2 Monitors, 2 Graphics Cards

[rutsy5]

Hello,
I have a Compaq Presario 6000, which came with 1.73-GHz Athlon XP 2100+ CPU, 256MB of DDR266 SDRAM, Windows XP Home, 80GB hard drive, 16X DVD-ROM drive, 32X/10X/40X CD-RW drive, integrated NVidia NForce graphics with 32MB of DDR SDRAM, 17-inch Compaq FS 7550 CRT monitor, integrated NVidia NForce sound, etc.
I have since added 256 MB of RAM, for a total of 512MB, as well as a 128 MB nvidia geforce4 MX 4000 graphics chip. I recently acquired a Dell Monitor in addition to my Optiquest L700 monitor. I would like to use both monitors, however my new graphics card has only one VGA and one S-Video output, while both monitors have only VGA inputs. Then I got the idea to use the integrated graphics card to power one display, and the GeForce to power another. However, it appears that my computer no longer recognizes or "sees" the old integrated graphics card, and even when i try to search for new hardware, it does not appear, and it does not appear in the device manager.
According to Microsoft, it is possible to use two graphics card for dual monitor support, but i would like to ask if it is possible, how i might be able to find the integrated graphics card and set up dual monitors, or if there is an adapter for S-video to VGA.

thanks for helping out!

 

[felixc]

Some systems will automatically disable the on-board graphics if they see an add-on adapter. It may be an option in your system BIOS. You may also want to see at your computer's maker web site, if a more recent BIOS can be downloaded and reflashed.

An add-on card that can drive two displays, while the integrated adapter is off, is the safest way to have two displays.

 

[Amos43]

felixc is right but there should almost certainly be an option to enable that onboard GPU in BIOS.

The card that you added, does it use AGP or PCI? If both the intergrated and add-on chips use AGP, then one of them has to be off for the other to work (although I've never heard of such a setup).
However, if one of them uses PCI, there should be absolutely no reason for them to be unable to work together. I use such a setup myself.

Good luck

 

[speedyVX]

Hi,
i have a Ati Radeon 7000 series with TV-out, and everything works fine except when i try to boot only with TV, (with no monitor connected). Then i get blurry and no color picture. On my other computer i also have ATI Radeon but 9000 with TV out and works fine without monitor. I have installed on both cards Catalyst 6.5 driver, which is latest. First card is 64MB, and other one 128MB. Ithink it should be in BIOS the problem but... Would anyone suggest a help... Thx