Is it possible to run a two monitors (one on the gpu, one on the cpu)?

By bucko
in Hardware Hangout

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bucko

Posted
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Hi I am wondering if it is possible to run two monitors from the GPU and CPU. I tried running them both on my graphics card but it never worked. It only seems to work with one. I read that one of the ports only has enough power for one?

So I thought maybe I could run one of the CPU and the other on the GPU? My motherboard has a Monitor output but is it possible to enable them both in the bios? Or can it only run either the gpu or the cpu gfx at one time (the i7 3770K has onboard graphics)? I can only see the ATI in the device manager but if I take the graphics card out the onboard one is displayed after rebooting (to be expected).

If this is not possible I will probably just buy an extra graphics card. All specs in my sig.

Edit, I run windows 8 pro (I actually like it so don't go of topic about that)

Grand Master

Detection

Posted
Posted

I said my specs are in the sig, and I said it didn't work when it had two monitors in the GPU. Did you read my OP?

Erm, of course I read it, I don't have sigs enabled though, so list your specs

And explain what you did when you failed to enable 2 displays

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philcruicks

Posted
Posted

To answer your question no, once a PCI-E graphcis card is plugged in the onboard graphics (be that old school intel mobo grapics or new schoole CPU integrated graphics) are disabled.

However there is no way your GPU can't power 2 monitors itself...as mentioned it should be able to do 4.

You must have a setting mis-configured. or old drivers....that or your card is faulty...in which case send it back.

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philcruicks

Posted
Posted

Just about every modern GPU can run 2 displays natively, for 3 you might need to connect to a display port if using just 1 GPU, but for 2, simple job of connecting and enabling

Exactly, I think even my GPU from about 2003 could do dual screen.

but yes if you want 3+ monitors you'll need either dual cards or eyefinity with display ports.

Mentor

bucko

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My specs are:

PC: Intel Core i7 3770K Quad Core IvyBridge, Asus P8Z77-V LK, 8GB DDR3, ATI Radeon R6950.

I don't recall it appearing in the display propties as two monitors when they both are on the GPU. But I will try again.

Enthusiast

SinsOfCube

Posted
Posted

Are you perhaps using a DVI to VGA cable on one or both monitors?

The AMD Radeon 6950 has 2 DVI connectors at the back, but one is DVI-I and the other DVI-D. The DVI-I connector has both a digital and an analog signal, which means only the DVI-I-connector can use a DVI-to-VGA cable.

So you need at least 1 monitor that has a DVI, HDMI or DisplayPort connection, if the other monitor only has VGA

Grand Master

Detection

Posted
Posted

My specs are:

PC: Intel Core i7 3770K Quad Core IvyBridge, Asus P8Z77-V LK, 8GB DDR3, ATI Radeon R6950.

I don't recall it appearing in the display propties as two monitors when they both are on the GPU. But I will try again.

Ok, so what are the 2 connections from the GPU to the displays ?

DVI / HDMI or DVI / DVI etc etc

What cables are you using ?

If both displays using either of the above ports are connected and turned on, then Windows should see them in display properties shown in my screenshot

EDIT - And what are the 2 display models ?

Experienced

HellboundIRL

Posted
Posted

Yes you should be able to, I'm running 4 monitors off my graphics card and a 5th off the onboard graphics with no problems, just enabled it in the bios and windows picked it up.

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bucko

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Thanks for the replies so far.

My main monitor is a DellST2410 that is hooked up on DVI on the first availble DVI port.

The second monitor is just an old videoseven VGA widscreen using an adapter to DVI, I know it's not the greatest make compared to my dell but thought it would make good use for a second monitor (so I can have other stuff open while I am playing games on my main monitor).

It does actually now apper in display properties but won't let me enable it.

extradisplay.png

extradisplay2.png

Are you perhaps using a DVI to VGA cable on one or both monitors?

The AMD Radeon 6950 has 2 DVI connectors at the back, but one is DVI-I and the other DVI-D. The DVI-I connector has both a digital and an analog signal, which means only the DVI-I-connector can use a DVI-to-VGA cable.

So you need at least 1 monitor that has a DVI, HDMI or DisplayPort connection, if the other monitor only has VGA

I think this might be my problem by the sounds of it.

Enthusiast

SinsOfCube

Posted
Posted

So try switching the cables around, also make sure you reboot after swapping them around. Windows doesn't always allow you to configure your monitors properly if they weren't connected during boot, not sure if this changed with Windows 8.

Grand Master

Detection

Posted
Posted

So try switching the cables around, also make sure you reboot after swapping them around. Windows doesn't always allow you to configure your monitors properly if they weren't connected during boot, not sure if this changed with Windows 8.

This ^^

DVI-I should be the one connected to your VGA display as it can carry analogue signals

DVI-D can only carry digital

VGA is analogue

Mentor

bucko

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So try switching the cables around, also make sure you reboot after swapping them around. Windows doesn't always allow you to configure your monitors properly if they weren't connected during boot, not sure if this changed with Windows 8.

Yer I just tried switching them around. The second monitor did detect in Windows but it did not output anything (I set the correct resolution and extended the displays) but nothing however it was listed in device manager. Just kept getting no signal detected.

Grand Master

Detection

Posted
Posted

Yer I just tried switching them around. The second monitor did detect in Windows but it did not output anything (I set the correct resolution and extended the displays) but nothing however it was listed in device manager. Just kept getting no signal detected.

Are you sure the cable you are using for the VGA display is DVI-I ?

Check here

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/pc-peripheral/3365585/how-tell-dvi-i-dvi-d-cables-apart/

Mentor

bucko

Posted
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Posted

You're not plugging your monitor into your CPU. Your motherboard has an onboard GPU. Thus you have two separate GPUs.

Is your monitor powered on? Have you tried another monitor? or tried that monitor on another computer?

I was under the impression the CPU had an on-die GPU, http://www.anandtech.com/show/5771/the-intel-ivy-bridge-core-i7-3770k-review/8 and the motherboard port was just to connect the display to it.

Yes the monitor is on, not tried another monitor but will try it on another PC to make sure it's working.

Enthusiast

droolingmonkey

Posted
Posted

I've had the onboard (i7) graphics and an add on gpu (560GTX) both working concurrently - I wanted to use the onbooard for mornal, unintensive windowsie stuff on one screen, and the higher stress stuff (gaming, etc) on the GPU.

It did work, but actually it caused my media center playback to stutter, even on the other screen. Went back to running them both off the graphics card and it works so so so much better. Onboard has been disabled again.

(as a note, I also have sig's hidden, as I suspect many here do, so was unable to see your specs)

Veteran

nub

Posted
Posted

I was under the impression the CPU had an on-die GPU, http://www.anandtech...-3770k-review/8 and the motherboard port was just to connect the display to it.

Yeah you're right. I forgot new CPUs have integrated GPUs. It just sounds weird.

Mentor

Vvo

Posted
Posted

the z77 has lucid virutre which enables hybrid gpu on desktops,in order to use this feature you have to plug you display cables onto the mobo and not on to the gpu

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