nVidia 8300GS from Dell Vostro 400
The 128M nVidia GeForce 8300GS Video Card came standard on the DELL VOSTRO 400 Model that our business purchased in 2008. On the back, there is:
(1) One VGA connection
(2) One DVI-I (integrated, digital & analog) connector
(see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface)
The DVI-I connector accepts male DVI-I connectors or male DVI-D (digital only) connectors (see Wiki above).
To hook up dual headed monitors to this Video Card you can either:
(A) Attach one monitor with VGA, then one monitor with DVI (I or D). THEN goto "Display Properties" under Control Panels (Windows), and click on the "Settings" TAB. Then, select Display: 2. Plug and Play Monitor on NVIDIA GEForce 8300 GS, and CLICK SELECT the box for "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor". Further you can click Advanced to see the NVIDIA Control Panel for further Dual Monitor setup choices.
(B) Attach one monitor with VGA, then second VGA monitor with $3 (see eBay) DVI to VGA connector. THEN goto "Display Properties" under Control Panels (Windows), and click on the "Settings" TAB. Then, select Display: 2. Plug and Play Monitor on NVIDIA GEForce 8300 GS, and CLICK SELECT the box for "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor". Further you can click Advanced to see the NVIDIA Control Panel for further Dual Monitor setup choices.
(C) Attach a "DVI-I or D to 2-VGA splitter cable" (see example below or any at various retailers). Attach this cable to the DVI connector on the Video Card, then connect your VGA monitors to the splitter cable. THEN goto "Display Properties" under Control Panels (Windows), and click on the "Settings" TAB. Then, select Display: 2. Plug and Play Monitor on NVIDIA GEForce 8300 GS, and CLICK SELECT the box for "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor". Further you can click Advanced to see the NVIDIA Control Panel for further Dual Monitor setup choices.
Note: for (C) The DELL ACCESSORIES website has an example to view here: (
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...etail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=310-4469)
DELL OFFICIAL WEBSITE ACCESSORY ITEM, DELL PART NUMBER: 310-4469, MFG PART NUMBER: Y2501
IN CONCLUSION, YOUR VIDEO CARD ALREADY SUPPORTS DUAL MONITORS, BUT YOU MUST HOOK THEM UP AS ILLUSTRATED ABOVE AND ENGAGE THE "EXTEND MY WINDOWS" SELECTION...
Good Luck!
