Introduction: USB (HDMI) Video Card - Cheap and Easy Multiple Monitor Set Up
Two monitors is pretty easy. But stepping up to three monitors is a little more involved. I wanted to get a third monitor set up for work and my projects but was having a lot of difficulty. I tried a couple video cards and was still having issues. The next step was to get a more expensive card and set up a display port/flex system. But before doing that I remembered seeing USB video cards that just plug in.
A quick search online revealed a bunch of these Iogear USB cards for around $25 to $30. It just plugs in to the USB on the computer and then HDMI out to either a computer monitor or a large tv. It of course came with the DisplayLink driver and a USB cable. The whole set up took less than five minutes. No external power required. And of course the audio comes through the HDMI port. Sweet.
I'm not a gamer - it probably will lag with high graphic games, but maybe not horribly so. I can run multiple video streams through the card and it's been very impressive.
This set up could be good for a lot of quick external monitors. Also good for laptops or leased/rented computers. For media servers, a large tv in another room, travelling...lots of possibilities.
I ran this on Windows 7 without any issues or downloading any additional drivers or updates. It is supposed to work on XP as well but I haven't tested it on an older system.
Thanks for taking a look.
A quick search online revealed a bunch of these Iogear USB cards for around $25 to $30. It just plugs in to the USB on the computer and then HDMI out to either a computer monitor or a large tv. It of course came with the DisplayLink driver and a USB cable. The whole set up took less than five minutes. No external power required. And of course the audio comes through the HDMI port. Sweet.
I'm not a gamer - it probably will lag with high graphic games, but maybe not horribly so. I can run multiple video streams through the card and it's been very impressive.
This set up could be good for a lot of quick external monitors. Also good for laptops or leased/rented computers. For media servers, a large tv in another room, travelling...lots of possibilities.
I ran this on Windows 7 without any issues or downloading any additional drivers or updates. It is supposed to work on XP as well but I haven't tested it on an older system.
Thanks for taking a look.