There is a cheap and quick way to add a second monitor to your pc without too much money, avoiding
DVI output or dual monitor video cards: use an old PCI card.
You need:
- An old PCI card. These cards are really old, so don't expect a great performance. You can find them on old PCs, or buy it for a few euros.
- A computer with an AGP video card as main video card. I don't know if the solution I suggest here works with a PCI Express or orther PCI video cards.
- Windows NT series (that is Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Vista) or Linux with X.Org. I don't know about Windows 95-98-Me or Mac.
Steps for installing the second monitor on Windows:
- Insert the PCI card in the computer.
- Start Windows. PCI video cards are really old, so your operating system will have the correct drive. If not, throw away the card.
- Check that the card is installed under System > Hardware or Devices.
- Connect the second monitor to the second video card.
- On the desktop, right click, select Properties. Select Display properties, click on the second monitor image, and check Extend monitor.
- If everything is ok, the second monitor should display a new desktop.
You can adjust the position of the second monitor with respect to the firs simply dragging'n'dropping it around the first one in
Display properties. You can add also a third monitor, a fourth, and so on, simply adding more PCI cards.
Happy multi-monitor!