Green blue screen then off. I bought a new graphics card and used dvi instead of vga and not working at all.

hi,
yes the 315 desktop card does have multi monitor support. you may however need an adapter for one monitor as it only has one dvi ,one hdmi and one vga.
so you can hook up any 2 as a combination but they have different plug configurations to do this
GL
hope this helps

Don't forget to vote for me
Thank You
Jammer

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

Good day,

If your screen has a VGA, DVI, or HDMI port, most of the new graphics cards will be compatible with your screen. Most graphics cards come standard with DVI ports and include a vga adapter for the screen cable. Some of the new graphics cards come with HDMI and DVI ports or a HDMI converter if you want to use HDMI.

I would recommend a Nvidia graphics card. Depending on what your primary use is going to be they have an extensive range to cater for your requirements and price range.

Hope this helps!

Regards

To have and use 2 monitors at the same time, you need a video card with a dual VGA outputs.

To use 1 monitor at the time you can buy a VGA switcher, to switch between the 2 monitors.

Best of Luck
Sabre

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.

The Asus Essentio CG5270 is a desktop computer, so I see it was placed in the wrong category. No prob!

Certain selected models of the Essentio CG5270 come with a graphics card. If you have this graphics card, you can use two monitors at the same time. (Dual monitors)

If you do Not have one of the selected models with a graphics card, you have to purchase, and install a graphics card.
You can purchase a decent graphics card that has dual DVI ports, and is relatively inexpensive.

Looking at the back of your computer,

1) View the purple PS/2 port. The port where you can plug in either a Keyboard, or a Mouse.

Come straight down to the blue VGA connector. This port is to connect a VGA monitor, (Looks like a small TV), or an PCD monitor that has a VGA cable.
(Flat screen monitor)

Look to the immediate right of the blue VGA connector. This white port is a DVI connector.
You can connect an LCD monitor to it that has a DVI cable.

This two ports are Onboard graphics ports. (On the motherBoard)

You Cannot connect a monitor at the same time to these ports.
BIOS will only recognize one port.

You have to have a graphics card also.

You can connect two monitors to a graphics card,
IF, it has two graphics ports. For this model it looks like the best they are offering, for connecting two monitors is a DVI port, and a VGA port.

You Cannot hook a monitor up to the Onboard graphics port, and to the graphics card port.

BIOS will only recognize Onboard, or a graphics card. It won't do both.

IF, you have a graphics card.

There are four horizontal slots, on the bottom of the computer tower. IF, you have a graphics card it is usually in the second slot down.

It - Should have a white DVI port on the left, and a blue VGA port on the right.


Again as stated above, you can purchase a graphics card that has two, (Dual) DVI ports on it. Then connect two monitors to the graphics card.

(Digital Visual Interface:
A DVI-I female port is White in color, and has 3 rows of 8 holes. To the right of the holes is a metal bar, shaped like a Plus Sign.
{ + }
There is a hole in each of the four corners, of the Plus Sign.
Four holes in total.

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

VGA:
The VGA female port is usually Blue in color.
There are 3 rows of 5 holes. They are staggered.

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

If you wish you can plug 1 monitor into the VGA port on a graphics card, and the 2nd monitor into the DVI port on the graphics card.

They also make a Male DVI to Female VGA adapter plug. Has Male DVI pins, and female VGA socket holes.

This is for a monitor that has a VGA cable, and you are adapting it to plug into a DVI port on the graphics card.
Useful if you have two monitors with a VGA cable.

(They also make a Female DVI to Male VGA adapter. Make sure what you want, and what you are purchasing)

NOW, (Not shouting),

The following applied to Windows XP. I see the Essentio CG5270 comes with Windows Vista.
See if the following will crossover to Vista.

1) You have two monitors plugged into your graphics card. Monitors are On.

2) Computer is turned on next. Windows loads up.

3) Right-click on an empty area of your desktop screen.

4) In the small menu that comes up, go to the bottom, and left-click on Properties.

5) In the small Display Properties window that comes up, left-click on the Settings tab.

6) You will see a large blue rectangle with the number 1 in it. This is your Primary monitor icon.
This is your main monitor.

You will see a smaller rectangle in the background, and it will be 'ghosted' out. This is your Secondary monitor icon. This is the second monitor you hooked up.

Left-click on the Secondary monitor icon.

7) The Secondary monitor icon will 'light up'.

NOW,
IF, your Primary monitor is sitting in front of you, and your Secondary monitor is sitting on the Right, it's okay.

IF, your Secondary monitor is on the Left, you need to make a change.
Left-click on the Secondary monitor icon, hold the mouse button down, and drag it over to the Left side of the Primary monitor icon.

Why?
Because you need to have those icons sitting the same way, as your two monitors are sitting on your computer desk.
More will be revealed as you read on.

8) Go to the bottom of this window. You will see -
Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor,
and a square box to the left of it.

Left-click in the middle of that square box.
Go to the bottom right, and left-click on Apply.
Go to the left of Apply, and left-click on OK.

Bling! Your second monitor has your desktop on it!

When you go online with your computer using dual monitors. Your Primary monitor will have the what you see online. Your Secondary monitor won't.

Go all the way to the Left side of your monitor screen, with your mouse cursor.
Left-click, and hold the mouse button down. Drag your mouse to the Left.

You should see what you're seeing on the Primary monitor, being dragged over to your Secondary monitor.

No?

Then go to the Right side of your Primary monitor screen, and drag it the other way.

Questions?

This card does not allow you to Multi-Display with the VGA port and the S-video port. If you put a DVI to VGA port adaptor (not supplied) on the DVI port, you can Mulit-Display two VGA monitors and (presumably) a VGA (from the DVI port) and S-video monitor.

This is not explained anywhere and the card does not come with a DVI to VGA port adaptor, so I wa only able to work this out after I bought the DVI to VGA port adaptor.

Are you connect via Analog (Blue VGA connection) or DVI (White Digital connection?

If you are connected via DVI, then you have to change the input select button to DVI

If you are Connected VGA, make sure the system doesn't have 2 VGA ports. If it does, connect to the other port.

So the screen just did this when you changed graphics card? That means there is either something wrong with your graphics card to which you changed, the resolution is set too high, it is not seated all the way, or you have it on the wrong connection. If it is a DVI port make sure your monitor is set to DVI (digital) connection. If it is a VGA port make sure your monitor is set to analog connection.