Why won’t my second monitor work?

[Big Rig]

I have 2x Dell 1080p monitors. My desktop pc has an integrated Intel he 4600 graphics card with hdmi out. Both monitors work individually.

HDMI from the pc into monitor 1 then I’ve used display port from that monitor into monitor 2, no signal detected.
I’ve also tried USB-C from 1 to 2 and still not detected.

If I use my laptop I can get both monitors to work as desired which points to it being my pc.
Both monitors work individually if I just go straight hdmi into each separately.

I cannot fathom what it could be, can anyone suggest anything to help?

[untakenname]

Update the graphics drivers via the Intel website, don't rely on windows update as sometimes it selects older versions.
Also try pressing Windows key and P to switch through the outputs as sometimes monitors don't auto detect.

[frisbee]

You're daisy chaining the two monitors together?

I think very few monitors actually support that.

[toohuge]

Daisy chaining monitors is supported on display port 1.2 MST and usb-c (and thunderbolt 3 onwards for mac). It is not supported on hdmi.

I suspect you’ve connected your work laptop to the monitors by a different means - usb-c? That would allow this to work.

You’ll have to check if you’ve got DisplayPort 1.2 with MST for this to work as you want.

[Digger]

what is the exact model of the desktop & the motherboard as well if you can find it? How many display outputs are there on the PC? One HDMI & a Display Port perhaps?

[Big Rig]

toohuge said:

Daisy chaining monitors is supported on display port 1.2 MST and usb-c (and thunderbolt 3 onwards for mac). It is not supported on hdmi.

I suspect you’ve connected your work laptop to the monitors by a different means - usb-c? That would allow this to work.

You’ll have to check if you’ve got DisplayPort 1.2 with MST for this to work as you want.

Yes I did connect with usb-c out on my work laptop.
If I’ve only got hdmi out and it’s not DP 1.2 supported (is that from my graphics card on the computer?) how can I get this to work? New graphics card?

[IJWS15]

I have used HDMI to HDMI and USB-C to HDMI to drive two monitors from a laptop.

All depends what ports you have on the desktop.

[AlexC1981]

Stick a cheap graphics card with two HDMI or DisplayPorts in your desktop if there's room. Even an old one will likely be better than your built in graphics.

Check the slot it goes in and if it needs a power cable connected to it. Also the dimensions as some of them are quite large.

[Big Rig]

Thanks for replies everyone. Before I find a graphics card would I get away with using a VGA to HDMI adaptor like this for the second monitor or would the quality be terrible?


HDMI to VGA Adapter, BENFEI Female HDMI Input to Male VGA Output Adapter with 3.5mm Audio Jack Compatible for TV Stick, Computer, Laptop, Monitor, Projector, Raspberry Pi, Roku, Xbox and More - Black https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07XZ22KCD/ref=cm_sw_r...

[xeny]

You'd certainly be OK with VGA to the monitor if use a decent quality cable and the monitor supports it.

[Big Rig]

No the monitor doesn’t have VGA.

[AlexC1981]

That adaptor you linked to is designed to convert an HDMI signal (source) into VGA output (to the monitor).

So does your PC have two output sockets on it? One HDMI and one VGA?

If that is the case you can use an adaptor like this one to plug in the other HDMI monitor into your PC's VGA socket.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Benfei-Input-Adapter-Supp...

[Big Rig]

AlexC1981 said:

That adaptor you linked to is designed to convert an HDMI signal (source) into VGA output (to the monitor).

So does your PC have two output sockets on it? One HDMI and one VGA?

If that is the case you can use an adaptor like this one to plug in the other HDMI monitor into your PC's VGA socket.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Benfei-Input-Adapter-Supp...

Exactly that thank you have just ordered

[Big Rig]

AlexC1981 said:

That adaptor you linked to is designed to convert an HDMI signal (source) into VGA output (to the monitor).

So does your PC have two output sockets on it? One HDMI and one VGA?

If that is the case you can use an adaptor like this one to plug in the other HDMI monitor into your PC's VGA socket.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Benfei-Input-Adapter-Supp...

Exactly that thank you have just ordered