WHAT IS A integrated graphics port. (VGA port on motherboard.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&cc=de&docname=c00906129#N305

Alright!
Glad to know who I am 'talking' to, and don't have to backtrack with technology.


But do to me nature, I probably will a little

There are so many things that could have gone wrong, that you may as well start with a diagnostic flowchart.

But let me ask a few simple things first;

1) Have you been FOLLOWING Anti-Static Precautions?
I would surmise that a PS/3 and X-Box repair would detail using Anti-Static Precautions, but do YOU follow them?

If not use the motherboard for a Frisbee, and the CPU (Processor) for a key fob.
(Ram Memory for Christmas tree decorations, lol!)

2) Did you try removing, and reinstalling the Ram Memory?
No mention of BIOS Code Beeps, so I assume you have.

Ram Memory modules ('Stick') get knocked loose easily.
Visual inspection alone will NOT do.

Best, and proven method is to remove all Ram Memory modules, and reinstall them. This way you are ASSURED that the Ram Memory modules are seated correctly, and tightly.

No BIOS Beep Codes period? Hmmm.

3) All cables are installed, and tightly?

4) Was the computer on when it hit the floor?
Ummm, not good my man.
The Read/Write heads on the Actuator Arms are spaced VERY close to the Platters, inside the harddrive.

Ummm, about .00003, or less.
That is 3 Hundred Thousandths.
An average human hair is .003 thick.
3 Thousandths

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/hard-disk.htm

OK, moving on.................

No graphics:
The first thing to check is to see if the monitor cable, and monitor, are any good.
Test on a working computer, or use monitor cable, and monitor from working computer.

I believe we can pass this one, lol!

Next is to see if the graphics is good.
With a desktop computer that is using Integrated Graphics, such as the one you are working on; a graphics card is installed.

(You indicated the blue VGA port. Means to me he was plugging his monitor into it. That VGA port is Integrated Graphics. Comes from the motherboard, and not a separate graphics adapter card)

IF a graphics (adapter) card was being used, I would say replace it with a known to be good, compatible graphics card, for a test.

So lets regress for a moment;

A) You think there is a problem with the blue VGA port.
This is Integrated Graphics.
Bottom of the totem pole as far as graphics is concerned.

My advice is to have him purchase an inexpensive graphics card, and use it.
It's a win/win situation.

One you will be bypassing the motherboard graphics.
Integrated Graphics, and in this case the blue VGA port.
This way you can see if the VGA port was the problem.

Two, he upgrades the video quality of his computer, and puts a smile on his face.

What economical/inexpensive graphics card?
How about an ATI Radeon HD5400?
Not too expensive, and pretty fair graphics quality.
At least beats the heck out of Integrated Graphics,

http://www.amazon.com/Radeon-HD5450-PCIe-1GB-DDR3/dp/B00B6MRJ78/ref=sr_1_55?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1360361215&sr=1-55&keywords=radeon+hd+5450

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sapphire-ATI-Radeon-HD5450-HD-5450-1GB-PCI-E-Video-Card-100292DDR3L-Low-Profile-/170723012387?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item27bfe26f23

Now no board level repair may be needed.

Just food for thought.

Reply in a Comment.

Regards,
joecoolvette

1) KJ387AA#ABA comes up as an HP Pavilion a6403w desktop computer,

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&objectID=c01412768&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

2) Uses the Foxconn MCP73M01H1 motherboard,

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c01357119

Looking at the photo of the motherboard, observe the aluminum finned heatsink in the middle of the board, with Foxconn on it.
(Northbridge chip is under heatsink)

The long black slot below it is where a graphics card goes.
(Video card or Graphics card, same/same)
It is a PCI-Express x16 slot. A PCI Express graphics card goes here.

(The Locking Arm on the PCI Express x16 slot, looks as though you press down on it, to unlock. You don't. Gently pull up a little to install or remove a graphics/video card)

The white long PCI slot at the bottom can also be used for a graphics/video card.

If there is no video/graphics card in either of these expansion slots, you are using Integrated Graphics. The graphics from the motherboard, and not a graphics (Video) card.

Integrated Graphics is also known as OnBoard Graphics.
ON the motherBOARD.

