The computer is one of the most multifunctional things that man has ever invented. In addition to its built-in functions, of which there are very, very many, its functionality can be expanded by connecting other devices. Speakers, microphone, camera, printer - the list of devices that can be connected to a computer is very long, and they all make your PC even more multifunctional. The ability to connect two monitors to one computer deserves special attention.

Interesting! If, when connecting two monitors, the expansion mode is set, the working area will increase.

This can be useful in a number of cases.

Firstly, it is useful for designer or artist. When working with computer graphics Details are critical, and a wider work area increases your visibility and allows for greater detail in objects.

Secondly, the benefit of two monitors will be immediately noticed by a person whose work involves the use of graphs and diagrams. Two monitors will allow you to keep several windows with graphs and diagrams in view without having to switch between them each time. And it's very convenient.

Third, two monitors are the dream of many gamers. And the point here is not only that the picture stretched across two monitors looks more colorful, but also that increased visibility can give you a number of gaming advantages. For example, the photo below shows a game in Sid Meier’s Civilization V on two monitors. An expanded visibility zone allows you to quickly obtain information about the state of your cities and predict the enemy’s strategy by observing the movement of his units. You won't need to waste time moving the cursor around the map, which will give you the opportunity to use the saved time to think through your move (this is especially true for online games). And this is just one of many examples.

Fourthly, having two monitors will benefit programmers of all stripes. For example, if you have dealt with web programming, you probably know that one page can be displayed differently on different browsers. Having two monitors, you can keep the code editor open on one of them, and browser windows on the other. This way, you can immediately see the results of your work without constantly switching between multiple windows.

In addition to the expansion mode, there is also a duplication mode, which does not expand the image, but repeats it on all monitors. This can be useful for office work, when all employees need to display the same information on the screen (you can connect as many monitors as you like to one computer, not just two). This will save you money on buying other computers and time connecting them via a local network.

Now that we understand the benefits of multiple monitors, it's time to understand how to connect them.

Connection

There are three ways to connect additional monitors:

Let's take a closer look at each of the listed methods.

Additional video card outputs

Manufacturers of modern video cards are well aware of the benefits of connecting two monitors to one computer, so they often equip their products with two connectors into which a monitor can be connected. To connect two monitors using one video card, follow these steps:

Connecting a second video card

The motherboard in the vast majority of computers is equipped with two or more connectors for video adapters. The only exceptions are very old models. Therefore, if your video card does not have a second connector, you can connect an additional video card. To do this, do the following:

In the case of a laptop, connecting an additional video card will not work, nor will it be possible to change the already built-in one. However, this is not necessary to connect additional monitors, since an additional monitor connector is provided for this. If you want more than one monitor for your laptop, you can use a splitter, which will be discussed in the next part of the article.

Connection using a splitter

Buying a second video card just to connect another monitor is too expensive. It will cost you many times less to buy a special splitter (also called a splitter). However, such a splitter is more suitable for static images than for dynamic ones, since when monitors are connected to it, their frequency decreases.

So, if you have already purchased a splitter, then to connect multiple monitors, follow the following step-by-step instructions:

Connector types

As you may have already noticed, connecting monitors is a simple process. However, difficulties may arise if the types of plugs and connectors do not correspond to each other (for example, you cannot connect a VGA plug to a USB port). Therefore, you need to distinguish between monitor ports. They are of the following types:

• HDMI;
• DisplayPort;

Let's take a closer look at each of them.

VGA

Acquainted with appearance You can see this connector in the photo below.

The VGA connector was used in almost all monitors and computers in the past. Now Computer techologies are evolving, and modern monitors are moving to newer ports. Sometimes this causes certain difficulties - for example, to connect a new monitor to an old computer that is equipped with a VGA connector, you need to buy an adapter. The same goes for laptops, most of which have this type of connector integrated.

DVI

The photo below shows what this connector looks like.

DVI is more modern interface compared to VGA. It is capable of supporting 3D and FullHD technologies, which cannot be said about the obsolete VGA. DVI type connectors are built into most modern video cards and monitors.

HDMI

To avoid confusing HDMI with another type of port, check out its photo.

HDMI is well suited for transmitting a clear digital signal and is widely used when connecting a computer to plasma TVs. Not only computers are equipped with an HDMI connector - it can often be found on tablets (in the form of a mini- or microHDMI connector).

