This guide will help you figure out how to connect the system unit to the display and which ports to use. He will also talk about the procedure and how you can connect two system units to the monitor.
Computer and monitor connectors
Three port options are used to connect computers to monitors. Below are the features of each of them.
DVI
Quite an old port. However, thanks to the ability to stream content in FHD, it is still around. For example, an inexpensive one is equipped with such a connector. However, when working with some video cards capable of dual-channel mode, the figure can increase to 2560 x 1600 pixels.
Main features:
- transmits only the picture, the audio signal requires another channel;
- The maximum resolution that the connector is capable of transmitting depends on the length of the wire: up to 10.5 meters - 1920 x 1280 pixels, up to 18 meters - 1280 x 1024 pixels;
- There are three types of such ports that are compatible with each other: A - analogue transmission only, D - digital transmission only, I - analogue + digital.
The downside is frequent interference that appears near devices emitting electromagnetic waves.
VGA
Simple office monitors are often equipped with this port. The maximum resolution that the connector is officially capable of is 1280 x 1024 pixels. In practice, the figures can be even higher. As in the previous case, the port is created only for transmitting a video signal.
Interesting: This connector is installed in a compact, full resolution.
HDMI
This interface is the most modern and one of the most popular. Most laptops and systems are equipped with it. Even tablets often have such a connector built into them.
What's good:
- capable of transmitting not only video, but also audio signals: no additional cable is needed;
- supports full resolution with three-dimensional effects, broadcasts content in a maximum of 8K (version 2.1);
- high throughput- 4.9-48 gigabits in an instant - allows you to transmit a signal without delays, which has a beneficial effect on picture quality.
The process of connecting a monitor to a computer
How to connect two system units to one monitor?
In this case, you will need such a thing as a KVM switch. The accessory makes it possible to connect at least 2 system units to 1 monitor, as well as to a mouse and keyboard.
This solution not only eliminates the need to use multiple displays, but also allows you to free up your workspace: there will simply be no extra wires or peripheral devices.
A KVM switch is a compact device whose body is equipped with several connectors. Usually they are located around the perimeter. For example, there are four of them.
Each of the connectors that connect to the video card of the system unit transmits not only a video signal, but also data from the keyboard and mouse. As a rule, the switch is also equipped with buttons that give the user the opportunity to select the computer that needs to be used.
The advantage of switches is that they do not distort the picture: the quality depends on the port with which the device is equipped. In addition, they work with any operating system, including server versions. Some models are also equipped with an audio interface, but they are more expensive. However, you don’t have to look for one: you can buy a monitor with speakers, like .
The procedure for connecting a pair of system units to a monitor using such a switch is almost the same as described in the previous section. The only difference is that all cables go through the switch.
The connection process is quite simple. If the connectors of the devices are not the same, then you should stock up on a suitable adapter. You can also connect a couple of PCs. Then you need a special switch.
Today you won’t surprise anyone with a multi-monitor PC configuration. And soon, we can expect that having a single display on a desk will become the exception, not the rule. This is what people say who have had the opportunity to compare the convenience of working at a computer with one and multiple monitors. And the second option, if you believe their words, is much more convenient than the first.
Statisticians share the same opinion. According to their research, if you connect 2 monitors instead of one, the productivity of personnel involved in processing large amounts of information increases by 15-60%. What can we say about gamers, for whom multi-monitor systems are the only opportunity to plunge headlong into the virtual world?
How many monitors can be connected to one computer? Connection conditions
It is unlikely that anyone is able to name the exact number of possible monitor connections to one PC, but 50 or more is definitely possible. It all depends on the budget you are willing to allocate for it. To create video walls from dozens of modules, such as in the photo below, special controllers are used. Their task is not just to display the image on many screens, but also to provide each picture with decent quality.
However, video wall controllers are an extremely expensive solution that not every enterprise can afford. A more affordable option is a video server with several multi-channel video cards. But it can cost the owner several hundred thousand rubles.
The average user, like most of us, does not need such excesses. Home gaming systems usually consist of no more than six monitors, and they can be connected not just to one computer, but to one video card. But to achieve the maximum High Quality images, it is better to distribute the monitors so that there are no more than two or three per video camera.
Connecting two monitors is supported by almost any modern video card, even one built into the processor (chipset). Three or more - all AMD models, starting with series 5, as well as NVIDIA GTX 600 and newer.
In addition to multi-channel support, the following are important for creating multi-monitor configurations:
- Availability of outputs on video cards that coincide with monitor inputs (the use of adapters is allowed in extreme cases when there is no other way to connect). Moreover, AMD requires a mandatory DisplayPort interface on at least one of the displays (with the exception of certain branded video cards with a built-in DisplayPort-DVI adapter). NVIDIA does not impose such conditions.
- Video driver support for all monitor resolutions.
