Many people find that they are more productive when they have two monitors set up on their computer. After all, having two screens gives you more space to work with and can make it easier to keep track of multiple programs at once.
But before you go out and buy a second monitor, it’s important to make sure that your computer is actually capable of supporting two monitors. Here are a few things to look for:
First, take a look at your video card.
Most video cards will have at least two ports, which will again allow you to connect two monitors. It doesn’t have to be two HDMI ports, it can be either of the different video connectors.
HDMI, Displayport, VGA, or DVI works. You’re allowed to use two different connector types when connecting your dual monitor setup. Both monitors don’t have to be connected using the same type of cable.
Secondly, check the video output ports on your computer. They’re on the motherboard and can be reached from the computer’s back panel. If you only see one port, then your motherboard is only designed to support one monitor.
However, if you see two or more ports, then you should be good to go. If not, check if your computer allows multiple displays in the settings. Go to Settings -> System -> Display and check if the Multiple Displays option is available or not.
Finally, consult your computer’s manual. This will usually contain information on the maximum number of monitors that your particular model can support.
As long as your computer meets one of the above criteria, then it should be able to handle two monitors without any problems. So go ahead and enjoy the benefits of a dual-monitor setup!
If your computer doesn’t have enough ports or if it doesn’t perform well enough to run multiple monitors from it then there’s most likely a need for you to upgrade your graphics card.
Almost all modern graphic cards have multiple ports. This should be true for the majority of the cards produced in the last 10 years, so you shouldn’t be able to go wrong but make sure to check before you go spending money.
What Do You Need To Run Dual Monitors?
If you want to set up two monitors, you will need a couple of things. First, you will need a video card that supports dual monitors. Most new video cards do, but you may need to upgrade if you have an older computer.
Second, you will need two monitors.
Once you have the hardware, it’s just a matter of connecting the monitors to your computer and configuring your operating system to use both screens. The process is relatively simple and only takes a few minutes.
It’s important to make sure that your monitor and computer have the same input and output for the monitor cables. These include HDMI, Displayport, VGA, or DVI.
If you’re missing any of these, you can simply purchase an adapter that converts your HDMI to Displayport, vice versa, or any other way around. There are plenty of adapters available and they aren’t very expensive.
If you run into any trouble, there are plenty of resources available online that can walk you through the process step-by-step.
Can a Laptop Support Two Monitors?
Yes, most laptops can support two monitors but they’re not designed to be connected to two monitors simultaneously. Meaning the hardware is usually strong enough in modern laptops, but there’s rarely more than 1 HDMI or Displayport.
This makes it difficult for the user to connect two monitors directly to the laptop. Thankfully, there are accessories that will provide the laptop with additional ports so you can connect multiple monitors.
Here’s what you can do.
1. Purchase an adapter with two female ports on one side and one male on the other.
With an adapter with dual ports, you can connect both monitors to one end of the adapter and then connect the adapter to the computer’s single port.
These adapters are commonly known as “splitters”. Their design lets the adapter acts as a hub for both monitors.
Something that’s truly important to take note of is the fact that the splitter will not separate video to all monitors. It will duplicate the video and display it on the monitors that are connected to it.
This option is not for you if you want to display different things on both monitors rather than duplicating the primary screen onto the secondary monitor.
If you’re still interested in this alternative:
Make sure that the dual ports match with the monitor cables and that the single port can be connected to the computer.
It’s important that both your monitor cables are in the same format. You’ll most likely have a hard time finding an adapter that takes 3 different types of cables.
2. Purchase a monitor with a built-in docking station
If you buy a monitor with a built-in docking station you can connect the monitor to the laptop and then connect a subsequent monitor to the docking station. This way, you can connect two external monitors to a laptop.
Now, this is only needed if your laptop only has one port for a monitor cable. Otherwise, you could simply connect both monitors directly to the laptop through the ports.
3. Connect the monitors through different types of cables
Check if your laptop comes with more than one port for monitor cables, regardless of type. Sometimes, laptops come with one HDMI port and an additional DisplayPort, VGA or DVI.
