[OPLINTECH] Where are all the good Dual Monitor Desktops?

Mon Aug 15 14:34:34 EDT 2016

Ditto Joe's response. And I wouldn't get too hung up on specifically
finding a pre-built computer that comes with multiple video outputs. Find
the computer with the specs you want. A lot of computers already come with
multiple video outs and most can be used simultaneously. But if yours
doesn't, simply add one or get a converter.

For computers that don't already happen to have a second video connector, I
use a USB video adapter. Unless need specifically mandates a high end video
output (simultaneously displaying multiple streams from a security camera
system for instance), the USB adapter works amazingly well for most needs.

As my own daily driver, I use a laptop as my primary computer. It has a
~18.5" display, so I use it as a tertiary display off to the side and then
use two 24" displays as my primary and secondary displays. The two 24"
displays are simply plugged into a USB->video adapter. I'm currently using
a SIIG JU-H20211-S1, which doesn't seem to be current any more, but it's a
USB3 to HDMI and DVI dual port adapter using the DisplayLink DL-3900
chipset. I heavily use both (all three, really) displays simultaneously and
it performs flawlessly. I'm not a gamer, so I'm not beating on the GPU in
that way, but it easily handles all of my needs including full screen video
without any problems and no hint of lag. What I like best is the simplicity
and mobility. USB is ubiquitous, so I can add/remove/relocate it as needed
with no effort at all. It also doesn't require an IT technician to install.

Here's a link to SIIG's website with their display adapters. I'm sure other
manufacturers make them, but I've only used ones from SIIG myself. I don't
use lots of them, but I've never had one fail and I've put a lot of hours
on them, especially on my own computer.
http://www.siig.com/it-products/usb/display-adapters.html

FWIW
Chad

______________________________
*Chad Neeper*
Senior Systems Engineer

*Level 9 Networks*
740-548-8070 (voice)
866-214-6607 (fax)

*Full IT/Computer consulting services -- Specialized in libraries and
schools*

On Mon, Aug 15, 2016 at 9:31 AM, Joe Knueven <joe at gtownlibrary.net> wrote:

> I would consider looking at systems from places like CDW-G or
> NeweggBusiness as well, especially if you only really need VGA quality for
> your output.
>
>
>
> VGA quality dual monitor support has been around for years on even
> relatively low end computers.  Also, by a similar vein, if you had to go
> with Dell or something with only one output, you could buy just about any
> pci-e video card that has 2 outputs on it and it should easily support dual
> monitor at an acceptable resolution.  That seems really unnecessary
> considering how many motherboards support the Intel on chip graphics with 2
> or more monitors.
>
>
>
> I’m surprised that Dell is unwilling to sell you something with a
> functionality that has been commonplace for years…
>
>
>
> Best of luck.
>
>
>
> Joe
>
>
>
>
>
> Joseph Knueven
>
> Director
>
> Germantown Public Library
>
> 51 N. Plum St.
>
> Germantown, OH 45327
>
> 937-855-4001
>
> joe at gtownlibrary.net
>
>
>
> *From:* OPLINTECH [mailto:oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org] *On Behalf
> Of *slewis at worthingtonlibraries.org
> *Sent:* Monday, August 15, 2016 9:13 AM
> *To:* Technology Coordinator; oplintech at lists.oplin.org
> *Subject:* Re: [OPLINTECH] Where are all the good Dual Monitor Desktops?
>
>
>
> We got HP EliteDesk 800 G2
> <https://www.cdwg.com/shop/products/HP/3845307.aspx>s this year. They
> have 1 VGA and 2 DisplayPort outputs – so they could power 3 monitors if
> you needed them to. We have 120GB SSD, 4GB RAM, and Core i5 CPUs. They ship
> with Windows 10, but we downgraded to Windows 7 when we initially got them
> earlier this year. We’ve since moved up to Windows 10, and these machines
> run both OSes fine.
>
>
>
> Sam Lewis
>
> Assistant Network Administrator
>
>
> Find *yourself* here.
> www.worthingtonlibraries.org
>
> [image: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description:
> Description: Description: cid:3333454742_1542803]
>
> Worthington Park Library
>
> 1389 Worthington Centre Drive
> Columbus, OH 43085
> 614-807-2640
>
>
> *Five-Star Library*   |   http://www.worthingtonlibraries.org/starlibrary
>
>
>
> *From:* OPLINTECH [mailto:oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org
> <oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org>] *On Behalf Of *Technology Coordinator
> *Sent:* Monday, August 15, 2016 8:38 AM
> *To:* oplintech at lists.oplin.org
> *Subject:* [OPLINTECH] Where are all the good Dual Monitor Desktops?
>
>
>
> Where do you go for true Dual Monitor capable Windows 7 or Windows 10
> based desktops?  Looking for i5 or i7 and 8GB or RAM or more. VGA or DVI
> interfaces.
>
>
>
> I am working directly with Dell and they seemingly believe that an HDMI
> port that displays (with an adapter) half resolution of the onboard VGA
> counts as Dual monitor capable.
>
>
>
> Thank you in advance for all your suggestions.
>
>
>
> Mark
>
>
>
> --
>
> Mark Sanzotta
> Technology Coordinator
> Ashtabula County District Library
> 4335 Park Ave.
> Ashtabula, Ohio  44004
> Work: 440.990.2339
>
> Cell:   440.969.5486
>
>
> “Google can bring you back 100,000 answers. A librarian can bring you back
> the right one.” ― Neil Gaiman
> <http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1221698.Neil_Gaiman>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> OPLINTECH mailing list
> OPLINTECH at lists.oplin.org
> http://lists.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplintech
>
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.oplin.org/pipermail/oplintech/attachments/20160815/c820a14d/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1212 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.oplin.org/pipermail/oplintech/attachments/20160815/c820a14d/attachment.jpg>