I'm very interested in purchasing another monitor in order to have a dual monitor set up. However, I've got some questions.

First, I have no clue if my computer or my graphics card can handle it. How can I find out if I can?

Second, I really enjoy the LG W2240 Flatron monitor that I currently have but nobody seems to sell it anymore. Does anyone have a suggestion for something that would be the same width (22 inches) as well as being from LG? My current monitor.

Third, will a stand such as this one work well?

Thanks for the help, I appreciate it.

EDIT:

And now fourth, I am considering a graphics card update, please give me some suggestions!

10 years ago*

Comment has been collapsed.

Which card do you have?

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

AMD Radeon HD 6670

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Speaking of graphics cards, if I cannot run dual monitors on this one, it might be time for an upgrade anyways. Does anyone have any suggestions if need be?

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Do your computer have more then one screen port on it? that's kinda the key, your graphics card has one but does it exist another one on your computer?

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

You can run two with that card if I'm not mistaken and if you are getting another Flatron or similar, you'll need an active adapter to connect it because the ports that are left are digital and the flatron is analog

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

You will need a VGA to Display port unless you're getting a monitor with a digital output

this is the adapter

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

So it will work if I get that adapter? So now the question of a monitor.

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Only if the monitor you get is analog
if it only has a VGA connector

If it has a digital output, like HDMI, you don't need the adapter

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Just look for a monitor with an HDMI or a DisplayPort connector and get a corresponding cable, if one doesn't come with the monitor. The cable signal is digital so the cheapest cable will work just as well as more expensive cables.

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

How does this work? If I were to get this monitor, what corresponding cable shall I get?

And would that monitor be close enough to my current W2240 Flatron?

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

So I just found this monitor that looks the exact same, is there a reason for the $40 increase?

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Does the look matter that much? You could get a monitor with an IPS panel, which would give you better colours, for about the same price as the monitor you linked first. This LG monitor for example. I didn't check any reviews if it has backlight bleed, but you should do that for any monitor you're considering.

The only difference between the first and the second monitor you linked is the addition of couple of USB ports and audio jack in the more expensive one.

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I would prefer another 22 inch monitor as it would match better on the stand (I don't know, just sort of a personal preference).

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

The link should work now. The size differences between the monitors around 22" aren't that big so it probably wouldn't bother you that much. You can find 22" monitors with IPS panels that fit your budget pretty easily.

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

For the monitors you linked, you would need an adapter. Preferably DVI to HDMI or DVI to DisplayPort because then there would be no transition from analog to digital signal.

The corresponding cable would be the one that the monitor had a port/connector for, e.g. a monitor with an HDMI port would need an HDMI cable.

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

bo

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

10/10 would take recommendation again.

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I want to add that you gotta watch out with all these inputs and outputs.
While Im far too lazy to actually look myself I will warn you

You can connect an analog monitor to an analog input, but not analog to digital... or other way around.
I know because my card (GTX 770) has DVI-D, DVI-I, DisplayPort and HDMI (if I remember them all), and I have 2 monitors on my desk but only one in use. Reason is that both monitors are analog, VGA but only one GPU input supports them... so yeah! watch it, read about it and make sure, because you can't translate digital to analog (OR THE OTHER WAY AROUND I DONT REMEMBER OKAY?!)

Also good luck. I used to use both monitors - it's suprisingly nice!
(Oh and check out a program called DisplayFusion - helps a lot!)

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Thanks for the heads up, I will for sure keep an eye out. Also, I appreciate the comment about DisplayFusion, I'll have to check it out!

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

You can from analog to digital with an active adapter, that's what I'm trying to say but my lack of english knowledge makes it hard for me

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I understood you perfectly well :D I was just also thanking Wime for his program suggestion as well as reinforcing your suggestion :)

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I have another question, will my computer be able to simultaneously run 2 different programs (maybe like 2 different games) at once? If not, what is an upgrade I can get to ensure that I can?

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

There isn't much reason to run multiple games at once except if the other one is turn-based and there are long waits between the turns. Whether you can run multiple games at once depends on the graphical fidelity (and CPU use) of said games.

The amount of normal programs you can run at once depends mostly on your CPU and the amount of RAM you have. Some non-game programs can be GPU heavy too.

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Do you think I could? Here is my setup.

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I have a similar setup, you will be able to run indie games, old games or new games that not require a lot

Also, why do you want to run 2 games at the same time?

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I would love to be able to work on a single player game or something inbetween turn-based strategy moves and turns.

