Need help with Dual Monitor setup (AMD)

[Juusuhako]

Hello all,
im trying to help a friend setup a 2nd monitor. The main monitor is connected with HDMI, the 2nd is to be connected with a VGA. After she connects the VGA she gets the following in "Resolution" settings:

She tried connecting the 2nd monitor alone without the main monitor. Its nothing but a black screen, although the windows had adjusted to its screen resolution after she connects the main back on. The 2nd monitor worked on the downstairs PC. Any tips? I have Nvidia myself and it has a nice Control Panel software you can use to setup dual monitor, but I've never had AMD and I dont know what my options are.

 

[Whiskers]

Hello all,
im trying to help a friend setup a 2nd monitor. The main monitor is connected with HDMI, the 2nd is to be connected with a VGA. After she connects the VGA she gets the following in "Resolution" settings:

She tried connecting the 2nd monitor alone without the main monitor. Its nothing but a black screen, although the windows had adjusted to its screen resolution after she connects the main back on. The 2nd monitor worked on the downstairs PC. Any tips? I have Nvidia myself and it has a nice Control Panel software you can use to setup dual monitor, but I've never had AMD and I dont know what my options are.

I could be a bad VGA cable, have you tried another cable?

 

[Juusuhako]

I could be a bad VGA cable, have you tried another cable?

No, but the monitor worked downstairs with the same cable, so I assume that isnt the issue.

 

[Whiskers]

No, but the monitor worked downstairs with the same cable, so I assume that isnt the issue.

Are you using some kind of converter to get the VGA from the GPU?

 

[Juusuhako]

Are you using some kind of converter to get the VGA from the GPU?

No, its all directly connected, HDMI and VGA. What bothers me is that she gets a black screen when only the VGA-monitor is connected, but that it worked perfectly fine on their computer downstairs.

 

[Whiskers]

No, its all directly connected, HDMI and VGA. What bothers me is that she gets a black screen when only the VGA-monitor is connected, but that it worked perfectly fine on their computer downstairs.

Has she got the latest drivers installed?

 

[SavageCupcake]

What are her specs? I personally have my main monitor in the middle connected to my 7870 and the other two connected to the iGPU. Keeps my temps lower and worked out of the box

 

[Juusuhako]

Has she got the latest drivers installed?

Yes. She just did that and she got AMD Control Center, but it only detects her primary monitor.

What are her specs? I personally have my main monitor in the middle connected to my 7870 and the other two connected to the iGPU. Keeps my temps lower and worked out of the box

Its a Radeon HD 6870 1GB.

I dont understand why it wont work. It should be plug-and-play, especially when it worked downstairs!

 

[SavageCupcake]

Yes. She just did that and she got AMD Control Center, but it only detects her primary monitor.



Its a Radeon HD 6870 1GB.

I dont understand why it wont work. It should be plug-and-play, especially when it worked downstairs!

I meant as in amd or intel, and which chipset as well. z68 and z77 i know from experience can use both gpu and igpu without lucid drivers etc. not sure on the amd side.

 

[Juusuhako]

I meant as in amd or intel, and which chipset as well. z68 and z77 i know from experience can use both gpu and igpu without lucid drivers etc. not sure on the amd side.

I dont know what chipset... Either way the GPU does support dual monitor from what I know. Would using a VGA-to-DVI make any difference? The monitor only has VGA input, but maybe the PC detects it as a DVI if she gets a converter.

 

[NeverBackDown]

Try this...
http://support.amd.com/en-us/search/faq/172

 

[Juusuhako]

Try this...
http://support.amd.com/en-us/search/faq/172

Just seems weird that VGA wouldnt work with HDMI. The monitor only has VGA, so I guess its worth a shot getting a VGA-to-DVI converter and see if it makes a difference.

I still find it weird that it shows a black screen when only the VGA monitor is connected, but that the windows she has open is adjusted to its screen resolution. If it can detect the monitor and its resolution, why wont it show picture? (It doesnt say No Signal, its simply pitch black)

 

[Edge]

The Radeon 6870 usually has HDMI, 2xDVI and 1x Display Port mini doesn't it?

Can you give me the specific card? Manufacturer, reference, non-reference, what is it?

 

[NeverBackDown]

Use amds CCC.. it has options for multi displays.

 

[Juusuhako]

The Radeon 6870 usually has HDMI, 2xDVI and 1x Display Port mini doesn't it?

Can you give me the specific card? Manufacturer, reference, non-reference, what is it?

I think you solved my problem. The GPU is a Sapphire and has indeed no VGA output. Her motherboard however has, as shown here. So it seems shes been connecting the VGA cable to the motherboard this whole time (im not actually sitting with the PC myself, im helping over Skype). What a stupid mistake haha. Does this mean getting a VGA-to-DVI converter would solve her issue, as she'll be able to connect to the GPU? I dont assume you can actually get the 2nd monitor to work if it connects to the motherboard, can it?

Her primary monitor is a full HD, and the 2ndary one is a small one, with small resolution. Does it matter that it thats much smaller? (I dont know how much smaller exactly, but resolution is probably nothing higher than 1400x900 or 1200x800)

Use amds CCC.. it has options for multi displays.

It didnt detect it, but I know why now.

 

[Juusuhako]

After finding the converter that came along with the GPU she plugged it in and it worked. On top of DisplayFusion shes now a very happy girl. Thanks everyone.

 

[NeverBackDown]

Lol welcome

And no all ports must be plugged into the GPU if it is installed to proide output