Setting up a 2nd PC Monitor

[najaB]

If I get a third monitor it will hve to use the DisplayPort that I have remaining, which means it will be a more expensive monitor.

DisplayPort to DVI adaptors are available for under £10.

 

[HSTEd]

DisplayPort to DVI adaptors are available for under £10.

They are unfortunately merely electrical adapters, which means the computer has to support emulating a DVI port over DisplayPort connections.

And my card only supports three monitors if one uses DisplayPort (electrically).

 

[AM9]

My current rig utilises a HDMI port for one screen and a DVI-I port for the other, with the latter being connected to a VGA monitor usin the requisite adapter.
If I get a third monitor it will hve to use the DisplayPort that I have remaining, which means it will be a more expensive monitor.

Which is somewhat annoying.

Or get a passive display port to HDMI adaptor for a few pounds. HDMI monitors are now effectively the basline spec., VGA monitors being on their way out.

 

[HSTEd]

The graphics card won't allow screen three to be anything but a logical DisplayPort unfortunately, so I will need a DP monitor or an MST hub

 

[tony_mac]

an active adapter, or a displayport to VGA adapter, should operate logically as a displayport.

 

[D365]

Eh? I've got an HP workstation that drives three NEC displays, two using passive DisplayPort to DVI adaptors.

 

[HSTEd]

Eh? I've got an HP workstation that drives three NEC displays, two using passive DisplayPort to DVI adaptors.

Yes, but your Workstation is likely designed specifically to do this.
The graphics card I have is not.

I am allowed a HDMI screen, a DVI-I screen (including VGA) and up to 4 DisplayPort Screens (using MST)

 

[Class172]

My current rig utilises a HDMI port for one screen and a DVI-I port for the other, with the latter being connected to a VGA monitor usin the requisite adapter.
If I get a third monitor it will hve to use the DisplayPort that I have remaining, which means it will be a more expensive monitor.

Which is somewhat annoying.

What would you consider expensive for a monitor? I use an AOC i2369vm, which cost £115 when I purchased it two years ago - it sports 4 inputs (1 DP, 2 HDMI & 1 VGA) and a 1920x1080 display. I recently brought a second one which in future will allow me to use the two identical displays together.

 

[HSTEd]

What would you consider expensive for a monitor? I use an AOC i2369vm, which cost £115 when I purchased it two years ago - it sports 4 inputs (1 DP, 2 HDMI & 1 VGA) and a 1920x1080 display. I recently brought a second one which in future will allow me to use the two identical displays together.

We have one in the bar rig at my hall of residence but I opted for a 24" AOC HDMI monitor at the time I bought my own

 

[najaB]

We have one in the bar rig at my hall of residence but I opted for a 24" AOC HDMI monitor at the time I bought my own

The point still stands though that native DisplayPort monitors aren't nearly as expensive as they used to be, and it's worth spending extra on a decent monitor as it's the one PC peripheral that you use more than any other.

 

[HSTEd]

The point still stands though that native DisplayPort monitors aren't nearly as expensive as they used to be, and it's worth spending extra on a decent monitor as it's the one PC peripheral that you use more than any other.

Just checked the model number - an I2476VWM - and the picture is incredible.
Especially compared to the old 19" Acer VGA Screen that is next to it [although I can't get the colour temperature settings on the screens to line up!]

Getting a similar sized DP monitor is significantly more expensive unfortunately.

 

[najaB]

At work we have Dell U2414H's on most desks. They are a bit on the expensive side at around £190 but I'd definitely get the same or similar if I was in the market for a monitor for my home setup.

 

[Crossover]

Re the OP question directly, I think the USB adaptor may be one of the few options available - unfortunately that's kind of the trade off with a smaller form factor machine. I must say, I haven't come across a PC which looks like the Alienware one before!

My current rig utilises a HDMI port for one screen and a DVI-I port for the other, with the latter being connected to a VGA monitor usin the requisite adapter.
If I get a third monitor it will hve to use the DisplayPort that I have remaining, which means it will be a more expensive monitor.

Which is somewhat annoying.

At work we have Dell U2414H's on most desks. They are a bit on the expensive side at around £190 but I'd definitely get the same or similar if I was in the market for a monitor for my home setup.

It may be possible to get DP to HDMI or such like. DVI is an odd one as DVI-I isn't quite so common I have found, with a lot of what I can come across being DVI-D which rules out VGA conversion as an option.
At work we have a large number of P2214H monitors which have DisplayPort on them (I installed 4 monitors with DP just today) and they weren't particularly bad money. However I think the newer Dell monitors feature HDMI inputs now (can't remember if they still have DP)

 

[najaB]

However I think the newer Dell monitors feature HDMI inputs now (can't remember if they still have DP)

The U2414H features HDMI and DisplayPort, can't speak to other models.