- Sufficient amount of video memory. 2048 Mb is the conditional minimum for a two- or three-monitor configuration in a non-gaming system. For four or more monitors, especially if you plan to use the computer for games, there should be at least 2 times more memory.
- High data bus bandwidth (from 128 bits) and good memory speed (the more, the better). The narrower the tire, the higher the speed should be.
To connect monitors to different video cards, the latter do not need to be combined into SLI or Crossfire. In some cases, in addition to discrete card(inserted into the connector) you can use the built-in video if the BIOS supports it motherboard(there is an “Always Enable” option for the output of the built-in video card). But in such configurations, each pair of displays served by one video chip operates independently of the other. This means that you won't be able to create a common visual space across all screens.
If your computer is equipped with a single video card, you can connect monitors to several of its ports or to one. To connect 2 or more screens to one video card with 1 input, you will need a signal divider - a splitter. For example, as in the photo below. This modification can distribute a signal to 4 monitors, but the picture quality usually decreases (it depends not so much on the splitter as on the video capabilities). If the flow is barely enough for a single screen, dividing it into “rivulets” will reduce the resolution, clarity and scan frequency. And the more connections, the lower the quality.
When you connect the splitter to displays with different resolutions, the picture quality on them will be different: on some it is better, on others it is worse. And you won’t be able to correct it individually, except perhaps through the settings of the monitors themselves.
AMD cards that feature Eyefinity technology (powered by GPUs ATI Radeon R800 line), allow you to attach up to 6 displays to them and combine them into a single visual space. But here everything is tied to the DisplayPort interface, which, unfortunately, not all devices are equipped with.
The following are acceptable combinations of connection interfaces when building multi-monitor systems using AMD Eyefinity technology:
- To combine 3 monitors into one system, one of them must be connected via DisplayPort or miniDisplayPort (miniDP), the second via DVI, and the third via VGA, HDMI or the same DVI.
- If there are 4 monitors, two devices must be connected to DisplayPort, the third to DVI, and the fourth to VGA or HDMI.
- In a five-monitor system, all 5 or 3 monitors are connected to DisplayPort (miniDisplayPort), one or two to DVI, and one, if any, to HDMI.
- The six-monitor configuration provides a connection via miniDisplayPort only.
NVIDIA Surround/3D Vision multi-monitor support technology allows you to create a shared gaming space from three monitors. However, for this you will need either a dual-processor video card, or combining two or three cards in SLI. You can connect several more displays to the remaining video outputs; they will work independently of the others.
If you do not have the task of building a video wall to display one picture on several screens, it is not necessary to adhere to the rules described above. Monitors can be connected in any configuration through any interfaces, based on 2 devices per 1 video processor. In this case, each of them will display its own desktop, and you can switch between them, drag windows from one desktop to another, etc.
How to connect and configure additional monitors in Windows
Physical connection of devices
The process of physically connecting a second, third, etc. monitor to the video card ports is not difficult. Simply insert the connectors of the connecting cables into the sockets of both devices, remembering to first unplug them from the outlet.
When creating a dual-monitor setup, use the same interfaces whenever possible, for example, DisplayPort only or HDMI only, so that the image quality on the two screens does not differ much. If there are no identical ports on your video card, connect via different ones, for example, DVI and HDMI or HDMI and VGA. It is permissible to use adapters from one interface to another only in extreme cases, since signal conversion is always accompanied by losses, sometimes significant. The same goes for splitters. If you can do without them, try to do without them.
After making the connection, turn on the power to the system unit and monitors. Recognition of the latter, as a rule, occurs automatically. All you have to do is customize them to suit your needs.
Connecting a second monitor to laptops is done in the same way as to desktop PCs. The only difference is that the video card that will serve the additional screen is determined by the system, not the user.
Multi-display adapters
If the picture quality on the main and additional displays varies greatly, and also if you need to connect not one, but 2 additional monitors to your laptop, a specialized device - a multi-display adapter - will help out. This is a small box with a processor inside, reminiscent of a multiport splitter, and several cables included. One cable connects the box to the output of the video card, the rest are connected to the monitor inputs. It receives power from a USB port or an external adapter.
An example of such a device is Matrox DualHead2Go Digital SE.
Setting up additional screens in Windows 10 and 8.1 and 7
After the first turn on, the image on the additional monitor, as a rule, duplicates the main one. Sometimes the desktop stretches across 2 screens at once. For selection desired mode press the Windows + P (Latin) key combination - this will open the projection panel.
In Windows 10 and 8.1 it looks like this:
In Windows 7 - like this:
The Duplicate option (Repeating) plays the same picture on all displays. “Extend” - makes the second screen a continuation of the first.
If the system is unable to automatically recognize the second display, open via context menu"Display Settings" desktop.
Click the “Discover” button (In Windows 7, “Find”).
