Connecting two monitors to a single computer is simple. Almost every video card built since 2005 has dual video outputs, including almost all ATI models. The only issue that can come up is the arrangement and type of ports that are used. Most cards built today have dual DVI (Digital Video Interface) ports on them. Some cards also have HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) and DisplayPort as well. Even low-end cards usually have a DVI port and a VGA (Video Graphics Array) port, though this arrangement is increasingly rare. The real issue here is figuring out what your arrangement of monitors requires to connect to the video card.
Instructions
Set Up the Monitors
1. Choose a place to locate the monitors. This should be within the length of the video cables from the computer.
2. Set up the monitors side by side. Which one goes where doesn't matter; this can be compensated for in the computer's operating system.
3. Plug the power cables into each monitor, and the other end of each into a power strip or wall outlet.
4. Attach the video cables to the monitors. Make sure that you have the correct cable for the connection that your monitor requires.
Set Up the Computer
5. Connect the video cables to the computer. Depending on the monitor, this may require an adapter, either DVI-to-VGA or possibly DVI-to-HDMI.
6. Turn on the computer. While it boots, on a PC, you may see the same image on both monitors or an image on one monitor, while the other remains blank. Both are normal.
7. Modify the display settings to expand the desktop to both monitors, once the computer has finished booting. On Windows Vista (or newer) or Mac OS X, this should be automatic.
8. Adjust for the physical layout of the monitor. In the display configuration dialog, drag the visual representations of the monitor to their appropriate positions. The left monitor should display the left half of the desktop, and the right monitor, the right half.
9. If needed, adjust the display resolution of each monitor to its native resolution.
Tags: video cables, both monitors, each monitor