Solved purchased larger monitor thinking I could have more windows open....

[pleiades357]

too true...

this did turn out to be more than I expected...

I'll ask around and see if anyone I know has someone they can depend on...

thank you

 

[pleiades357]

The Intel Windows driver (lower photo in your post #15) has nothing to do with how many monitors you might be able to have, it only shows how many monitors are actually connected and detected. If you plug in multiple monitors, it should change to show more than one.

Note the lower photo in my post #10, for example. The lower left monitor is displaying Win8.1's multiple display configuration window, where I've arranged the four monitors into a 2x2 grid. Win7 is similar, whereby you can tell Windows how the monitors are oriented in relation to each other--above, below, to the left, to the right...

And, yes, once you open a program in a window, you can use your mouse to drag that window across to another screen.

The middle photo in your post #15 shows the motherboard has four SATA ports (the light orange ports), so it's not exactly ancient, *** 2011****
but the top photo of the back panel indicates it is nevertheless relatively old. That's evidenced by the parallel printer port, the 9-pin serial port, and the PS2-style keyboard and mouse ports. Those haven't been included on computers for many years now.

The age of your computer leaves open the question as to whether the built-in graphics subsystem will support the 29KW600's resolution--specifically, the 2560 horizontal resolution. You may need to check the computer's full specs if you want to determine that.**** right again, 1920 x 1080 is the highest option****

OTOH, the 29KW600 has only HDMI and DVI inputs, while your computer has only a 15-pin VGA output, so that's an obstacle you'll need to deal with.***** right again, I did not think to look at that either ****
There are adapters that will deal with the mismatch, but that will only be a viable option if your graphics subsystem will support the 29KW's resolution. If it doesn't, don't bother trying to get the 29KW connected to the motherboard graphics. Use an add-in card instead.

An add-in card will bypass the above problems. Take a look at the specs on this graphics card, for example. It has VGA, HDMI and DVI output ports, and will support monitors on all three at the same time. It supports resolutions up to 3840x2160 on the HDMI or DVI port, and up to 2048x1536 on the VGA port.

You'll need to plug the add-in card into the motherboard's PCI-E connector (the dark orange slot in the middle photo of post #15). Given the age of your computer, though, you'll need to check the specs to see which PCI-E version that slot supports. (The add-in card example in the previous paragraph is a PCI-E 2.0 card.)

If you decide to go with an add-in card (which I think is a good idea), you may want to start a new thread to attract opinions from other forum members. The add-in card I mentioned above is only an example, not necessarily the best option. Other people may have additional feedback you may want to consider.

Thank you, you saved me from a second purchase error....
I will look into the second monitor option more, but...
since I plan on replacing the computer next year, I may wait for the option to add a better monitor that computer can handle...

than you for all the great info!
I really appreciate the time you have spent making it more comprehensible...
I will keep reading... both necessity and interest...

thanks again!

 

[dg1261]

since I plan on replacing the computer next year, I may wait for the option to add a better monitor that computer can handle...

Yes, that sounds like a good plan. A newer computer is likely to have ports and graphics subsystem that will support today's high resolution monitors natively, without having to jump through hoops.

At least now you'll be armed with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions.

Good luck!

 

[pleiades357]

Thank you again!

 

[pleiades357]

well... after more looking into installing a new graphics card (my brother has a spare HIS HD 6870),

finding I don't have a power cord for it
meaning, a new power supply?


one more question, my current card has the capacity for 1920 x 1080.... would the LG 29WK600-W 29"
have a picture the quality of my current picture on the LG VP2353? (23")

the current screen quality is good.....

 

[dg1261]

finding I don't have a power cord for [HIS HD 6870]
meaning, a new power supply?

By "power cord" I'm guessing you mean your computer's power supply doesn't have a spare plug for plugging into the 6870? Your power supply should have a range of plugs in different form factors for plugging into different kinds of devices. If it doesn't have a PCIe power plug, you can buy molex-to-PCIe adapters that make use of any spare 4-pin molex plugs, and if you don't have any molex plugs that are not in use, you can buy splitters that convert one molex plug into two plugs, allowing one plug to power two devices.

I don't have any experience with the 6870, so really can't offer additional advice. However, I'll just note that the 6870 looks to be a relatively power-hungry card, so I'd be surprised if a run-of-the-mill OEM power supply would be able to feed it. OEM power supplies seem to typically be rated at only 300-400 watts, at most.

my current card has the capacity for 1920 x 1080.... would the LG 29WK600-W 29"
have a picture the quality of my current picture on the LG VP2353?

No. The 20WK600's resolution is 2560x1080. So if your graphics subsystem can only do 1920x1080, it will spread those 1920 horizontal "dots" across the 29KW's 2560 pixels. The number of dots being pushed out by the graphics chip won't line up nicely with the monitor's pixels.

As I mentioned in the earlier post, trying to spread dots across more pixels than intended will result in a degradation of image quality. In addition to a fuzzier image, the image will also be distorted and horizontally stretched.

 

[pleiades357]

.... I wonder if that explains the complaints I've read of wide screens distorting...

thank you again, sounds like I am best off to stick to alternate plan of waiting until I purchase a new computer, though I now have more information to help me determine what I want in the next
and maybe two monitors.... bigger work space...

it will include some consideration for later upgrades beyond options for dvd or usb


thank you again!

 

[dg1261]

I wonder if that explains the complaints I've read of wide screens distorting

That's almost certainly the reason. Trying to stretch content meant for a 16:9 aspect ratio to fit an ultrawide 21:9 screen will inevitably result in distortion.

For an analogy, imagine taking old standard def. (4:3) TV recordings and playing them back on your widescreen TV (16:9). At least the TV knows to put black bars on the left and right instead of distorting the image.

In contrast, the norm for monitors is to distort the image by stretching it to fill the full width of the screen.

At a minimum you want your graphics card to be using the same aspect ratio as the monitor (to reduce distortion), and ideally to be using the same resolution, as well (to reduce fuzziness).