Can I add a video card so that I can use two monitors? If so, where do I put it??

You need to connect both monitors to a computer. Monitors do not daisy-chain (in general). The exception are some SCART-enabled monitors.

What is your source (desktop)? What is the make/model of your new monitor? Please add a comment with the video outputs/inputs for your source and second monitor.

Many newer desktops have two or three outputs. (Some video cards have display port outputs which with active adapters can support 2 monitors each.)

If your computer has two or more outputs and your new monitor has an input compatible with the extra output, get the appropriate DVI, DVI-HDMI or HDMI cable for your new monitor. See the next section if both monitors have VGA input.

If you have a desktop with only one video output, you may be able add a video card to support two monitors. (Depending on your computer, you may need to upgrade the power supply to support a video card.) Then get the appropriate adapter or cables to add the second monitor. (Note: if both of your monitors have only VGA inputs, check the specs for video cards carefully. Not all modern cards support analog outputs on their DVI, HDMI or Display Port connections. These digital outputs would require a digital to analog converter to give the VGA out.) However, if one of your monitors will accept DVI digital signals and the other VGA, add a card with one of each of these connections and a DVI cable to match. (This is an if needed extra; many monitors still ship with only a VGA cable.)

Then turn off your computer, open it and add the video card. Install the drivers with only one monitor attached. Then power down the computer and connect the second monitor. Turn on both monitors before turning on the computer again. Most of the time, the second monitor should be recognized (by Windows) and the appropriate refresh rate and resolution chosen. If not, you may need to enter the Display settings to set the monitor up.

I have seen some computers/video cards where only one output is initially enabled. You may have to go into the device settings to enable it. (Laptops often need their external video ports enabled in the BIOS.) Bad video ports/cards/cables do happen so RMA if needed.

The USB video adapter, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812225007 , can be added to a desktop to give a second VGA output but it isn't the best solution. USB bandwidth limits are significantly lower than those for a PCIe x16 slot or an old AGP slot.

I hope this helps. Please add more information about your system if you want more assistance with this problem.

Cindy Wells
(who has done dual monitors with older and newer computers. My old Pentium 4 with a Radeon x1350 video card was fine for driving a VGA monitor and an HDMI monitor (using a DVI to HDMI cable). My second generation i5 and P8Z68 motherboard system is also fine using the on-CPU video graphics for those same monitors. A video card would improve gaming but isn't required.)

If the graphics card has only a single video connection then it is not possible to add a second monitor.
If it has two video connectors the you can add a second monitor otherwise you need to replace the existing video card with one that supports dual monitors..

Turn the computer off, and disconnect the AC power.

If the motherboard has an "integrated" video-adapter, connect one monitor to its VGA port, and connect another monitor to the VGA port on the add-in video-card, and turn the computer on, and watch both monitors, to see which one becomes "primary" and which one becomes the "secondary" monitor.

Reboot, and enter BIOS SETUP, and "disable" the "onboard" video-adapter, then "save and exit" and reboot. Now, which monitor stays "dark" and which monitor is "primary" ???

Did you add a video card? If you have an AGP slot, it is best to put the video card in it. If so you need to go into the Device manager. Remove, disable or uninstall the onboard VGA driver. Go ahead and remove the PCI video card driver as well. Power down PC. Make sure monitor is hooked up to the Video Card, not onboard VGA. Power on PC. When Windows loads, it should detect the VGA card first, but if it detects the onboard first, ignore and don't setup onboard first. When Windows detects the card, load the necessary drivers when prompted. There is no need to reinstall the onboard driver for the video unless you wish to hook up two monitors.

You need a video card capable of supporting four monitors. This is usually done with an SLI setup where the motherboard supports multiple video cards and each card supports two monitors instead of four, but the 4600 does not support SLI. Check out this link for a list of cards and methods that will work.

Unplug power supply and try re-seating your memory sticks and add-in cards including video. Make sure monitor is plugged in securely to motherboard video port to start with if it has one. Sometimes you need to start up from motherboard video port first and then install your add-on video card, power off and then plug monitor in to add-on card.

well if the status of the LEd on the monitor is amber(orange) & the system is running on a on board video card & not a Add-on video card... it is a possibility the the integrated video card ot the mother board might have gone bad... either contact a local tech or the tech support for the computer...

also unplug the monitor cable from the system tower & then if you see that there are the bars moving which say monitor self test on... means tht the problem is with the video card or the mother board...
since the system is running on a integrated video card...

Assuming the cpu is on, then the likely culprit is your video card or your onboard video. Either replace the exsisting video card or add a video card to your system.

If the HP has onboard video but you have an add-on video card, remove the add-on and connect the monitor to the onboard vid. If it works you have a bad add-on video card. If it doesn't or you are already running on on-board video hook the mx705 up to a compatible HP. The older PB may be TOO old to handle it or not hve the correct drivers.

first check if the card is compatable with the motherboard.