User has an Optiplex 755, it has onboard VGA. User wants dual monitor support.
I have a small profile DVI extender and a large profile PCIe video card. The DVI extender does not fit in the riser card because of the form factor.
When I install the PCIe video card the Dell BIOS (A17) want to use either the onboard VGA **or **the PCIe, not both and will disable the one i'm not using. I cannot get Windows XP to enable the card disabled in the BIOS.
The motherboard has a riser that yields 1 x PCIe and 1 x PCI both large profile. the motherboard has 1 x PCI small profile.
How can I force the BIOS to leave both cards enabled? Do i have any other options besides buying a dual DVI out video card?
Best Answer
There is no way on most motherboards to enable onboard graphics and an add-on GPU at the same time. A GPU with two outputs would be your best option.
Another (possibly less expensive) option is to buy a USB to VGA/DVI adapter. Here is one I hear good things about, not the cheapest one out there, but you get what you pay for and EVGA is a good brand.
If your motherboard had two PCI-E slots you could also run two single output cards at the same time, but the machine you listed only has one PCI-E slot, so no go there.