I got my hands on another flat-screen monitor and decided to set up dual monitors on my system. My current video card is a GeForce 6150LE and is built into the motherboard; I only see one video port. So, I'm looking for another, inexpensive video card so I can hook up the second monitor. Any suggestions?
i haven't worked inside computers for a while, so let me see if i have this right: i have a gateway gt5220, and from what i looked at online, i think i have an AM2 motherboard, with a few PCI slots available. edit: and i'd like to keep it under 50 bucks; 30 or less would be best edit: the spec page lists these expansion slots: PCI Express x16 x 1 • PCI Express x1 x 1 • PCI x 2
You will be looking at the PCI-E x16 slot, I would just buy a card capable of 2 monitors if buying new and ignore the onboard graphics.
All graphics cards today support dual monitors pretty much. A cheap card like this will do fine in a PCI express 16x slot: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121259
Alas, they are out of stock. Do you know of any other similar deals? Are there any drawbacks to getting this kind of card?
Try this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102724 The only downside is that these cards are exclusively desktop / HD video. They can never play games.
If I get this and install it, I should still be able to play games on the GeForce's monitor, though, right?
The HD3450 can still play some games, far better than the 6150SE can. However, it's gaming performance is still very poor compared to current generation cards, that is what I refer to.
Alright. I've played some games on the 6150LE (Portal, e.g.) and had no problems, but I don't play too many games on the PC anyway.