Source: wikiHow
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This wikiHow teaches you how to use two monitors with the same desktop computer. You can do this on both Windows and Mac computers, though you’ll need a computer with a graphics card that supports multiple displays if you’re using Windows.
- 1 Make sure that your computer supports multiple monitors.
On the back of your computer’s CPU box, you should see at least two horizontal ports near the bottom of the box; these are connections for your computer’s graphics card, which is what you’ll need to use to set up two monitors.
- You cannot use the default monitor connection, which is typically a vertical slot in the middle of the CPU box, to set up multiple monitors.
- Vertical ports are connected to the motherboard, while horizontal ports are connected to the graphics card.
- If you don’t see the proper ports on the CPU box, you’ll need to install a graphics card before setting up a second monitor.
- 2 Determine the type of connection you’ll need. Look at the graphics card’s ports and your computer monitors’ respective inputs to see which of the following you’ll need:
- DVI – Wide piece of plastic with numerous small square holes in it.
- VGA – Trapezoid-shaped piece of colored plastic with several pinholes in it.
- HDMI – Thin, flat, hexagonal port.
- DisplayPort – Similar to HDMI, but has a flat edge one one side instead of being symmetrical. Necessary for 4K displays.
- Thunderbolt – Found on the backs of most iMac monitors; has a lightning bolt icon beneath it. You can connect an adapter for any of the above video connections to a Thunderbolt port (e.g., VGA to Thunderbolt).
- 3 Buy any cables that you don’t have. If your computer’s graphics card’s inputs require DisplayPort cables, for example, purchase them for both monitors.
- If your monitors don’t support the graphics card’s cable type (e.g., DisplayPort), you’ll need an adapter or a cable that has two connections (e.g., a DisplayPort connection at one end and an HDMI connection on the other end).
- 4 Turn off your computer. It’s easiest to connect the second display without running into issues when the computer is powered off.
- 5 Plug the first monitor into one graphics card slot. To do this, you’ll most likely need to unplug the monitor…
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