Adding third screen…

[ADJimbo]

I currently run a basic desktop Lenovo PC (purely used only for business - mainly Excel) with everything in the cloud so screen performance is not critical. I run 2 x 27” screens off the PC tower. The PC tower has only two outlets for the two screens - 1 x VGA and 1 x HDMI - and both are obviously in use driving the existing two monitors.

The incumbent two screens are used as extended displays. There is now a business need to add a third screen. Obviously I’m not keen to upgrade the tower so I’ve started to explore how a third screen can be added.

Can this be achieved? The tower does have eight USB ports of which five stand idle.

I have seen these on Amazon;
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Startech-External-Video-M...

Is it simply a case of buying one of the above, plugging it into a spare USB dock and plugging the HDMI lead into it and then into the third screen?

I’m not a techie by any stretch so please go gently on me…

[xeny]

I'd expect it to work fine.

Check that there is a free USB 3 port - typically they have blue plastic interiors. For best results aim to put your most static content on this screen, although Excel is a good use case for this kind of display connection - lots of unchanging display most of the time.

[paulrockliffe]

Yes, I think those work, but most graphics card will too and would probably work out cheaper?

[e-honda]

I would definitely go for adding a cheap graphics card over one of these, they generally aren't hard to install.
I suspect this will work but may need drivers, if you get a displaylink compatible one then windows 10 / 11 should work with it without drivers.

[Brother D]

Install a graphics card. 2nd hand cards are pretty cheap on ebay, and even new low-end cards will suffice for this application by the sounds of it.

Just check your power supply has enough power, (and that it has spare power leads).

[ARHarh]

I have been using one of those usb to hdmi adapters for a few years now no issues at all. The reason I choose one of those was there was no free slot for a graphics card.

[biggiles]

Should work fine, it's a slimmed-down graphics card in a little USB box. Startech kit is fairly good, designed for Excel not gaming.

The separate graphics card option is technically better, but if you've never taken a PC case apart before then go for the USB-HDMI option. Make sure the resolution can handle the screen you are connecting to it.

Ignore the £10 alternative options which Amazon will offer you, they don't work in the same way.

[Captain Answer]

It will work, I use that StarTech on my work laptop as it can't run 3 external screens on the supplied dock... the previously supplied one could so I just added this then got IT admin to add the drivers for me