How can I set Windows 7 up to use three monitors?

I want to set my computer up to use three monitors. Currently I have two monitors working fine. I'm using an ASRock K10N78 AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 8200 ATX AMD Motherboard and an XFX PVT98GYDLU GeForce 9800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card.

I am using both the outputs from my video card for the current two monitors. How can I get a third monitor added to my setup? Can I use the onboard graphics output somehow?

Solution 1:

Windows 7 does not allow use of onboard graphics at the same time as a video card without Hydra (which you motherboard does not support).

I asked a similar question: Is it better to add a second video card in Crossfire or replace an aging video card?.

It looks like your motherboard does not support SLI/Crossfire. You're stuck having to buy a new graphics card. Sorry.

UPDATE

You will need to buy a graphics card that has three outputs which are generally a dual PCI slot cards. Unless you get a card that has displayPort in it.

Solution 2:

I just started to use a eVGA UV Plus USB to DVI adapter at work which is driving a Dell 19" standard monitor, this is in addition to dual Dell 22" wide screens. We'd purchased them for dual setups on some older Dell USFF machines which lack any expansion.

Win 7 x64 found and installed the driver when I plugged in the unit, and it provides surprisingly good output.

Solution 3:

I would suggest what edusysadmin recommended. EVGA makes a high quality USB to DVI converter. If you do not care so much about quality you could actually get three displays out of your current setup using the "TV Out" port (S-Video) of your graphics card. The resolution would max out at 480i, but it would give you another display.