If yours does, connect the monitors using different types of cables. Older connections won’t deliver the same high-quality image, but the difference is usually not big enough to notice for an untrained eye.
Even less so if you don’t play games or render large files. It’s worth noting though.
4. Purchase a docking station for extra ports
Docking stations are truly awesome when working with laptops. It’s like connecting everything to your laptop with one single cable.
Moving your laptop is so much easier with a docking station because you don’t have multiple cables attached to the laptop. Instead, they’re connected to the docking station.
The docking station and everything connected to it is then connected to the laptop through a USB-C or USB-A port.
Docking stations usually have multiple USB ports, Displayports, and HDMI ports. This will facilitate running two monitors on a laptop.
Can You Connect Two Monitors In 1 HDMI Port?
You can’t connect more than one monitor to a single HDMI port without using a splitter or a docking station. If you want to display video on two monitors at the same time, I would suggest you look into using either of those but make sure that it has the right ports for your monitor cables or video connection cables.
Remember that a splitter will only split the video to multiple monitors but not show different things on each monitor.
The content on the primary monitor will be mirrored to the other monitors because the single HDMI port can only send video signals to one monitor.
Connecting both monitors to a docking station will provide two unique monitors for you to work with. Not only is it useful and convenient to run a dual monitor setup, but it has also proved to increase productivity.
Does Running a Dual Monitor Setup Affect Performance?
Most modern computers will be able to run a dual monitor setup seamlessly when working in Windows. The more demanding applications you run at the same time, the more you’ll notice a slight drop in performance, though.
The system will have to allocate resources towards displaying an image on the second monitor. These resources could be used for something else. The key factor that determines how much performance drops is the computer’s hardware – anything relatively new should be able to handle a dual monitor setup perfectly.
Read more: Does a Dual Monitor Setup Slow Down the Computer?
Read: How to Stop Your Second Monitor From Lagging When Playing Games
My Computer Doesn’t Recognize My Second Monitor, Why?
If your second monitor is connected properly but still doesn’t appear, then there’s something fishy going on. Thankfully, this problem has been known to happen quite often. You’re probably wondering why I’m thankful for that, aren’t you?
When a problem frequently occurs, there’s usually a lot of information on the topic. This means we’ve got a solution for you. With a little troubleshooting, you should be able to get your second monitor working in no time.
I suspect the issue can be fixed if you
Update your graphic drivers
Look for the most recent drivers for your GPU on the manufacturer’s website. Download the drivers and run the file. Restart your computer if you’re prompted to. Outdated drivers can definitely be what’s disrupting the communication between your monitor and computer.
Rollback your graphic drivers
Whether or not you should choose to rollback or update depends on how the problem occured. While I do recommend trying both if the first method doesn’t prove fruitful, I suggest trying to rollback your drivers first if the monitor has stopped working suddenly.
If doing so doesn’t work, then download the most recent update and make sure to install it.
Update BIOS drivers
The BIOS; or basic input output system is the most fundamental method of communicating that the computer has to its disposal. Updating BIOS drivers can solve a bunch of different problems. This has been my go-to method of solving sound, display, and peripheral problems during the last couple of years.
Add the new display
Some monitors can be detected and connected via Display Settings. Go to Settings -> System -> Display and look for the Multiple Displays options. From there, see if you’re able to connect your second monitor or detect it.
Also, check if multiple monitors can be detected at the top of the settings. Change the settings to make sure your computer is told to Extend the screen onto the rest of the monitors.
Make sure the monitors are connected and turned on
Check the power source to make sure it’s able to provide power to other appliances. Your monitor could be connected to a bad power outlet. When you’ve established that the power outlet the monitor is connected to works, make sure the monitor is turned.
Make sure the cables are intact
Inspect the video signal cables to ensure there’s no damage done to them. Wear and tear can cause a monitor cable to stop working to make sure its in good condition. If possible, replace the cable with another one that’s known to work to see if the issue is resolved.
Try the monitor on another computer
Connect your monitor to another computer if possible to see if the issue is unique for one computer. That way you can tell if the problem is with the computer or with the monitor. It could also be the entire setup that’s causing the problem.