What are your thoughts / recommendations for the ‘right’ way to set up 2 monitors on a dell optiplex desktop computer?
There’s Y cables - connect to 1 video card on the PC and then connect 2 monitors on the other end of the cable
You can connect 1 monitor to, say, the HDMI port and the other monitor to display port? Even with 2 monitors of identical model, does driving 1 with HDMI signal and the other with displayport, are there chances the video quality is different at all vs. 2 monitors both being driven by the same type of connection?
add a 2nd video card to get a 2nd video connection that’s also on the motherboard / native?
and again, 1 monitor fed by motherboard vs 1 montor fed by add in card - brightness/ color / something weird that will be an issue that user will take issue with?
It completely depends on the video card installed. Even older Optiplexes with integrated video from a few years ago would have an analog SVGA port and a DVI port to allow 2 monitors. But newer ones would both be digital. Something like an HDMI and a DisplayPort connection.
I can’t remember the last time I saw an Optiplex that couldn’t handle dual displays straight from the back of the machine.
It really depends on the model, the ports available on the motherboard and the monitors you are using. If everything can be done with the onboard connections and the user has no requirements outside of the default resolutions use the onboard. Add on card if the motherboard doesn’t support the requirements of resolution or monitor types.
We’re purchasing a new batch of Optiplexes. We’ve customized ours to have dual DisplayPort outputs. Which will connect up with the monitors that we’ll also purchase. I did not want to go down the route of having DP and HDMI outputs on each computer (standard config). One type of cable to keep in stock is more than worth the extra few dollars per machine.
Visual differences that a user could notice would be more attributable to the monitor than the graphics card. Likewise with DP and HDMI; they’re both digital signals, If a difference is noticed, it’s because of monitor calibration not the cable.
Sorry! should have said. this is for a new machine I’ll be buying along with 2 new monitors.
Usually get the mini tower form factor (better air flow, power supply is more standard?) so I am up for what machine your’d recommend. usually get the optiplex 3xxxx, once in a while the 5xxx (any elevator pitch on the benefits of the 5xxx over 3xxx?)
So even the new 3xxx’s can handle dual monitor?
And you have no problems with video looking different coming from different types of ports into identical monitors?
I haven’t had any issues with any recent Optiplex. I purchase 3 series and 7 series. As long as it had 2 digital ports, the image should be the same off of the same model displays (assuming everything is calibrated and functioning correctly).
As long as its not the old SVGA port, you will be fine, in my opinion.
I’ve got recent and very recent Optiplexes running dual monitors off the standard DP and HDMI ports and have not noticed any issues. Visual differences have come down to some people having two different brands of monitor. So, I would think unless this computer is for a graphic designer or something, you should be fine.
I’ve never really noticed too much of a difference between 3xxx, 5xxx, 7xxx other than the obvious differences in what they’re loaded with. So, if it were me I wouldn’t get a 5xxx over a 3xxx just because it’s “better”. I’d just buy one with the configuration I needed.
We have the mini optiplexes that come with two video ports, DP, HDMI, or a mix of the two. I’ve also used usb video cables successfully. Only issues I’ve had are crappy cables (sometimes you get what you pay for) or mixing monitor brands. It can be really obnoxious when one monitor is brighter or more crisp than the other one.
As for resolution or scaling - no issues there. Though our Surfaces can act weird when using the Surface screen in addition to the external monitor(s). Really hard to line those up properly so it’s not hard on the user.
We purchase all Micro OptiPlex’s now for our clients. We always configure our our own. We get them with two DP ports, rather than DP and HDMI. We normally get Dell E2417H series monitors and they work fine. No extra video cards needed.
Sorry if I’m overthinking this. You guys talk about a mini OptiPlex. From this page
https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/desktops-all-in-one-pcs/sc/desktops-n-workstations/optiplex-desktops
They don’t have a mini. But they do offer a micro. Is that the one you’re talking about? And what happened to what they’d call SFF - small form factor? And as I think I’ve mentioned I am paranoid/nervous about dust & heat Build up and replacement parts when it’s out of warranty…the power supplies are more custom / more expensive than mini tower atx power supplies? Is there any issue for you on these mini- micros? shorter life than a tower? How long do you get the warranties for? Do the computers get used after the warranty? A couple IT consultants I look up to have sworn off the smallest boxes because of their feelings of short life/ more hardware problems with smaller boxes. Nothing rigidly analyzes - just their memory over time that the smaller boxes have more issues. Similar thinking concerning the all in one computers. Harder to service, some parts are unique and parts are typically more expensive
I called dell sales to check thngs. on the optiplex 3070 and 5070, they say they come with an HDMI and DP port.
I was planning on getting 2 E2417H monitors (low cost but good, right?)
sales says those have DP and VGA connections.
So what do you recommend:
Adapter to go from HDMI on PC to DP on monitor? The guy at dell didn’t think that exists / is not a good idea? But I found them. Or does DP support 2 monitors through 1 connector? Get a cable that can do that?
Most of my systems have DP, so I stick with that. If it’s something like a conference room (connecting to a TV), HDMI is fine. I really just want a digital connection, it’s 2020, forget VGA.
I just used a mini-DP to HDMI connection, they exist. It was $8 from Amazon. On that note, for $160 I ordered a P2419 from Amazon, or the P2719 for $189.
Not spec’ing any card. When I configure the computers on my Premier Page I have the option to add an additional DP port or VGA port. I chose the DP. So they ship with two DP ports. Whoever you talking to at Dell may be just offering you “Ships Fast” machines which have limited configuration options. Of course I’m speaking of Micro’s not towers. Are you wanting Towers, because I see on my page that 7070 Mini towers in Optiplex line are limited to Ships fast models. I think Dell may be doing away with the Tower and Mini Towers in the OptiPlex line and will just offer them in the Precision line. For a wider choice in configurations you may want to step down to Small Form Factor or Micro’s. We’ve put around 300 Micro’s in and haven’t had any issues
As long as the monitors are onto the same circuitry (either the motherboard for integrated graphics or a discrete video card for non-integrated graphics), using one monitor for HDMI and one monitor for DisplayPort should be fine. The only problem you’ll have, and other users have mentioned it, is if you used HDMI for one monitor and VGA for another because of the digital/analog shenanigans. You shouldn’t need a secondary video card to get a second monitor.