Unable to detect my primary, onboard video

[yellowpc]

I have gateway SX2840 with an onboard video (Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator X4500HD) and I'm attempting to add a video card for dual display. It is a BFG Nvidia GeForce 210 (512 mb). Not a problem when I installed and it found the drivers needed. However, Win 7 is now recognizing this as a primary display and unable to see the onboard video anymore. This is not showing on the device manager or the resoultion screen. The only one showing is the new card. What can I do?

I don't know much about Bios but I tried to access and see, however, it looks like there is a major problem with navigating the bio menu (keeps flickering and selected item keeps jumping around and won't let me select using arrows+enter which you normally would).

What can I do to fix the display problem?

 

[Rik55]

I don't think your Gateway can do what is called Surround View. ie keep the onboard active while adding a pci-e graphics card. When you install the Geforce 210, your BIOS automatically disables the onboard video. If it's 2 monitors you are after, plug them both into the GF 210. Also, you mention jumpy BIOS screen. Adding the GF210, nVidia recommends a PSU of 300W. The gateway comes with only 220W PSU I think.

 

[yellowpc]

Thank you Rik55.

So what component enables Surround View? I can't imagine having a Win7 without dual monitor. What a downgrade from my old XP machine.

Yeah, it is a low watt power supply, however, the jumpy bios exists even without the video card install. It is driving me crazy and have never seen it before. It looks like a slot machine and the menu scrolls crazily itself and stop at random option.

I thought of plugging in 2 monitors but since it is a small tower, I must opt out the VGA in order to fit in the slot.

 

[stormy13]

Why aren't you using the two ports on the video card? Unless BFG came out with more than one of those cards it has a DVI, VGA and HDMI port,

Newegg.com - Computer Hardware,Video Cards & Video Devices,Desktop Graphics / Video Cards,GeForce G/GT series,GeForce 210

If your monitors are both DVI, there should have been a VGA-DVI adapter with the card.

 

[yellowpc]

thanks for the response, stormy13.

can't utilize both ports at the same time as the end will stick out from the case. it is a slim tower. unless i break the case or the bar, then the PCI-e slot may fit but i will have to forever leave the tower cover open also.

 

[stormy13]

The card should have come with three brackets; one regular length, and two short ones for a low profile case. Here is the only BFG G210 I can find,



You use the second short bracket for the VGA port, means that it requires two slots at the back, but that is how you get the second monitor attached to it. If you card didn't come with the two brackets I would be contacting BFG and asking them for it.

 

[yellowpc]

Thanks again for the input.

I've returned the card as a result, however, it only allows VGA to be removed (you should see that on the picture). The HDMI and DVI are both built in on the card and I didn't see an option to remove. Maybe it takes some tricks which I just don't know how. The VGA is obviously an IDE-looking power cable that can easily be unplugged.

As I recall, if I were to use the shorten bracket, I could only use HDMI + DVI. I could have tried but I don't have a TV or HDMI device unfortunately.

 

[Rik55]

For low profile cases you remove the port bracket holding DVI, HDMI & VGA and replace it with the DVI & HDMI only bracket. Then at the side you use the other bracket just for the VGA. Like a low profile dual slot card. So the ports are side by side.