# Dell ADD2 PCle DVI--d adaptor **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 29, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-add2-pcle-dvi-d-adaptor/587310 "2011-06-29T20:44:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-add2-pcle-dvi-d-adaptor/587310/1 "2011-06-29T20:44:29Z")
Well I just got a new computer that I thought was set up for dual monitors. It has an ADD2 PCle DVI-D adaptor. When I tried to add the second monitor I could not find a plug for the second and a little research leads me to believe that this card is not for two monitors but for something else. What is the story here? ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-add2-pcle-dvi-d-adaptor/587310/2 "2011-06-29T20:50:36Z")
So further research indicates that I do not have a dual vga output, however, is it possible to hook up a second monitor to the dvi output, with an adapter of some sort I would imagine. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-add2-pcle-dvi-d-adaptor/587310/3 "2011-06-29T20:51:22Z")
I think you just need something [like this](http://www.datapro.net/products/dvi-d-dual-link-digital-cable.html) to make dual monitors work. They probably just cheaped-out and it wasn’t included. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-add2-pcle-dvi-d-adaptor/587310/4 "2011-06-29T21:08:56Z")
Scratch that last link. I meant something [like this.](http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3685183&SRCCODE=GOOGLEBASE&cm_mmc_o=VRqCjC7BBTkwCjCECjCE) ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-add2-pcle-dvi-d-adaptor/587310/5 "2011-06-29T21:24:29Z")
That does not look right. I need something that goes DVI (which is the output the computer has) to VGA, which is the plug the monitor has. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-add2-pcle-dvi-d-adaptor/587310/6 "2011-06-29T21:36:00Z")
Here is the standard adapter for that type of thing: [DVI Male to VGA Female Adapter](http://www.pccables.com/cgi-bin/orders6.cgi?action=Showitem&id=ID15046917&partno=00676&search=DVI_ADAPTER&rsite=&rcode=) There are also cable versions, as long as you get the gender right. ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-add2-pcle-dvi-d-adaptor/587310/7 "2011-06-29T21:52:19Z")
So now the question becomes, when I get the adapter how do I set it up so that I can use both screens, I don’t want the identical output on both. For instance I want to be able to look at two web pages or two documents, one on each. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-add2-pcle-dvi-d-adaptor/587310/8 "2011-06-29T21:57:45Z")
> **[Windows help & learning](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows)** > > Find help and how-to articles for Windows operating systems. Get support for Windows and learn about installation, updates, privacy, security and more. Microsoft’s website almost always has instructions like this. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-add2-pcle-dvi-d-adaptor/587310/9 "2011-06-29T22:00:32Z")
It will either be by using the standard windows Display Properties (like **BigT** posted) or using the driver control software for your graphics chip/card. To give more detail we need to know the OS and what graphics driver you’re using. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-add2-pcle-dvi-d-adaptor/587310/10 "2011-06-29T22:04:40Z")
Take a look at [this drawing](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DVI_Connector_Types.svg). Which one resembles your video card’s connector? ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-add2-pcle-dvi-d-adaptor/587310/11 "2011-06-29T22:16:01Z")
Oh, I think I get it now. The PC already has one VGA connector either onboard or on a separate adaptor, and you also have this secondary “ADD2 PCle DVI-D adaptor” with a DVI connection that you need to convert to a VGA connection in order to use dual VGA monitors. Is that right? If that’s so, I think that link above should do it, but personally, I recommend [this site](http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10419&cs_id=1041903&p_id=2396&seq=1&format=2) for both quality and price. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-add2-pcle-dvi-d-adaptor/587310/12 "2011-06-29T22:22:13Z")
Scratch that again. I just did a cursory search on that specific card of yours, and I’m having doubts now that either my link above, or the link **Jas09** provided will work. It appears to me that card is purely digital, and those adaptors will only work for an analog signal. You might be SOL getting that card to work with a VGA monitor without a more complex adapter. I’ll poke around a bit more, but I’d wait for a second opinion from someone who might have more specific experience. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-add2-pcle-dvi-d-adaptor/587310/13 "2011-06-29T22:33:17Z")
Yeah, I’m pretty sure you would need something [like this](http://www.mycablemart.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=648) to make it work. And for that price, you’re much better off just getting a monitor with DVI-D connections. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-add2-pcle-dvi-d-adaptor/587310/14 "2011-06-29T22:35:59Z")
Oh, crap. Yeah, didn’t see DVI-D was the spec. That will only have the digital signals, so the DVD-I to VGA adapters won’t work… You will likely need a monitor with a DVI input.