This is from an Nvidia GeForce 7100 graphics chipset.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Nvidia_graphics_processing_units#GeForce_7_.287xxx.29_series

http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoX_vQ1dQoRMA1FGJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dnvidia%2Bgeforce%2B7100%2Bchipset%26_adv_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Dnvidia%2Bgeforce%2B7100%2Bchipset%26fr%3Dmoz35%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D43&w=800&h=450&imgurl=images.bit-tech.net%2Fcontent_images%2F2008%2F02%2Fhome_theatre_pc_motherboards_feb_08%2Fnv7100-8.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bit-tech.net%2Fhardware%2Fmotherboards%2F2008%2F02%2F05%2Fhome_theatre_pc_motherboards_feb_08%2F2&size=150.1+KB&name=We+looked+at+the+AMD+version+of+the+Nvidia+GeForce+7050PV+chipset+last+year+thanks+to+Biostar+and+while&p=nvidia+geforce+7100+chipset&oid=9fe290475ab5620872fc5a6b40f37d60&fr2=&fr=moz35&tt=We%2Blooked%2Bat%2Bthe%2BAMD%2Bversion%2Bof%2Bthe%2BNvidia%2BGeForce%2B7050PV%2Bchipset%2Blast%2Byear%2Bthanks%2Bto%2BBiostar%2Band%2Bwhile&b=31&ni=96&no=43&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=12uv04psu&sigb=14kn9jrte&sigi=12ro80feh&.crumb=J6iwC7bwOtM

(Sits under that aluminum heatsink with Foxconn on it)

If you are using the Integrated Graphics of the motherboard, you have a VGA monitor plugged into the blue VGA port, number 4,

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c01357119

(Scroll down to Back I/O Ports)

or you have a flat LCD screen monitor plugged into the white DVI port, number 16.

For additional questions please post in a Comment.
Regards,
joecoolvette

Is it just like this with NO graphics card installed?

http://products.pacificgeek.com/emachines_t3516_celeron_d_3_20ghz_512mb_120gb_cdrw_dvd_xp_1013070674.php

If so, Not happening.

The I/O area is to the left side. (Input/Output area)
In this rectangular area you see;
1) PS/2 mouse port, and PS/2 keyboard port, at the top.
2) Orange port below them.
3) Black port below it.
4) Down below all of the above is the blue VGA port.

If you do not have a graphics card, your monitor is plugged into this blue VGA port.
If so you are using Integrated Graphics. Another term used is OnBoard graphics. ON the motherBOARD.

Do Not try to use a splitter cable, and run two monitors off of this VGA port. Ain't happening.

See the four long slots at the bottom of the computer? The bottom one has the Ethernet adapter card in it?
A graphics card, (Video card. Same/same), is installed on the motherboard, and the end of it sticks out one of those 3 unoccupied slots.

Each of those slots are known as Expansion Bay Slots.
When you choose what slot you want, you remove the Expansion Slot cover, for that slot.

My sources indicate the motherboard is an Intel D101GGC motherboard,

http://www.e4allupgraders.info/dir1/motherboards/socket775/D101GGC.shtml

There are 2 white PCI slots at the bottom.
There is 1 black PCI-Express x1 slot above them.
There is a longer black PCI-Express x16 slot above it.

The PCI-Express x16 slot is for a graphics card. It is the best graphics card slot on your motherboard.
(The white PCI slots are lame. The PCI-Express x1 slot, is NOT used for a graphics card)

Suggest you use a PCI Express graphics card for your computer, and run two monitors at the same time.

From here it depends on what the two monitors are. Do you have two monitors that use a VGA cable?
Example of a VGA cable, and a VGA connector,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGA_connector

Or do you have a monitor that uses a VGA cable, and a monitor that uses a DVI cable?
Example of DVI connectors,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface

Or do you have one monitor with a VGA cable, and a monitor that has a DVI cable?

Post in a Comment as to the monitor manufacturer name, and model number.
[ For example I am using an HP 2009m (20 inch widescreen), and a 26 inch RCA EN-V HDTV, as dual monitors ]

This is an example of a very economical PCI Express graphics card, that will run dual monitors,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130755

You can use a monitor with a VGA cable (Blue port), and a monitor with a DVI cable.

You can use two VGA monitors, with using a VGA to DVI adapter, for one of the monitors.
You can use two DVI monitors, with using a DVI to VGA adapter, for one of the monitors.

