Today connecting two or more monitors to one computer is a very simple task. What is it for? Practical applications for this can be called a lot.
You can stretch your desktop on two monitors and open twice as many windows, view schematics, charts, drawings, etc. in more detail. This is also used by most gamers, as well as professional video editors, artists, composers of electronic music and many others.
In domestic applications, connecting a second monitor to a computer can solve the problem of sharing devices, when one person is important to watch TV, and the second at this time wants to work or play. It remains only to learn how to connect the second monitor to the computer.
Hardware connection of the second monitor for the computer
Conditionally, the whole process can be divided into 2 stages - hardware and software. On the first you find on the computer or laptop computer the necessary video connector and connect a cable with an adapter to it, if necessary.
It is important to make the connection correctly. Namely - both monitors should be connected to one video card. If you have a first monitor connected to an integrated graphics card, you need to disconnect it and connect it to a discrete video card. If you do not have one, you will have to buy and install it and only then connect the second monitor.
To determine the available methods for connecting two monitors, you need to check the connectors on the video card. There are several options for such connectors, and the most common and convenient ones are the following:
- HDMI - it is found on all modern video cards, looks like an extended USB port, suitable for high-quality playback of video and audio;
- DVI (Digital Video Interface) is the most common way to connect monitors to a computer, supports both digital and analog signals;
- DisplayPort is a digital connector, similar to HDMI, but not so common.
As for the laptop, to connect an additional screen to it, you must immediately choose a model with one or several video outputs, since the replacement of the video card will not be expensive, and the installation of an additional card will not be possible at all.
To connect all devices to each other, cables are used, as well as adapters for compatibility of different connectors. If both monitors and a computer have the same connectors, it's best to connect the T-Splitter to the system unit and connect the cables of both monitors to it.
In the case of a laptop, no splitters are needed, since one monitor already has it by default. If it is equipped with a VGA-out or any other connector that transmits video, there will be no difficulty in connecting an additional monitor.
Also you can connect the second laptop computer as a second monitor. But to use it as a monitor you will need to install special programs. A simple cable connection is indispensable here.
How to connect the second monitor to the computer programmatically?
On most modern computers, the software part of the second monitor connection is automated, that is, the computer and the monitor themselves "find" each other, after which the desktop is stretched to two monitors or mirrored automatically. You can choose one of the options.
If automatic installation of the second monitor did not occur, right-click on the screen and select "Properties" or "Personalization", in the drop-down list, select "Screen Settings". Select the second screen and mirror the image or stretch the desktop.