Adding Extra Monitor to Win7

17 Jun 2014

Hi, Im running Win7HP, and would like to add a second display to my PC, I have a couple of questions tho. Do the monitors need to be the same size and resolution, currently im running a single 42" 1080p LG TV via HDMI as my main screen but would be great to add a smaller screen to put a movie on or something while i'm working on the main screen. Sadly another monitor of the same size it out of the question due to space restrictions and I'd rather not buy a new panel at all if possible I do have a 1366x768 (720p) panel not doing much at the moment so using that would be ideal.
On my PC I have a HDMI port which I'm using to run the main display and also a DVI port which I hope tho run the other monitor from, my PC/Graphics Card (Radeon HD 6670) can support twin display.
So is this as easy as plugging the other monitor into my DVI port and it will find it right away, I'm assuming that if its possible i will need to set of the different resolutions manually but I will work that out when it comes to it, I need to know its gonna work first :)

Look forward to any reply,

Best Regards Jay

Edit, 1 other thing I should mention, as I plan on having the movie playing on the secondary monitor I would like to sound to come from that monitor also if possible, I know standard DVI doesnt send audio but have seen cable that are DVI+ Audio and have a little headphone jack on them.

badger906 · 17 Jun 2014

you 2 monitors dont have to be the same, and its as simple as plugging in a second monitor and you should be good to go.
You may have to adjust a few settings such as whcih is the primary monitor and if its a mirror or extension ect.

the only thing you will have issues with is the sound coming out of it. your pc cannot have 2 separate sound outputs. you could link the monitor to your pc with a jack to jack cable and then plug it into the audio input on the back of most monitors, buuut then ALL the sounds from your pc will only play through that monitor.

17 Jun 2014

Hi Badger

Thanks for replying and the great info.
This leaves me with just a couple of questions. So if I just add the monitor via dvi and extend the desktop to play a movie on the 2nd screen and leave my audio as is, will I still be able to hear the audio from the movie through my soundbar even tho its plugged into the main monitor, does the sound not cross over between the 2?

Best regards Jay

badger906 · 18 Jun 2014

you can specify by what method your sound is output. depending on your sound card. say realtek ect. but currently by default yours will have chosen the way you have it as its the only output connected.

basically addimg the second monitor wont change a thing to your sound options. mainly, as you stated because dvi doesnt carry a sound signal

18 Jun 2014

Sure this may be where I run into issues.

I have no optical audio output on my PC so I have my Sound Bar plugged directly into my TV via optical cable.

Realtek HD audio soundcard is what is on my PC.

My sound go's from PC to TV via HDMI, and TV to Sound Bar via optical cable. Maybe I need to change audio cable set up?

badger906 · 18 Jun 2014

no it will be fine. the audio will still travel through the hdmi cable.

personally I cant stand using a computer without headphones on! get such better audio when playing games, and just adds to the immersion. when I sit down and put mine on its like my little happy place!! I use roccat kaves 5.1 surround headphones. I think theyre awesome!!

18 Jun 2014

Great thanks for you're help :)

So just to finally check everything, I will still be able to hear whats playing on the 2nd monitor thru the Primary monitor just that no sound will come out of the 2nd one.
I can have a movie on 2nd screen and hear it thru main, while working on other things on the big screen?

Not actually a bad idea thinking about headphones, certainly for gaming :)

badger906 · 18 Jun 2014

yeah your sound will come out of your sound bar as always. and if you play a film on the second monitor the sound will still play through the soundbar.

also on the headphone front, even if you dont want to wear them while using the pc, if you crank the volume up to max they act as a pair of speakers :)

alphanumeric · 18 Jun 2014

I run three monitors on my desktop PC. 1 HDMI and 2 DVI. They are actually all DVI though as the HDMI feeds a HDMI to DVI adapter. My sound comes out of my motherboards onboard sound and feeds my PC speakers. Windows knows what size my monitors are so the correct resolution gets set automatically. It looks like badger906 has everything handled. I don't think you'll have any problems doing what you want to do. Once you go dual screen you'll never want to go back to just the single screen.

dsperber · 18 Jun 2014

557953 said:

Hi, Im running Win7HP, and would like to add a second display to my PC, I have a couple of questions tho. Do the monitors need to be the same size and resolution, currently im running a single 42" 1080p LG TV via HDMI as my main screen but would be great to add a smaller screen to put a movie on or something while i'm working on the main screen. Sadly another monitor of the same size it out of the question due to space restrictions and I'd rather not buy a new panel at all if possible I do have a 1366x768 (720p) panel not doing much at the moment so using that would be ideal.

In passing, I point out that you will probably not be very happy with a second monitor running at 1366x768. This is "tiny", especially with you probably very used to your current 16x9 42" TV used as monitor (still running at 1920x1080 I'm going to guess, because of its 16x9 size and TV nature). A 1366x768 screen (capable only of 720p presentation) will, in my opinion, be very disappointing if you plan to watch movies or videos or even TV, etc.

Yes, there is no requirement that all of your multiple monitors (however many you have) need to be the same size or run at the same resolution. Your HD6670 graphics card and Catalyst drivers can certainly support what you have in mind.

But my feeling is that a 1366x768 screen (with 720p native) will be too small to make you happy. My recommendation is to buy another larger 1920x1080 (16x9) or 1920x1200 (16x10) screen, of say 22" or 24" for use as your second monitor on which to watch media while you work on your 42" primary TV/monitor.

Note that normally large true monitors (e.g. 27", 30" or larger) would have resolutions higher than 1920x1080 and aspect ratios larger than 16x9. A 42" TV used as a PC monitor is not going to look as good as one of the significantly smaller but much higher resolution true monitors.

Just my thoughts.