Already have a graphics card, and two monitors connected to it?

1) Right-click on an empty area of your desktop screen.
2) At the bottom of the list left-click on Properties.
3) In the Display Properties window, left-click on the Settings tab.

4) Left-click on the rectangular monitor icon, that has the 2 in it.
5) Go below to the left, and left-click on the empty square next to-
Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor
6) Go below to the right, and left-click on Apply.
7) Go below to the left, and left-click on OK.

Your desktop screen is on your second monitor.

Need guidance past this post in a Comment.
Regards,
joecoolvette

Hi patto1974, this is a good Model Graphics Card, for the ASUS Motherboard that you have. ASUS is one of the leading Manufacturers in "Gaming Computers; so you want to have a Graphics Card to compliment the system.
This is the (Model):
"HIS- H467QS1GHA
Radeon HD 4670
IceQ Video Card
1GB GDDR3
AGP, DVI, VGA,HDMI
Item#: H231-4678 '
Model#: H467QS1GHA."
You can find this "Model at Tiger Direct, along with other models.
Use AGP x8 as the reference search!

Click here: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6076197&CatId=318

Hope you are satified, paul7of9

Yes.

The area on the back of the computer, that has two ports to connect a monitor, is a Graphics Card.

It is a PCI-Express graphics card, and is plugged into a PCI-Express x16 slot on the motherboard.
(Expansion Slot)

It has a blue VGA port, white DVI port, and black S-Video port.

The area on the upper left with a blue outline around a VGA port, is a VGA port connected directly to the motherboard. It is Integrated Graphics.

You CANNOT use Integrated Graphics, and a graphics card at the same time.

It's either use the Integrated Graphics VGA port, OR use the graphics port/s on the graphics card.
BIOS will Not support using both Integrated Graphics, and a graphics card.

HOWEVER, you can use the VGA port, and the DVI port when using two monitors.
You will be only using just the graphics card.

Example of a VGA port, (Connector), and VGA cable,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGA_connector

Example of a DVI port, and DVI cable,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVI_connector


1) Whatever monitor you have that has a VGA cable, plug it into the blue VGA port on the graphics card.

(There are VGA monitors {CRT} that resemble a small TV. VGA cable is usually attached.
There are also LCD flat screens that have a VGA connector, for a VGA cable, and may also have both a VGA, and a DVI connector.

To digress for a moment;
VGA is Analog. It uses an Analog video signal.
DVI is digital. It uses a Digital video signal.

A computer naturally puts out a digital video signal. This digital signal has to be converted by the computer, into analog for an analog monitor. This slows the graphics process down. This is one reason it is best to use digital )

2) Plug a monitor with a DVI cable into the white DVI port on the graphics card.

3) Turn the monitors on.

4) Turn the Inspiron 531s on.

5) When Windows has loaded, right-click on an empty area of your desktop computer screen.
Now left-click on Properties at the bottom of the list.
Left-click on the Settings tab.

6) You are now looking at a small window that has two monitor icons in it.
Monitor 1 icon, and monitor 2 icon.

Monitor 1 icon is your Primary Display.
Monitor 2 icon will be for the Secondary Display you are adding.

Note how monitor 1 icon is sitting to the Left, and monitor icon 2 is sitting to the Right.
This is how your monitors are supposed to be arranged on your computer desk.

If the second monitor is on the Left on your computer desk, you need to move the icons around.
Move monitor 2 icon to the Left.

Left-click on the icon, hold the left mouse key down, and drag the monitor 2 icon over to the left side of monitor 1 icon. (All the way over, or it will snap back to where it was)

It may matter to you how your monitors are arranged. It may not. Once you read the following it may help you decide.

7) Left-click on monitor icon 2 if you have not already done so.
Go down to where it states, "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor"

8) Left-click once in the empty square, to the left of Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor.

9) Now left-click on Apply at the bottom Right corner.

10) Finally left-click on OK at the bottom Left corner.

You should now see your desktop screen on both monitors.

When using the internet on both monitors, you have to drag the screen from the Primary monitor to the Secondary monitor.

Go to the left side of the screen. Left-click right on the edge of the blue frame. Hold the left mouse key down after you click, and drag the screen across to the left.