DisplayPort

As usual, a photo is attached.

This interface is the most modern of all listed. It has a lot of advantages even over HDMI. For example, it can be used to connect multiple monitors with resolutions up to 4K.

USB

USB is the most versatile port available on this moment. You can connect almost anything to USB, and a monitor is no exception. True, it is not found on monitors as often as on other connected devices.

Below is a photo of the USB connector.

When you understand the connection principle and types of connectors, it’s time to move on to configuration.

Setting up monitors

The operating system, after connecting two monitors, configures them automatically and immediately begins transmitting the image to each of them. However, everything may not be displayed the way you need - for example, monitors may have different resolutions. To fix this and other related problems, do the following:

You can also customize the display modes that were mentioned at the beginning of the article. The main modes are “Duplicate” and “Expand”. When duplicating, the same image is transmitted to all connected monitors, and when expanding, it is stretched (and not necessarily just over two monitors - the image will be stretched across as many monitors as are connected).

To switch between modes, press the key combination “Win+P”.

Two workers table

The display modes listed above work with one image, duplicating it or stretching it between monitors. And if you need to make sure that different images are displayed on different monitors, then you won’t be able to implement this using standard system methods.

However, such a task becomes feasible after purchasing a special device Matrox DualHead2Go. Its main function is to transfer several work processes and distribute their display among monitors. This way, you can not only make yourself two different desktops and work with them, but also, for example, watch two different videos at the same time.

Connection process of this device the same as the splitter that we looked at earlier in the article. You just need to connect the plug to the appropriate connector on the monitor and computer.

Now that you know how to connect two or more monitors to one computer, it can make working on your PC easier. The whole process is simple, but many users often encounter difficulties at the connection stage. Therefore, it is necessary to approach it with special care.

Video - How to connect two monitors to one computer

The use of multiple monitors has long been common among computer users and each of them simply needs to know how to set up a second monitor in Windows 7 or another OS. A person on one of the monitors conducts the main activity, and uses the second for interactivity or multimedia.

Sometimes a laptop or other gadget with a small screen is connected to see the image in good resolution.

Those who have never connected a second monitor may think that this procedure is very complicated and time-consuming, but in fact everything can be done in a couple of steps, which depend on the connection method.

Setting up a second monitor

If you are the owner of the seventh operating system, then you're in luck. Many issues associated with setting up a second monitor have been resolved in this version. So, in your case, you can configure the second Windows 7 monitor as follows:

• first you need to connect the second screen to the video card connector;
• then type the combination “WIN+P” on the keyboard;
• next you will see a panel on which you will be asked to select suitable option.

That's it, the monitor is ready to use!

Let's consider another option for connecting a second monitor

Connected external device often there is a need due to very small monitor devices. Software development mobile devices, the manufacturer takes into account the possibility of connecting a second screen to the laptop, so first use the tools offered by the pre-installed system.

So, you need to find the blue square icon, it is located on the bottom panel. To connect a second Windows 7 monitor, click on the icon right click to be able to configure graphics adapter. To open the menu, click on an empty area of ​​the desktop.

Click the “Output to” item, then select the appropriate option. If you want two monitors to show the same picture, give preference to the “Display Clone” mode in the settings.

Other methods

Methods that are universal for everyone are also used. Windows versions. First, open the video card settings panel on your computer, then through the screen panel, open display settings and select the right way display the picture. All! Job completed!

As many people have experienced, using two monitors can be useful for different purposes. At work and at home, communicating online, watching movies and much more becomes much more convenient.

Connecting a second monitor to your computer provides several important benefits that can improve your computer productivity. For example, you can open different programs on two different monitors and work with them in parallel. But many users believe that this is too complicated a procedure and therefore abandon this idea. In fact, connecting a second monitor is very simple and in this material you will learn how to do it.

We are learning how to connect a second monitor to a computer

If you need to connect a second monitor to your computer, then the first thing you need to do is make sure that your computer allows it. In order to connect a second monitor, you must have a video card with two (or more) video outputs installed.

Almost all modern video cards are equipped with two video outputs, so this should not be a problem. If in your system unit If you don’t have a video card at all, and you are using integrated graphics, you won’t be able to connect a second monitor. In this case, to create a dual-monitor configuration, you will have to buy a discrete graphics card.

