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General discussion

Need graphics card for dual monitors on Inspiron 570

Feb 13, 2011 9:02AM PST

Hi; what graphics cards would enable an extended monitor setup (2 monitors) for a Dell Inspiron 570 using a Windows 7 64 bit operating system?

The processor is an AMD Athlon II X3 435 Processor, 2.90 GHz. I would like to play games if possible, but the extended monitor setup is my biggest concern. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Discussion is locked

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I think this is done often.
Feb 13, 2011 9:08AM PST

You install a video card with dual outputs and you're done!

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doesn't always work
Feb 13, 2011 9:20AM PST

I tried that, but the card I bought doesn't work on my computer. The drivers aren't recognized. I think it's Windows 7, because even on the Microsoft website, the card is listed as having unknown compatibility with W7.

I was hoping someone could tell me some video cards that definitely work for this system/ Windows 7.

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Look at the discussion so far.
Feb 13, 2011 9:25AM PST

The forum needs details about that. No make or model so members can't comment or see if there is a fix.

As to what cards work with Windows 7, all the cards I see in stores today work fine. But I'm left to guess you found some old card or tried to recycle.
Bob

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Yeah
Feb 13, 2011 9:55AM PST

I was asking if anyone who had specs similar to my computer and 2 monitors could tell me what card they were using, that's why I didn't include the make/model of my card.

Anyway, it's a Visiontek ATI Radeon 7K 64MB DDR. I bought it from Dell on their recommendation to find that it doesn't work. I want a different card that works on an Inspiron 570 with Windows 7. Any suggestions?

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Ahh that old card.
Feb 13, 2011 11:41AM PST

Try cards made after vista came out. For me to list all the cards I've installed that would work, well, I can't type that long. This is all volunteer so this exceeds what I'll volunteer.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/insp560mt/en/cs/cs_en.pdf writes this came with the Radeon 4200. It also writes "one 15-pin VGA connector and
one 19-pin HDMI connector" so what's stopping you from trying the second video connection?

-> No dell folk stop by here. Help the forum help you. Tell a little more.
Bob

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The whole dirty story...
Feb 13, 2011 10:52PM PST

Sorry for not writing an essay before. I've been through that with Dell and am all talked/ typed out. I've been trying to pick up bits of info from forums, and read all this stuff about wattage and power--that's one reason I hesitate to just buy any card without more information. If it's possible to short out my computer, I mean to avoid doing it.

Here's the story:

Like you said, the PC came with an ATI Radeon HD 4200. There's only one 15 pin connector on it. Dell told me that to enable extended monitors, I'd have to buy a different card. They suggested the second dual monitor card--the ATI Radeon 64MB PCI. That one has the two connectors you mentioned. The problem is that both monitors show identical images. They both identify as "Monitor 1." So the computer only picks up one signal from the two monitors. Under the "screen resolution" tab, there's no option to switch to two monitors.

One of the Dell techs even did a remote assistance. He disabled the old card and tried at least 6 different drivers on the new card. None of them fixed the two monitors, including the Catalyst drivers. Dell told me they think the card is a lemon, but also that they won't replace it. (They said that by the time I hooked up the computer, a warranty had expired. That's another story.)

I did more research, and the Microsoft website lists the card as questionable with Windows 7, not compatible. The box the card came in lists XP as the most advanced system it supports, but I bought it from Dell without seeing the box.

So are you saying that any card with two ports is more or less okay, assuming it's Windows 7 compatible? What about the wattage and power of my PC? How would I find that out, if it's important? I don't want to pick up something that will give me a whole new problem.

Anyway, thanks for your help. This is my first home dual monitor setup. I don't want to kill my computer.

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That 4200.
Feb 13, 2011 11:24PM PST

"Drive two displays simultaneously with independent resolutions, refresh rates, color controls and video overlays for each display"
http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/ati-radeon-hd-4000/ati-radeon-hd-4200/Pages/ati-radeon-hd-4200-specificatications.aspx

I can't figure out why the 4200 challenged Dell here. I can't guess if you didn't find the Extend My Desktop feature in Windows.

Here's a link -> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/organization/twomonitors.aspx

Again, the key step among many is "Extend your displays. This spreads your desktop over both monitors and lets you drag items between the two screens. This is how most people use two monitors, and it's the default setting for desktop computers. After your monitor is set up, you can use your mouse to grab the title bar (the top portion) of a window and drag it to your new display. If a window does not move when you drag it, double-click the title bar first, and then drag it."

Sorry but it's a shame support is that bad today.
Bob

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Yup, support is that bad today
Feb 14, 2011 12:43AM PST

I use dual monitors at work, and have no problem. Only my brand new PC is giving me trouble. Dell used to have the best customer service back when they were stationed in Texas, but now it's abysmal. If the techs don't know how to help you, they transfer you back and forth like a ping-pong ball. You get a couple of knowledgeable techs for every ten, if you're lucky. I know, since I have talked to 14 of them in two weeks. Only two of them seemed to know what I was talking about and sincerely tried to help.

I'm okay with computers, but I'm no IT person. Still it seems that I know more than most of the Dell techs working today. Anyway, it's sad when the manufacturer of your computer is the only set of people unwilling to help you use it.

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by the way
Feb 14, 2011 12:45AM PST

Thanks for the checklist link. I'll let you know if it helps.

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I have exactly the same problem, but I need THREE displays.
May 4, 2011 2:23AM PDT

Even if I use the 2nd (HDMI) output, I still need an additional video card to drive the 3rd monitor. I'm not having any luck. I stick a common popular PCI video card (I've tried a few) in the PCI slot - not a PCI Express - and immediately the Inspiron 570 can't properly talk to the ATI 4200 HD anymore, at all. Error 43. Maddening.

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This might help
May 5, 2011 9:44AM PDT

I've been meaning to post, since I found a solution to my original problem. The trick was to change the brand of video card. I started trying to upgrade from an onboard ATI video card to a more advanced ATI card. It seems the onboard drivers were interfering whenever I tried to install the new ones. When I switched to an NVIDIA card, there was no issue at all.

So a person with this issue might try upgrading from NVIDIA to ATI or vice versa, not from NVIDIA to NVIDIA or ATI to ATI. Sounds counterintuitive, but it worked for me without a hitch. The dual monitors haven't given me trouble since. I don't see why it wouldn't work for your three displays, unless the 2nd card has to interact with the first. Again, my original card was onboard, so maybe this whole problem only applies to that situation.

Good luck!

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I got similar problem
Sep 27, 2012 7:00AM PDT

I purchased 570 as my previous Gateway was 10 years old. I have a TV having only DVI port. I was using VGA port for my monitor and HDMI with HDMI to DVI cable for TV. That was fine.

Recently, I bought a 24" monitor that has DVI, HDMI and displayport. Now I can only hook up HDMI port to the new monitor. I bought HD 5450 (DVI, HDMI and VGA) as per Dell's recommendation. Now, my system got stuck when I install the new HD card. The system does not boot at all! No disk access. I have the BIOS A06 which is the latest.
I don't know why ATI and AMD can not integrate their own products [sigh]. Is plug and play concept dying?

I was looking for any jumper on the motherboard.
Any help is very much appreciated.

Pingala

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Plug and play was never a working feature.
Sep 27, 2012 7:07AM PDT

For decades I found myself configuring machines, being sure my stuff is compatible, hunting down drivers and more.

This is partly why I think the days of the PC are numbered. Folk no longer want to fiddle.
Bob