Dual Monitor Nvidia Problem.

[M Bacon]

I have a lcd tv and a lcd monitor. I have two graphics cards.

This is my specs for my machine:
http://emachines.com/support/product_support.html?cat=Desktops&subcat=T%20Series&model=T3626

The NVIDIA® GeForce® 6100 is built in and the other graphics card that I bought is a NVIDIA 8400 GS with 512mb of video memory. I have the lcd tv attached to the 8400 GS and the lcd monitor attached to the 6100. The problem is that the lcd tv works fine with the 8400 GS but the lcd monitor is black and it isn't detectable on the computer at all. It doesn't even say anything in the hardware or anywhere for that matter. I know for the fact that the 6100 can be detected if I remove the 8400 GS. I know that the 8400 GS does have a dvi input. Can I use two graphics cards or do I need to get a DVI cable for the 8400 GS?

[bariteau]

You cannot use an integrated and dedicated video card at the same time. Just not possible, your 8400 should have two ports, it could be VGA+DVI or DVI+DVI. If you're already using VGA cables, a VGA to DVI adapter might be cheaper

[M Bacon]

Are the VGA cables the blue cables? VGA are just normal computer to monitor cables right? DVI are different correct?

[bariteau]

VGA is usually blue (I've seen some black, gray and some weird colors but usually it's blue), with 3 rows of 5 pins.

DVI comes in 3 flavors DVI-D, DVI-I and DVI-A with DVI-I being the best quality. Usually most ports come with DVI-I pin layout but I've seen some DVI-D ports. Just make sure if your card (or monitor or TV) as a DVI-D port that you use a DVI-D cable. If it has a DVI-I port, you can use any cable although the DVI-I cables should give your better quality. The DVI cables are usually gray-white.

Here's the layout of the DVI ports:
http://dsnimg.dell.com/images/external/images/Monitor/277px-DVI_Connector_Types.svg.png

EDIT: When I say DVI-I and DVI-D ports, I mean the dual link ones, I've never seen a port with single link layout

[Efil]

Can I use two graphics cards or do I need to get a DVI cable for the 8400 GS?

The integrated 6100 will be automatically disabled upon installing another graphics card. Also since 6100 has only VGA output, you have to rely on 8400 if you want dual monitor.

[M Bacon]

Thanks for the information. I will be buying a DVI cable in the near future.

[Schmarvin]

Also, with DVI, you won't be able to adjust a lot of monitor/tv settings. Since DVI is digital signal, it adjusts all settings in your computer. Frees up the need to adjust height/width as well as contour and position stuffs. You'll definitely see an improvement in resolution/quality.