As for video outputs, they can be of several types: , VGA, or . Moreover, the video card can have any combination of these video outputs in any quantity. But, in most cases, a video card has two DVI outputs or one DVI and one VGA. On more expensive video card models, there are additional DisplayPort and HDMI video outputs.

Video outputs on the video card. From left to right: DisplayPort, HDMI and two DVIs

To connect a second monitor, it is not at all necessary that the video card have two identical video outputs. You can easily connect one monitor to DVI and the second to VGA.

You also need to take into account that not every monitor supports all possible video interfaces. As a rule, inexpensive monitors have only one DVI input. Some of the cheapest monitor models may only have one VGA input. That's why back The monitor also needs to be inspected.

Connect the second monitor to the computer and configure

The connection process itself is very simple. All you need is to have a suitable cable and connect your monitor and computer using it. You don't even need to turn off your computer to connect a second monitor.

If the computer has a free DVI output and the monitor supports connection using this video interface, then we will need a DVI cable to connect the computer to the monitor.

For VGA, DisplayPort or HDMI video outputs, you will need different cables with the corresponding names. You can find and purchase the cable you need at any store that sells computer or television equipment.

In some cases, there may be situations where the computer and the monitor do not have the same video ports. In this case, you need to use an adapter from a video interface to another.

Adapters from DVI to HDMI and from DVI to VGA

After connecting the second monitor to the computer, the same image as on the first monitor should appear on the screen of the connected monitor. In other words, both monitors will duplicate each other. In order for the second monitor to work independently of the first, it needs to be configured. To do this, right-click on the desktop and select “ ”.

After this, a window with screen settings will open in front of you. In order for the second connected monitor to work independently of the first, we need to change the monitor operation mode from “Duplicate these screens” to “Extend these screens”.

After changing the operating mode and saving the settings, an empty desktop should appear on the second monitor. You can now move windows between monitors and work with two independent monitors.

In addition, you can change other settings in the screen settings window. For example, you can change the resolution or change the location of the second monitor relative to the first. This is done by simply moving the monitor icons.

For example, by default the second monitor is located to the right of the first; if you want to place the second monitor on the left, then this must be specified in the settings, otherwise moving windows between monitors will not work correctly.

Connecting multiple monitors to one computer is a necessity for specialists who process large amounts of information. Research shows that this increases their productivity by 30-60%. At home, gamers need multiple monitors; this is how they immerse themselves in the virtual world. It is also convenient to use multiple screens for trading.

Connection conditions

Theoretically, an infinite number of screens can be connected to one device. Of course, provided that it has the necessary technical characteristics. You can create a video wall from dozens of modules, each of which will have its own image. But this solution will cost several hundred thousand rubles; ordinary people have no use for it.

For home or work use, 2 or 3 screens are suitable. Even the most advanced gamers have enough video footage from a maximum of 6 monitors. If you have good hardware, they can be connected to one video card. But to avoid overloads, it is better to distribute 2-3 screens per device.

All modern video cards, even those built into the processor, can withstand such loads. To enable 3 or more displays, you will need AMD 5 series or higher video cards, NVIDIA - GTX 600 model and newer is also suitable.

Necessary conditions for creating a multi-monitor system:

• multi-channel support;
• 2048 MB of video memory for non-gaming systems and 2 times more for gaming computers;
• data bus bandwidth from 128 bits and high speed memory;
• Driver support for all screen resolutions;
• Availability of a DisplayPort interface on at least one display for the AMD device;
• Availability of the necessary outputs on the video card.

As a last resort, it is allowed to use adapters if the hardware does not have the necessary outputs.

Methods for connecting monitors

There are three ways to combine screens into a video system:

• through ports on one video card,
• with the installation of several video cards,
• connection via splitters.

If the video card is equipped with several ports, there are no problems - each display has its own output. If there is only one port, you can use a signal divider - a splitter. It is connected to the system and distributes a signal to 2-4 screens, depending on the model.

The more outputs on the splitter, the worse the picture quality on each monitor. It also depends on the capabilities of the video card. If its stream is only enough for one video, when divided, the resolution and clarity of the picture will become worse.

To connect via a splitter, it is better to choose screens with the same resolution. Otherwise, the quality of the picture will be different everywhere, and it will be impossible to correct it.

To create a common system with several video adapters, they will have to be combined into SLI or Crossfire. Another option is to use the built-in video in addition to an external graphics card. To do this in Motherboard BIOS The board must have an Always Enable option. With this method, displays from different video chips will work separately, and it will not be possible to create a common multi-monitoring system.

