Dual monitor setup on new desktop

[gogol75]

I am buying a new desktop: Dell Studio XPS 8100

This comes with the 512MB NVIDIA G310 Graphics card.

IT looks like the graphics card has a DVI port and a VGA port.

I need to connect two monitors to this machine. Dell helpdesk is telling me that I need to buy an adapter but did not tell me what kind.

Can someone please tell me how to connect two monitors to this machine?

Since the card has both DVI and VGA, can I not use a VGA cable to connect monitor 1 and a DVI cable to connect monitor 2.

Do I really need some adapter?

Thanks a lot.
Jay

 

[Grantofhell]

NOTE: The monitors don't have to use the same connections. You can use DVI and VGA at the same time.

But if they were both VGA, you would need to use a VGA to DVI converter. If both monitors require DVI you can use a DVI to VGA converter.

DVI to VGA Converter

VGA to DVI Converter

Of course, another options is to build a computer yourself with much better parts for less and buy a graphics card that runs dual DVI-I ports.

 

[disturbed13]

^ hes right
so just check on your monitors to make sure the monitor 1 has DVI and monitor 2 has VGA
if so your set and you wont need anything

 

[Captain Pooka]

If you have a newer monitor that has speakers on it then you can use the HDMI port, that will transfer audio as well.

-Q

 

[gogol75]

Thanks to you all!!

My monitor has 3 inputs: VGA, DVI and HDMI.

So looks like I'm set. All I need is a DVI cable.

In fact I have a DVI-to-HDMI cable already.

 

[01001010]

But if they were both VGA, you would need to use a VGA to DVI converter.

VGA to DVI Converter

That doesn't work.