If the device is physically functional and connected correctly, the system will most likely recognize it immediately. If not, open the Multiple Displays list and select "Try anyway to connect..." to a monitor that is not detected.
If this does not help, you should check the contacts and, if possible, connect the device with another known-good cable to another video output or another video card.
The “Define” button in the same section allows you to select which of the two displays will be the main (first) and which will be the additional (second, third, etc.).
To change the settings of one of the displays of a multi-monitor system - the size of the displayed elements, brightness level, orientation, resolution, color rendering, etc., click on the rectangle with its serial number in the gray field under the “Customize your screen” heading.
The changes will take effect after saving. You do not need to restart your computer for this.
Additional settings Multi-display configurations are contained in the panel menu NVIDIA management and AMD Catalyst.
Setting up additional screens in Windows XP
To access display settings in Windows XP, also open the desktop context menu and click “Properties”. Next, go to the “Options” tab.
If the second monitor is correctly recognized, 2 display icons with sequential numbers will appear in the gray field. “Find” options, like in modern Windows versions, there is no.
By default, both screens display the same desktop image. If you want to expand it, click on the second display icon and check the “Extend desktop onto this monitor” checkbox.
Setting up each screen individually is done in the same way as in Windows 10: click on the monitor icon on the gray field and set the desired parameters. The “Screen Resolution” and “Color Quality” options are located here, and the rest - scale, adapter properties, etc., is hidden behind the “Advanced” button.
Most of the settings take effect immediately, but some only after you restart the computer.
Good day, friends! Although a wireless monitor is a convenient thing, it is still an expensive pleasure for most gamers.
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that this is so far: when the first LCD monitors appeared on the market, not everyone could afford them and the majority continued to buy pot-bellied CRTs, but ten years later the situation has changed dramatically.
Today, everything is exactly the opposite: almost everyone uses liquid crystal displays, and cathode ray tubes have gradually “died out”, as they are almost never produced or used.
For this reason, most users use wires the old fashioned way to connect the monitor to the system unit.
In this post, let's look at what types of monitor cables there are, which one is best to use depending on the operating characteristics of the device, and how long the wire should be to avoid signal loss and, as a result, picture distortion.
VGA
The oldest format, which was developed in 1989 by IBM for PS/2 series computers. It is logical that at the same time as the slots on the video card, corresponding cables appeared. In older CRT displays, one end of such a cable may be soldered tightly to the board inside.
However, almost all modern flat-panel monitors are equipped only with slots where you can connect the appropriate cable. Sometimes you have to buy it separately: for example, the basic package includes only VGA, but you have to pay extra for HDMI.
A modern cord of this format is equipped at both ends with plugs with special clamps that are screwed into suitable connectors on the video card or monitor.
As a rule, the tips are marked blue. The higher the maximum resolution of the transmitted image, the shorter the permissible length of any wire connected to the computer (not only VGA). In this case, with a resolution of 1600x1200, the length of the wire should preferably not exceed 10 meters.
DVI
Can transmit both digital and analog image. There are several types of DVI ports, each of which should use the appropriate cable. They are equipped with incompatible keys, so you won’t be able to plug an unsuitable cable into the slot.
When transmitting an image with a resolution of 1920x1200, the cable length should not exceed 10 meters, and the active signal equipped with an amplifier should not exceed 61 meters. The connectors of such a cable resemble VGA and are fixed in a similar way, but are usually marked in white or yellow.
HDMI
Suitable not only for a PC and monitor, but in general for any video equipment: home theater, projector, and the like. In addition to images, it can also transmit sound. There are three types of incompatible connectors of different sizes, which are usually not color coded - regular, mini and micro. No latches are provided.
The maximum length of a simple cable is 10 meters, and equipped with a signal amplifier and ferrite filters, up to 35–40 meters. As in the previous case, such a cord is convenient to use in public places: for example, a sports bar for connecting a monitor or a conference room when making a presentation.
Display Port
Not suitable for connecting a budget video card, since they are usually not equipped with such connectors.
Expensive gaming models are capable of delivering maximum results using such a cable, including thanks to the ability to activate AMD Freesync and Nvidia G‑sync technologies (this is discussed in more detail in the publication “”).
Today there is only one type of such connector, which also does not have color coding. The maximum length of the wire should preferably not exceed 15 meters. Signal amplification, alas, is not provided for by the design. 
Adapters
If the connectors on your monitor do not match the slots on the video card, you can always find a solution that is not burdensome in terms of cost. For example, there are adapters and adapters VGA-DVI, VGA-HDMI DVI-HDMI, and for any type of connector.
The problem is to “make friends” of the display with an incompatible port, so you should not buy an adapter, but an adapter, the cost of which is usually only a couple of dollars higher.
I recommend keeping a guideline and using HDMI cables as the most widespread and convenient option. Not every monitor or graphics accelerator can boast of having a Display Port, which is more technically advanced.