Doesn't work?
Go to the right side, click on the blue frame, and drag the screen to the right.

This is why it may matter how the monitors are arranged on your computer desk.

It's kind of eerie your first time dragging the screen across.

You will also find out why it is best to use two similar monitors, when using dual monitors. The pixel resolution is different for both monitors, if they are different from each other.

For additional questions please post in a Comment.

Regards,
joecoolvette

Just to add:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/inspd531/en/OM/appendix.htm

Bear with me as this will be lengthy.

You're looking at a VIA Southbridge chip.

VIA VT82C686B

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_VIA_chipsets#South_bridge_chips

The Northbridge chip, and Southbridge chip, make up the motherboard chipset.
(For the technology used in that motherboard)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Motherboard_diagram.svg

In the motherboard diagram above, CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. Another term used is Microprocessor, or simply Processor for short.

The Northbridge chip of the motherboard chipset, handles the faster processes of the computer.
The Southbridge chip handles the slower processes.

The Northbridge chip handles the Processor, Ram Memory, and high speed graphics.
High speed graphics being AGP, or PCI Express.

Not a graphics card inserted into a PCI slot, and not Integrated Graphics.

The Southbridge chip handles Integrated Graphics, or a graphics card inserted into a PCI slot, or any adapter card inserted into a PCI slot.
Anything to do with a PCI bus.

It also handles IDE devices such as an IDE harddrive, (Or harddrives), and IDE optical drive/s, (CD/DVD), plus SATA devices.

Plus it handles USB ports, an Ethernet port, and so on.
[The rest of the slower processes are detailed in the motherboard diagram]

The Northbridge chip on your motherboard will be under a Heatsink.
The Heatsink is glued on to the top of the chip.

(Chip and Chipset are slang terms for I.C.
Integrated Circuit)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_circuit

This photo shows a typical motherboard, and the Heatsink on the Northbridge chip,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Asus_a8n_VMCSM02.jpg

In the center of the photo you will see a square aluminum looking object, that has fins on it.
This is a Heatsink, and it's attached to the top of the Northbridge chip's case.

You can left-click on the photo to enlarge it. You can click twice.

(This Asus A8N-VM CSM motherboard, uses an Nvidia Northbridge chip, and an Nvidia Southbridge chip. The VIA chip you see is a Firewire controller chip. VT6307)

To your problem;

1) If your monitor cable is removable, remove it, and use a KNOWN to be good one. Check to see if it's a bad monitor cable.
If the monitor cable is not removable, use a Known to be good monitor, and it's cable.

2) The problem could be the Integrated Graphics on your motherboard. The GPU could be bad.
(Assuming you're not using a graphics card)

[ Integrated Graphics, and GPU:

GPU stands for Graphics Processing Unit. It is a chip.

The GPU could be soldered directly to the motherboard, or soldered to a removable adapter card.

Soldered to the motherboard = Integrated Graphics.
Another term used for Integrated Graphics is OnBoard graphics.
ON the motherBOARD.

Integrated graphics used on your motherboard, will have a blue VGA port that you plug your monitor into.
Newer motherboards will use either a VGA port, or a DVI port, (White), or both.

Soldered to a removable adapter card = Graphics Card.
Also known as a Video Card ]

The way you would test to see if Integrated Graphics is bad, on your motherboard, is to use a graphics card.

3) A VERY large percentage of computer problems is a bad Power Supply. Weak voltage power rail.

Has enough power to light LED lights, and spin fans, but not enough to turn the Processor on.

A) ALL of the LED lights combined use less than 1 Watt of power.

B) EACH fan uses 2 to 3 Watts

C) A typical Processor can use 51 to 125 Watts.
(Older Processor's, such as an Intel Pentium III for example, use less power)

No processor operating, No computer.
No computer = No Signal on the monitor.
No video signal.

Use your AGP dual-video card for two and using a PCI VGA card for the third. It is best if the same manufacturer video driver is used for both cards, as two different ones could be problematic.

If your Dell Optiplex GX745 came with the ATI Radeon X1300 graphics card, that has One - DVI graphics port, and One - VGA graphics port, it's no problem.

This link shows an ATI Radeon X1300, and the two above mentioned graphics ports,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5550932&CatId=28

(Please scroll down to the larger photos for more detail.
The Radeon X1300 graphics card in your computer, is a Low Profile graphics card. It will not look exactly like the one shown.