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

There's multiple scenarios:

You can only run 1 full screen game and 1 windowed game at the same time BUT you need to alt-tab everytime to control them. (Exception on some setups that will disable 2nd screen when playing a full screen game, not sure why this happens)
You can run 2 windowed games at the same time without alt-tabbing.

And no, your video card sucks to be able to handle 2 games simultaneously unless those are point & click, adventure games or any games that doesn't require a lot of resources

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I was thinking that would be the case considering I built this computer back in 2010 --- Any recommendations for a video card upgrade? I'm all ears.

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

If you don't want/can't spend a lot, the r9 270x.
If you want/can spend more, the r9 280x.

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

If I'm going to get an upgrade, I might as well make it worth while :D Hit me with whatever you think is a great video card.

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

With the R9 280X you'll have to be lucky to not get a faulty one. At least that was my impression of them. I wasn't lucky and had 3 faulty ones.

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Dang, that sounds terrible, sorry to hear that. Any suggestions on other ones?

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Do you have a budget in mind? Knowing your full specs would be helpful too.

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

No budget, throw me whatever you got. Also, what do ya need besides this screenshot?

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I didn't notice that screenshot, but it still lacks important info like what kind of power supply you have.

Based on the preliminary requirements for Wolfenstein New Order, you wouldn't be able to run it with just a new GPU, because your CPU doesn't meet the requirements. Although it is likely that the i7 (or AMD equivalent) requirement is just the recommended requirement and not the minimum. But perhaps your CPU wouldn't meet even the minimum requirements, so you'd probably have to get a new CPU, if you wanted to play the newest AAA games.

Nvidia's equivalent to R9 280X is GTX 770, but maybe you'd want to go with a GTX 760 Ti or the non-Ti model. I'm not saying not to get a R9 series card, but just warning about them being faulty quite often.

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

So this would work well?

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I use a 32" 1080p LED TV (HDMI) as my main screen and my old Asus 19" 900p (DVI to VGA adapter) and i love the setup.
I belive that in dualscreen, when you have a game in fullscreen on the main screen, your secondary screen will go black. In my case both screens remain active, so i can game and watch tv/screams or follow a guide.

The point is: If you can afford it buy a new 1080p or 1440p screen using DVI/HDMI and use your old monitor as the secondary.
DualScreening does stress you GPU more, because there are many more pixels to render.
I recomend that you should also buy a GPU to be sure you can play at 1080p or higher and still have power to render 2D stuff on the secondary screen.

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

if u have a newer Intel with HD graphics inregrated you can use that for the second screen
i have a friend that does that
load on his main GPU is still the same
(when he had both 1080p screens on the GPU it didn't downclock to 2D power saving)

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

i have 2 of those same monitors, had them in dual monitor config with an oldie HD4850, everything was smooth, the only problem i had was when formatting the PC they would always switch up, and i could only set them the right way after installing the drivers...
meanwhile i upgraded my GPU to a 280X, and 1 of those LG monitors to a 27" 1080p monitor, kept the 2nd to dual the same but this time in portrait "mode"

the the "1st" LG was then used to upgrade another PC i have that had an old CTR(yes really, in late 2013 i still had a CTR at home ^^)

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Do you think a GPU is necessary if I were to get a newer graphics card?

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

A GPU and a graphics card are one and the same :)

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Isn't the GPU a chip that is part of the graphics card? Or I am just goofin' here?

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

graphics processing unit = graphics card

GPU is the shorter way to say it

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Oh my, I always thought a GPU was a part of a graphics card :O Thanks for clarifying that.

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

And then dont forget to use this ! DisplayFusion

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Yep! Already threw it on my wishlist :)

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I found 3 monitors that suit what I'm looking for. Does anyone have any suggestion in terms of which one out of these three (linked below) I should purchase?

Monitor 1, Monitor 2, Monitor 3

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Monitor 2 is the best of those, because of the IPS panel. It has better viewing angles and colours. Also you should remove the redirects/referrals from your links, those aren't allowed here.

To get clickable hyperlinks use [text] (link) without space in between.

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Oh they aren't referrals, I was just shortening the link :O My bad though, I'll remove 'em, and thanks for the tip!

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Alright, so Monitor 2 it is then! Also, do you know anything about monitor stands such as this one?

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I appreciate all the help everyone has provided. I have decided what I am going to do and I would like to especially thank Desidiosus for being extremely patient and helping via chat. Thanks to all, best of luck in the giveaways you enter!

10 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Closed 10 years ago by HowdyDonut.