multiple displays

[camioneur]

I already have 2 monitors on one PC working well. [dvi and vga] I would like to attach my TV also using the 3rd port on my video card [hdmi]. Everything works well except when I extend the desktop to hdmi output [television] it disconnects the dvi monitor. My Catalyst control centre tells me that both hdmi and dvi are digital signals and can therefore only output to one at once. is there a way round this please?

[ChuckFickens]

DVI and HDMI are essentially the same connection with different plugs (awaits the pedants going on about audio)

The only thing you can do is add a second graphics card to your computer, although from experience trying to run some things full screen on one screen while trying to do things on the other screens can be a nightmare (the full screen keeps switching back to windowed setting)

Also you are going to need a pretty hefty computer to run 3 displays without it starting to bog down.

[camioneur]

Thanks for that. I don't need to extend top to television but I would like to be able to watch programs recorded by the computer without having to change the resolution and display settings every time. A duplicate display would be enough but it won't let me do that in my options. [for the reasons you already stated I guess]

[camioneur]

2nd graphics card sounds good but I have no spare slots on motherboard unfortunately. The PC has a built in vga but I had to install a graphics card to get the outlets I needed. I believe the on board graphics are disconnected when a card is fitted?

[ChuckFickens]

Exactly which graphics card do you have?

[camioneur]

thanks Chuck, it's the Radeon HD 4350 512MB DDR2. I am aware it's not an expensive one

[ChuckFickens]

That card definitely only supports two concurrent displays.

It's not normally possible to run the onboard graphics and a PCI card at the same time either.

although this may not be what you want to hear, but if you'd bought an HD radeon 5550 or 5450 then they are capable of running 3 displays at the same time (they support ATI Eyefinity which allows more than 2 monitors). other than that you might be able to setup a couple of separate profiles in the catalyst control software to enable you to swap profiles and therefore displays quickly and easily.

[camioneur]

ok thanks for your help, much appreciated