower-small-form-factor-pc/spd/optiplex-3050-desktop
There are purchase-time options for other graphics cards, but not all of them support two video outputs. So even if the unit in question has an add-in PCI Express video card, it might still support only one monitor. To run more than one monitor an add-in PCI Express video card capable of dual monitor support must be installed.
This situation is a poor one because VGA is now pretty much dead and there have been no dual VGA video cards built for some time. You would have to go back to the Radeon 3000, 4000 or 5000 series to find dual VGA video cards (which were never popular even at that time), buy a used one on fleabay -- and be careful about what you buy because some of those early cards require external power which is not available in the 3050.
IMO: Best bet: Drop $200 ($100 each) to buy two new LCD monitors with HDMI connectors, then spend $20 on a budget dual-HDMI video card such as a Radeon 5450 or 6450.
Second possibility: Buy an older dual-DVI card (be sure it supports analog DVI, not just digital DVI), buy two DVI to VGA converters, and go with that. But be aware that this will be a problem if you later decide to go to an LCD monitor as many of them no longer have DVI inputs, and you would then need to replace the video card again with a dual HDMI card. Better to bite the bullet and go HDMI now.
https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/cty/optiplex-3050-tower-small-form-factor-pc/spd/optiplex-3050-desktop
There are purchase-time options for other graphics cards, but not all of them support two video outputs. So even if the unit in question has an add-in PCI Express video card, it might still support only one monitor. To run more than one monitor an add-in PCI Express video card capable of dual monitor support must be installed.
This situation is a poor one because VGA is now pretty much dead and there have been no dual VGA video cards built for some time. You would have to go back to the Radeon 3000, 4000 or 5000 series to find dual VGA video cards (which were never popular even at that time), buy a used one on fleabay -- and be careful about what you buy because some of those early cards require external power which is not available in the 3050.
IMO: Best bet: Drop $200 ($100 each) to buy two new LCD monitors with HDMI connectors, then spend $20 on a budget dual-HDMI video card such as a Radeon 5450 or 6450.
Second possibility: Buy an older dual-DVI card (be sure it supports analog DVI, not just digital DVI), buy two DVI to VGA converters, and go with that. But be aware that this will be a problem if you later decide to go to an LCD monitor as many of them no longer have DVI inputs, and you would then need to replace the video card again with a dual HDMI card. Better to bite the bullet and go HDMI now.
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Open Display in Control Panel. Can you see the two possible outputs for the card?