How to connect devices

The physical connection of graphic cards and monitors is simple: the devices are disconnected from the network and the cables are inserted into the required connectors. A video chip can have several types of ports:

• HDMI
• HDMI, Wi-Fi extender
• DisplayPort.

VGA is the most common type, designed for connecting a TV or monitor. Occurs both on modern equipment, and on outdated models. The peculiarity is that this connector does not transmit an audio signal. This can create a problem when synchronizing audio and video. It is solved by a separate audio system. It is not recommended to connect a FullHD monitor through this port, as the picture will be unclear.

DVI is a more modern port, replacing VGA. Used for screens with high resolution, digital projectors, plasma panels. Using an adapter to this connector, you can turn on a VGA screen.

HDMI is a digital output that can transmit not only a high-quality video signal, but also a multi-channel audio signal. The new HDMI 2.0 standard allows you to transmit not only FullHD video, but also 3D images and Dolby audio. Supports monitors with an aspect ratio of 21:9. There is a wireless version, connecting devices via Wi-Fi.

DisplayPort has the same picture expansion capabilities as HDMI – 3840x2160. The advantage over this model is the low production cost, since the company does not pay tax for using this port in its device. Another small plus is the latches on the connector, which will prevent it from falling out of the connector.

Setting up additional screens in Windows

After physical connection All devices can be tested. The picture on the additional monitors will be the same as on the main one. To select a display mode, you need to open the projection panel with the combination Windows keys and the Latin letter R.

The “Duplicate” option creates the same image on all screens. The “Extend” button makes the second and subsequent displays an extension of the main one.

If the computer does not detect additional monitors, you need to select “Display Options” from the desktop menu. Next, you need to click “Detect” or “Find”. At correct connection the system will detect the screen automatically. If this does not happen, you need to open the “Multiple Displays” list and select the “Try to connect to...” line with the desired connector. If there is no connection, you should check the connections of all cables, turn on the display through another cable or another video card port.

After detecting the screen, you can select the color rendition, brightness, orientation by clicking on the icon with a serial number and the inscription “Customize your screen.”

How to connect 2 monitors to one computer on Windows XP:

1. From the desktop menu, select “Properties” and go to the “Options” tab.
2. The gray field will display the monitors with their serial numbers.
3. By default, the picture on all screens is the same. To expand it, you need to check the “Extend the desktop onto this monitor” checkbox.
4. By clicking on the screens, you can adjust their resolution and color rendering.

Workshop: how to connect two monitors to one computer (video)

https://youtu.be/XjFSau4upx4

One or two monitors on a desk don't take up much space. If you connect 4-6 screens, you need to figure out how to optimize the space. The easiest way is to purchase desktop or wall brackets and hang one monitor above the other. This will save space and increase the total area of ​​the desktop picture.

Let's look at how to connect a second monitor and what you need for this. The following instructions are for Windows 7 and Windows 10. Before you begin connecting, determine what you will use the second monitor for and select desired type connections.

The second screen is convenient to use in such cases:

• For watching a movie and surfing the Internet at the same time. Also, you can turn on the game and watch the video on the second monitor;
• View multiple browser windows simultaneously;
• Video editing. This procedure takes more than one hour, so using a second monitor will allow you to control the installation and continue to use your PC.

There are three possible connection modes - switching the image to the second screen, duplicating the image on both monitors, or continuing the desktop on the second screen.

In the first case, immediately after detecting a new display, the first computer screen will go dark, and you will only work with the second monitor. Image duplication allows you to see the same process on all connected monitors. An extension is a type of connection in which a new screen becomes a visual extension of the first, allowing you to run multiple programs at once. An example of the extension is shown in the figure:

Requirements and connection types

To work with multiple screens, your computer's video card must support this feature. On older computers, it may be difficult to connect to an integrated video card, but more than 90% of modern PCs will “see” the second display without any problems.

There are several connection types:

Wired connection of a second monitor

Before you connect a second monitor to the system, you must physically connect it to the system. Decide what type of monitor you have (analog or digital), then find the VGA or HDMI output on the back of your display. A similar connector should be located in your computer.

Take the connection cable and connect two VGA connectors or two HDMI connectors (one on the computer or laptop, the second on the monitor itself). Make sure the wire is well connected to both devices. The slightest inaccuracy can cause the second monitor to randomly turn off.