HDMI is included in the design of any modern device.
I would be grateful to everyone who shares this publication on in social networks. I hope the information was useful to you. Thank you for attention. Till tomorrow!
Every PC user should be able to use a computer. Since sooner or later there will be a need to buy new monitor or simply move the computer to another location. In such a situation, you need to be able to disconnect and connect the monitor to the computer. In this article we will talk about how to do this.
The monitor can be connected using a DVI interface. This option is used most often. If your computer is equipped with several interfaces, then you should use first, as it provides the highest quality picture.
The monitor can be connected using the VGA interface. The VGA interface is considered obsolete. It should be used only if there is no DVI or HDMI output, as well as in cases where the connected monitor does not support other interfaces.
The monitor can be connected using an HDMI interface. This option is intended for connecting a TV to a computer, but if you really need it, it can also be used to connect a monitor. Since laptops are rarely equipped with a DVI video output, HDMI is most often used.
The process of connecting a monitor to a computer
So, if you don't know how to connect a monitor to your computer, then first look at the back panel of your computer. Most likely, at the bottom of the rear panel of the system unit you will find video outputs (DVI or VGA output, as well as HDMI).
If you find video outputs at the bottom of the system unit, then these are video outputs, and they should be used first. If there are no video outputs at the bottom of the system unit, this means that the computer is not equipped with a separate video card and uses integrated graphics. In this case, you must use the video outputs on the top of the system unit (these are the video outputs on).
After that, inspect the back of the monitor. Nowadays it is quite difficult to find a monitor without a DVI input. But some of the cheapest or oldest models may not have it. If your computer has a DVI output, but your monitor does not have a DVI input, then to connect the monitor you will have to use the VGA output on the computer and the VGA input on the monitor. If the computer has only a DVI output, and the monitor only has a VGA input, then you can use an adapter.
But, in most cases, such problems do not occur. As a rule, a monitor has both a DVI and a VGA input, and the choice of video interface for connecting the monitor depends only on what video outputs are available on your computer.
In order to connect a monitor to a computer using a DVI or VGA interface, you need to connect the video output on the computer and the video input on the monitor using a DVI or VGA cable (depending on which interface you are using). After connecting, you need to tighten the two screws that are located on the sides of the DVI and VGA cable.
These screws have plastic tips and are hand-tightened. If you do not secure the connection with screws, the cable may have poor contact, resulting in flickering on the monitor.
If you use, then you do not need to tighten the screws, because this cable does not have this feature. In this case you just need to plug in HDMI cable in HDMI output on the computer and HDMI input on the monitor.
Hello dear site visitors.
Just recently I told you how it is possible. Today the topic is a little similar. I will show an example of connecting a monitor to to a regular computer. In addition to the main points, I will tell you what to do if the connectors on the monitor and computer do not match. So let's get started.
Before connecting the monitor to the computer, you need to briefly understand what connectors are used for this. Today the three most popular connectors are: VGA, HDMI and DVI. This is what they look like:
How do these connectors differ and which one is better to use for connection?
VGA is already an outdated interface, but still used, especially in cheap monitors. I recommend connecting the monitor to the computer using this connector only in cases where there are no other connectors.
DVI is good interface
, transmitting a very high-quality picture. First of all, you need to use it!
HDMI is also a good interface. It is usually used to connect a TV to a computer, but regular monitors can also be connected. Everything will work fine!
Connecting the monitor to the computer
First find connectors on the monitor. They are located at the back. There should be one or more connectors for connection. In my case there is only a VGA input, so I will use that.
Now unfold the system unit and inspect its back. There, almost at the very bottom, where the video card is connected, there are connectors familiar to us. Here is the VGA port:
The connectors have been found and selected. Now we take the corresponding cable ( in my case, a VGA cable, it usually comes with the monitor) and connect one end to the monitor, and the other to the system unit.
After connecting the cable, do not forget to connect the computer and monitor to the network, and also press the corresponding buttons on the devices to turn them on.
Connecting a monitor via an adapter (DVI – VGA)
In some cases, the monitor is not rich in various connectors and only has VGA interface. On the contrary, on a computer there is no VGA, but there are wonderful DVI and HDMI ports. What to do in this case? Of course there is a solution!
We buy DVI-VGA adapter. It looks like this: on one side there is a DVI interface, and on the other, a VGA interface. Like in the photo:
We insert the side that looks like a DVI port into the connector of the system unit. Now the VGA interface comes out of the former DVI connector. Great!
All that remains is to connect the monitor to the computer using a VGA cable. Well, we already know how to do that =)))
In this way, you can connect a modern TV to your computer, except that for these purposes you will most likely need HDMI cable and a similar connector on the system unit! That's all I have for today, all that remains is wish you luck when connecting the monitor to the computer.
