Tower appears to only have one HDMI port. How do I connect a second screen?

[imjtblanton]

I built my own PC several months ago. I just bought a second screen for it. I am trying to hook it up but I do not see where to put the HDMI cable. I only see one on the back of my tower. Where else would I be able to plug it in? Any solutions?

[Mira Yurizaki]

We'll need your system specs (motherboard and GPU at the minimum) and what display you have.

 

If this is a recent monitor, you should be able to use DVI or DisplayPort.

[corrado33]

Does your... tower... have more than one video port? Does it have a modern video card?

 

You may have to buy a converter to get another HDMI out.

[Shiv78]

-into GPU if you have one

-Using DVI, VGA, or DisplayPort

[Oshino Shinobu]

Can't really help without at least Motherboard, CPU and GPU specs. (monitor models would help too)

[imjtblanton]

It's an ASRock X99 Extreme 4 motherboard and GPU is Sapphire Nitro Radeon R9 390. Screen is Acer G257HL bmidx 25". I know my computer can support multiple monitors. Just don't see how by looking at the back.

 

How do I plug it into the GPU? Would I need to run the HDMI cable from the screen into the tower and connect it to the GPU?

[Glenwing]

3 minutes ago, imjtblanton said:

It's an ASRock X99 Extreme 4 motherboard and a Sapphire Nitro Radeon R9 390. I know my computer can support multiple monitors. Just don't see how by looking at the back.

 

How do I plug it into the GPU? Would I need to run the HDMI cable from the screen into the tower and connect it to the GPU?

You connect the monitor to the GPU instead of the computer motherboard. The GPU has outputs on the back of it, including an HDMI port. Connect an HDMI cable from the GPU's HDMI port to the monitor's HDMI port.

[Oshino Shinobu]

7 minutes ago, imjtblanton said:

It's an ASRock X99 Extreme 4 motherboard and GPU is Sapphire Nitro Radeon R9 390. Screen is Acer G257HL bmidx 25". I know my computer can support multiple monitors. Just don't see how by looking at the back.

 

How do I plug it into the GPU? Would I need to run the HDMI cable from the screen into the tower and connect it to the GPU?

You should have one HDMI and one DVI connector (as well as 3 DP connectors) on the card. Connect one monitor by HDMI and the other by DVI. 

[Mira Yurizaki]

If you already are using the HDMI port on your GPU that's being used and the monitor connected to that needs HDMI, then you need to either get a DVI to HDMI converter or DP to HDMI converter.

 

Otherwise switch what the first monitor is using.

[Oshino Shinobu]

6 minutes ago, Glenwing said:

You connect the monitor to the GPU instead of the computer motherboard. The GPU has outputs on the back of it, including an HDMI port. Connect an HDMI cable from the GPU's HDMI port to the monitor's HDMI port.

I think the issues is that his existing HDMI port is already in use, so he doesn't have another, only DVI and DP left. (monitor has DVI, though, so should be able to use that)

[NumLock21]

Connect with DVI or grab a Display Port to HDMI adapter

[Glenwing]

1 minute ago, Oshino Shinobu said:

I think the issues is that his existing HDMI port is already in use, so he doesn't have another, only DVI and DP left. 

Ah I see. In that case...

 

DisplayPort to HDMI adapter:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZA067MA/

[imjtblanton]

Actually it appears that my first monitor is already plugged into the HDMI port on the graphics card. It appears the X99 only has one. It looks like my motherboard has zero. Both my cables are HDMI to HDMI. Looks like I will need and HDMI to DP cable.

[Mira Yurizaki]

2 minutes ago, imjtblanton said:

Actually it appears that my first monitor is already plugged into the HDMI port on the graphics card. It appears the X99 only has one. It looks like my motherboard has zero. Both my cables are HDMI to HDMI. Looks like I will need and HDMI to DP cable.

Does the first monitor have another input like DVI or DisplayPort?

[imjtblanton]

Both monitors are identical. They both have an HDMI port. They also have ports labeled DVI-D IN and VGA IN.

 

Either way I think I need another cable. Should this work fine?

https://www.amazon.com/Rankie-Plated-DisplayPort-Cable-Black/dp/B00Z05JMKO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1476306953&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=hdmi+to+dp&psc=1

 

Is there really a difference in these cables? Also, the 6-foot cables seem to be the same price as a 6-inch adapter. May as well get a full cable.

[Glenwing]

1 hour ago, imjtblanton said:

Both monitors are identical. They both have an HDMI port. They also have ports labeled DVI-D IN and VGA IN.

 

Either way I think I need another cable. Should this work fine?

https://www.amazon.com/Rankie-Plated-DisplayPort-Cable-Black/dp/B00Z05JMKO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1476306953&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=hdmi+to+dp&psc=1

 

Is there really a difference in these cables? Also, the 6-foot cables seem to be the same price as a 6-inch adapter. May as well get a full cable.

I would say the adapter is more versatile as it allows you to adjust the cable length depending on the situation, if you ever move or reorganize your equipment

[kirashi]

You can use either an adapter or cable, the choice is yours.

I like cables for desktop use, and adapters if I ever need them on-the-go, but also for longer cable runs, since you can adapt to a more commonly found type of cable, like HDMI, and then just buy a really long HDMI cable instead.

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-DP2HDMI2-DisplayPort-Adapter-Converter/dp/B0035PS57M/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1476311947&sr=8-5&keywords=hdmi+to+displayport+startech+cable

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-DP2HDMM2MB-DisplayPort-Converter-Cable/dp/B00W505M6U/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1476311973&sr=8-5&keywords=hdmi+to+displayport+startech+cable+2m