At the last stage of the connection, you need to turn on the power of the additional screen, that is, connect it to an outlet. The wire connecting the screen and the PC and the power cable are included with the monitor. If necessary, HDMI-HDMI or VGA-VGA adapters can be purchased at any hardware store.

Instructions for Windows 7

After physical connection You can start setting up two displays. Let's look at how to do this in . Often in this version of the OS, nothing may happen immediately after connecting. The image does not appear on the second screen until you move the mouse or do any other action on the first monitor.

After a duplicate image of the first monitor appears on the second, you need to start making settings. Built-in OS options allow you to select the type of display of the desktop and other windows. The user can continue to use both monitors in image duplication mode or adjust their expansion.

In the first case, it will be convenient to watch movies. For example, you want to connect a TV as a second monitor to watch video and there is no need for parallel operation with other computer functions. Choose image duplication.

If you want to work on your computer while watching movies and opening other programs, choose an extension so that the desktop of the second screen becomes an extension of the first.

Follow the instructions to open the settings window:

• Right-click on an empty space on the desktop;
• In the list of actions, select “Screen resolution”;

• In the new window, click on “Find” if the second monitor does not turn on automatically. Also, in these settings, you can click on the number of the screen you need and configure its resolution, orientation and desktop display type;

• To extend two monitors, open the "Multiple Screens" option and select "Extend these screens" from the list.

How to connect a second monitor to Windows 10

To connect and configure a second monitor in Windows 10, follow the instructions:

• Open the system settings window by pressing the Win+I key combination;
• Click on the “System” tile;

• In the new window, select the “Display” tab and on the right side of the window click on “Screen Resolution”;
• Next, as in Windows 7, select the monitor number and configure the image display type, its resolution and other available options. Note that in Windows 10 it is possible to connect to a monitor that supports a wireless connection.

Errors when connecting a monitor and solutions

When connecting two, three or more displays to one computer, problems often arise. Let's consider what to do if the computer does not see the second monitor or there are problems with the image.

Picture distortion

If you encounter severe distortion of the picture on the second monitor, most likely the gadget is connected using an analog VGA cable. Loss of quality in such cases is normal, because to transmit an analog signal, a double conversion of data bytes is performed. Eventually. Information is “lost” on the way to the second screen and the resulting picture is not of the best quality.

Sometimes the image settings may go wrong. We recommend going to the display configuration menu and checking which resolution is selected. The second screen may have automatically selected low quality or inappropriate scaling:

If your PC's video card has not only a VGA input, but also an HDMI input, all you need to do to solve the problem is use another monitor that supports a digital connection.

Randomly turning off the second monitor

If, after you have managed to connect a second monitor to your laptop or PC, the second screen suddenly turns off, the problem is with the cable. It may be damaged or you may have connected it poorly in the computer's connector panel. Also, check the monitor's power supply; the corresponding connector and socket may also be broken.

The second reason for a sudden shutdown is a faulty video card driver. Need to update software. To do this, go to the Device Manager window.

Follow the instructions to open Windows Manager in Windows 7:

• Open the “Start” menu on the left side of this window, right-click on the “My Computer” field;
• In the drop-down list, select “Management”;

• On the left side of the window that opens, select “Device Manager.” The following window will appear:

To open the Manager in Windows 10, follow these steps:

• Right-click on the Start menu icon;
• As a result, a list will appear quick access, in which you need to select the field below:

If the laptop does not see the second monitor, after launching Device Manager you can update the drivers in automatic mode. To do this, just right-click on the “Video adapters” item, and then select “Update configuration” from the list. A similar action must be performed for the “Monitors” device group:

The computer will send a request to the Microsoft server and begin searching for new driver versions. An Internet connection is required to complete the installation. After updating the software, be sure to restart your computer and reconnect the secondary screen.

Nothing happens after connecting

The reason why the second monitor is not visible at all is because the connection type was incorrectly determined. You may have used a digital HDMI connector while your video card only supports analog VGA.

It should also be taken into account that the video card can only support one connected monitor. In this case, the problem can only be solved by installing a new video card.

Now you know how to connect a second monitor to a computer or laptop. If problems occur, check the scaling settings, reinstall the driver software for the integrated video card, or try using a new connection cable. If you have any questions while setting up the second screen, please leave them in the comments below.