semi-OT: multiple monitors with Dell Inspiron 530

[Lennart Sorensen]

On Sat, Dec 26, 2009 at 11:31:30PM -0500, Giles Orr wrote:
> The previously mentioned Samsung monitor is now attached to a Dell
> Inspiron 530 (a desktop, not a laptop).  The machine has built-in
> Intel video, which would have worked fine for my purposes, except I
> wanted dual head.  So I bought a Nvidia 6200 based dual head PCI-E
> card, which I've been reasonably happy with.  I already have two LCDs
> attached to the Dell, but it would appear that it's impossible to add
> a third to this machine.  I've updated the BIOS to the latest version
> and it's still impossible to use the onboard and PCI-E video cards at
> the same time.  If you boot with both connected, a BIOS level warning
> comes up: "oooh, I see you have an add-in card, you couldn't possibly
> want to use this.  To fix this problem please turn off the machine and
> disconnect the built-in card."  Okay, I changed the wording, but
> that's what it says.  You can force it to go on ... and then it
> disables the PCI-E and boots up.  The reverse is also possible: if you
> boot with the PCI-E, the onboard is disabled.  It treats PCI cards the
> same way: "this is the built-in card you don't want to use etc."  So
> it would appear that using three screens on this machine, which was my
> intention, is impossible.
> 
> Is there any way to get around this?  So far I've come up with "never
> buy Dell again" - I'm not just forestalling Lennart here, I'm totally
> disgusted with them.  The one good thing about this machine is the
> 2.4GHz C2Q chip, which is wonderful.  The only other option seems to
> be buying a new mobo.  But that would recommend a new case, and
> probably a new video card, memory ... oh wait, that's practically
> buying a new computer.  So no, I don't want to follow that route just
> yet.  But I'd really like to have three monitors ...

Don't forget a new power supply (I doubt Dell has stopped using custom
power connectors).

Apparently the way intel's onboard video works is that it uses the PCIe
x16 link that the add on video card needs internally.  So if an add in
card is used it has to route the connection to the slot and disable the
onboard video.  A few motherboards have a BIOS option to make it work
anyhow, but the way they do it is by forcing the add in card to run
as a PCIe x1 slot, leaving the x16 for the onboard video.  The option
is usually labeled 'PEG Force x1' or similar (for PCI express graphics
force x1).  Some add in cards will work in x1 mode, some will not.
So if the BIOS has that option and the video card works in that mode,
then it should be possible.  Otherwise it is not.  Not as such Dell's
fault in this case (other than leaving out the BIOS option perhaps if
it isn't there).

-- 
Len Sorensen
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