Until you’ve experienced using two or more monitors for your everyday computing use, you will not have realised just how inefficiently you work when using a single monitor.

Published studies indicate that having a dual monitor in a workplace setting can increase productivity by 20 to 50 percent.

Purchasing a second or third additional monitor is now a very affordable option with prices as low as $269 for a 27″monitor.

Desktop Computers

But before purchasing that new monitor you need to know what your computer is capable of supporting by taking a look around the back.

Most Computers have either a VGA, DVI or a HDMI connection as follows and will vary greatly depending on models. This means you maybe able to add a second monitor immediately or you may have to add a video card or use a “splitter” (see below) to duplicate or extend your screen over multiple monitors,

This older PC has only one video output (VGA) on the right.  To add a second monitor a splitter or video-card will need to be added.

This computer allows two monitors to be run simultaneously. The DVI on the left, to one monitor and the VGA on the right to a second monitor.

This Computer has a video-card added  allowing two monitors to be run simultaneously. The DVI on the top, to one monitor and the VGA on the bottom to a second monitor.

This computer also allows two monitors to be run simultaneously. The HDMI on the bottom to one monitor and the VGA above it to a second monitor.

Depending on which connector you have on your computer may force you to choose a particular monitor.

Monitors will support any of the following combinations of input, so be careful that you purchase one to suit your computers outputs.

Typical monitor connections.

VGA Connector (left) DVI (right)

HDMI (Top left), DVI (bottom left), VGA (right)

Laptop or Notebook Computers

Varies depending on age, model and make but will usually comprise of some combination of the following

Extending your computer or laptop to additional external monitors

You can also extended your computer to use two (dual-monitors), three or more by employing any of the following cable splitters or adapters

VGA Splitter Cables

for VGA Splitter Cable Solutions click here For VGA Adapter Solutions Click here

HDMI Splitter Cables

For HDMI Splitter Solutions Click Here

DVI Splitter Cables

For DVI Splitter Cable Solutions click here