Low Profile means shorter in height. Your graphics card is shorter in height, in order to fit in your SFF computer case. {Small Form Factor}

The longer white connector shown on the left side of the view, is a DVI port. (Technically it's a Dual DVI port)

The shorter blue connector shown on the right side of the view, is the VGA port.

1) If one of your monitors has a DVI connector plug, simply plug it into the DVI port.
If the other monitor also has a DVI connector plug, you will need an adapter to plug it into the VGA port.

2) If both of your monitors have a VGA connector plug, one will plug into the VGA port on the graphics card.
The other will need an adapter to plug into the DVI port, on the graphics card.

This link shows an adapter for connecting a monitor with a DVI connector, to the VGA port on a graphics card,

http://www.directron.com/dviadapter.html

The adapter to connect a monitor with a VGA connector, to a DVI port on the graphics card is opposite of this.
[ I have found them at Radio Shack.
This = Expensive! $14.99
Not advertising for Radio Shack, or the above website in the link]

NOTE*
Use care when selecting the adapter you need.

A monitor with a VGA cable connector has the Male pins.
Your adapter must have the VGA Female sockets.
The DVI side of the adapter must have the Male pins.
It goes into the Female socket holes on the graphics card.

Same with a monitor that has a DVI cable connector.
The adapter must have Female DVI socket holes.
The other side will have Male VGA pins.

If your ATI Radeon X1300 only has One - graphics port, I Do Not advise using a splitter.
This is an adapter cable that has a connector on one end, and splits into two cables.

The graphics quality will be poor.

If you have No graphics card the situation is worse. This is Onboard, or Integrated Graphics.
(OnBoard. On the motherboard)

Using a splitter cable will result in very poor graphics.

How to tell if your Optiplex GX745 only has Integrated Graphics?
Look at the back of the computer. Come down from the audio ports. (Green and Blue)

Look under the USB ports.
The Blue VGA port is the Integrated Graphics port.

If you have an ATI Radeon X1300 graphics card, you will see a blue VGA port in an adjacent slot, also.

(Your computer can have Integrated Graphics, and a graphics card.
You CANNOT use the Integrated Graphics port, and a graphics port on a graphics card, At The Same Time!
It will Not work)

Once the two monitors are attached.

1) Turn both monitors on.
2) Turn the computer on, let Windows load

3) After Windows has loaded, Right-click on any empty area of the desktop screen.

4) Go to the bottom of the drop down menu, and Left-click on Properties

5) There are tabs across the top. Left-click on the
Settings tab.

6) You will see two rectangular icons. These icons represent monitors.

The one on the left side with the white border around it, is your Primary monitor. The main monitor you have always had.

The grayed out icon on the right side represents a Secondary monitor. This is for the second monitor you plugged in.

Note how the two monitor icons are sitting.
Primary on the left, Secondary on the right.
This is how your monitors should be sitting.

If it is Not, left-click on the Secondary monitor icon. Hold the left mouse button down, and drag it over to the left.

Now scroll down this window with your eyes.
Under the resolution settings you will see -

Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor

There is a square box to the left of it.

Left-click in the square box. Go below to the right, and left-click on Apply.
Now go to the left, and click on OK.

Your monitors will now both be showing your desktop screen.

[Note* When doing this procedure, you have clicked on the Secondary monitor icon. Clicking on the icon activates it]

When you open the internet, or have a program going.
Go to the right side of the screen to the blue border,
of the Primary monitor.

When the mouse cursor turns into a double-headed arrow, hold the left mouse button down, and drag the screen to the right.

(You will note that the mouse cursor changes quite easily. It has to be double-headed in order for this to work)

If this direction does not work, go to the left side of the screen, drag to the left.

(You have to drag in the direction your monitors are actually sitting, in relation to each other)

Need some clarification, or have further questions? Click on Comment.

Without a VGA port, you can't use a VGA card, pretty simple stuff.

If you want to add a video card, you will need to get a PCI video card (NOT PCI-E!) There are a number of them out there, and pretty much anything made in the last 3 to 4 years will be better than the on-board video...

Looking in the net I found someone running an E8500 on this board so I guess an E8400 will work fine.