DescentBB

I have a Dell Inspiron 530 with a Dell monitor E196FPf. I have their standard video card and had them add a Nvidia GeForce 8300GS.

I would like to be able to use a second monitor but...
1. The nVidia \"control panel\" does not have an option for a second monitor

2. The \"Display\" does not give me that option.

3. Anytime I plug the second monitor into the original video connector it takes over with the standard card.

4. I get this message before bootup: \"Unsupported video configuration detected. The action is required.
This computer has an ad-in graphics card with the monitor cable is plugged into the in integrated video connector. To attach the monitor cable to the add-in graphics card or shutdown , plug the monitor into...................\"

5. When the second monitor is being viewed the BIOS showes under INIT display first:
onboard
PCI slot

6. On the nVidia card in the BIOS I have these options: INIT Display first
PCIEx
PCI slot
DVMT
DVMT
Fixed

Any ideas?

does the 8300 have more than one dvi port?
if so, disable the onboard video.

Has two connectors and I have to connect the second monitor to the orig card and with both monitors connected it always defaults to the onboard video card and second monitor.

I changed on board to PCI slot.

Sorry, I misread your question.

The 8300 has only one connector. The other connector is built-in to the motherboard.

go into the bios and enable the onboard+ addincard option for video if your using analog connectors on both

there will be choices on which will be your primary


[bios]
PCI ONLY
PCIEx ONLY
PCI Then PCIEx
PCIEx Then PCI
PCI Pri PCIEx Sec DUAL
PCIEx Pri PCI Sec DUAL

Your Primary should be the monitor you place on the Left

if you are using an analog and DVI setup let the nVidia card handle all the duties


[bios]
PCIEx ONLY

and it is an option in the Offical nVidia Drivers


you can get 3 monitors working if you want(on anything but an OEM motherboard)

These are both analog and the BIOS options I described above are all there is.
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I got this back from an inquiry I made to Dell.

From your e-mail I understand that you want to connect two monitors to your computer. I will be more than glad to provide you with its complete information.

I would like to inform you that whenever we add an additional Video Card to a computer the integrated Video card on the motherboard gets disabled because the additional is more powerful and control is transferred to it. So, we cannot use integrated video card for connecting an additional monitor however I would recommend you to buy a Splitter(Y- Cable) to do the same and connect it on video card.

As a dell rep I can confirm that, you need a video card with dual dvi on it, as it does disable the onboard.