I seek to add a second display via the DVI connector… I see available DVI to HDMI converters. I have an available display with only HDMI connector that supports the same native 2560x1440 resolution as my primary display.
In my system I have a NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030 video card with 2GB of DDR5 memory.
It is likely an EVGA 02GP46332KR… large passive heat sync that spans into the adjacent card slot.
I have my display connected to the HDMI connector.
The board also has a DVI connector on it.
Is it likely with the NVIDIA binary drivers installed (currently v580.178.04) that it would support a second independent screen display, or only double up the image out both the HDMI and DVI connectors?
The last I have set up in a desktop computer multiple displays it took multiple dedicated video boards to drive each display.
With laptops and port replicators / docking stations, one can not tell if multiple GPU chips are requires to support so many HDMI / DisplayPort adapter connections.
If it has multiple video outputs you can connect multiple displays. Then it’s up to you to select how you want them to behave (in Windows terms, typically mirrored or extended, self-explanatory), their relative position and other settings at System Settings → Screens (or Displays), and also enable/disable each one independently.
I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about here… Multiple monitors in the same graphics card have been working for decades.
Again, what???
Yes, we do, and it’s quite simple actually.
Laptops or miniPCs with integrated graphics only can drive as much displays the chipset and installed connections support from the same and only iGPU. Laptops with hybrid integrated + discreet graphics typically have the external connections attached to the dGPU.
With port replicators an docking stations it’s up to you to read the manufacturer’s specifications. Anything that is a splitter, i.e., turns one output into two or more, ALL displays will be mirrored, obviously.
Anything else that connects via USB-C/Thunderbolt will be using the exact same internal GPU everything else does.
Anything that says “DisplayPort” (or some other niche competitor) are the only ones that have an external chip that sort of emulates a GPU but really isn’t (and require additional drivers) but allows some more displays to be connected and recognized by the OS like any other “native” connection. These can be either USB-C or USB-A, now almost all using USB 3.x, but there were USB 2.0 models a long time ago. Performance is often not great.
I’m writing this in a miniPC with support up to 3 displays (2xHDMI + USB-C) all driven by the same and only AMD iGPU.
Finally… Yes, Nvidia graphics more often than not do require proprietary drivers installed in order to enable full performance and in some cases multiple displays indeed. You already have it… So, what seems to be the problem?
It could be that the one video board offers the same exact output in HDMI format, in DVI format… thus I asked before I obtain the DVI to HDMI converter cable.
Chuckle… That was in the Matrox Millennium / Millennium II / G200 / G400 / G450 / G550 era… a few moons ago.
Dell Latitude series notebooks with Dell Docks… those have multiple HDMI and DisplayPort adapter connectors on them… and each connector is capable of driving an independent display… not all copies of the same video output.
Thus, I have done that with notebook systems… I have yet to do it with a desktop with only one video board, having both HDMI / DVI outputs. Asking before trying and finding a dead end.
Asking before trying something that ends up being impossible. “Measure twice, cut once.”
Thank you for your encouragement. I will soon order the DVI to HDMI adapter cable and see if I have success.
I obtained a dedicated DVI video card to HDMI display cable…. and already have success!! With the dedicated cable, direct video card to display connection… no adapting at all.
I figured out how to successfully configure the second display in the NVIDIA driver settings.
Even though the package the cable came in states “Up to 1920 x 1200 Resolution”, both displays are driving at 2560 x 1440 resolution beautifully!
I was able to tell the bottom XFCE Panel to span both displays… so I did not lose any virtual Workspaces. I have almost the entire bottom XFCE Panel filled with virtual Workspaces.
Amazing what one NVIDIA graphics board is capable of doing / supporting!
Thank you so much, celticwarrior, for your encouragement go give it a try!
