Contents:

• What is multiple display or multi-monitor?
• What are the system requirements for multiple display support?
• How do I output to more than one monitor?
• What is clone mode and how do I enable it?
• What is extended desktop mode and how do I enable it?
• What is 3-Display mode and how do I enable it?
• What is panning and how do I enable it?
• I just connected another monitor or display device. Why is it not seen or selectable?
• Can I install an external PCI Express* graphics card and use it in parallel with Intel graphics?
• How do I change monitor positions?
• How do I set the external display as the primary display?
• Related Topics

What is multiple display or multi-monitor?
Multiple display, also known as multi-monitor or multi-display, is a feature supported by Intel graphics drivers that allow the user to output the computer’s display to more than one display at the same time.

The Intel graphics driver supports the following multiple display configurations:

• Clone
• Extended desktop
• 3-Display

A couple examples of using this feature include: The same display may be sent to both the laptop’s built-in display and to an analog monitor (known as clone mode) or the Windows desktop may span up to three display devices (known as extended desktop mode).

What are the system requirements for multiple display support?
Your computer must have the following:

• Physical video output connector(s)
  Your computer must have a video output connector or connectors to which one or more external displays would be connected to. Some laptops may have additional video output connectors on a docking station, port replicator, or via the laptop manufacturer’s special video cable. On desktop systems, some computer manufacturers may offer at an extra cost an add-in card (referred to as ADD2) which adds video output connector to the computer.
• Two or more display devices are connected.
  Display devices may include an analog monitor, notebook’s built-in display, external monitor or flat panel display with analog, DVI-D, DVI-I, HDMI, or DisplayPort connectors, or television with S-video, composite, component, or D connectors. Not all display device combinations may be supported by your computer. Please check with your computer manufacturer for information on the supported multiple display configurations for your computer.
• An Intel graphics driver is installed.
  The Intel graphics driver’s properties control panel allows you to set a multiple display configuration. Not all multiple display configurations may be supported by your operating system or by your computer. Some examples include: The starter editions of Windows Vista* & Windows 7* do not support extended desktop mode; many computer manufacturers disable the twin mode. Please check with your computer manufacturer for information on available and supported multiple display configurations for your computer.

How do I output to more than one monitor?
Depending on your configuration, Intel graphics products can output to one, two, or three displays at the same time and support several different multiple display configurations.

Starting with the 3rd Generation Intel® Core™ Processors with Intel® HD Graphics 4000/2500, three displays support may be possible depending on your computer's configuration. Check with your computer manufacturer if three displays are supported on your computer and which display combinations are supported.

For information on enabling output to multiple displays, see:

• What is the clone mode and how do I enable it?
• What is the extended desktop mode and how do I enable it?
• What is 3-Display mode and how do I enable it?

What is the clone mode and how do I enable it?
Clone mode is used to send the same content, same resolution, and same color depth, but different refresh rates to different display devices.

This mode is beneficial when using displays of various types and sizes. For example, using the notebook’s built-in display and displaying the same content to an analog overhead projector that may only sync to particular resolutions and refresh rates.

There are several methods to enable clone mode, see How to enable the clone mode.

What is the extended desktop mode and how do I enable it?
With extended desktop mode, the user gets a larger Windows desktop that spans multiple display devices. Applications can be moved from one display device to the other. The displays can support different resolutions, color depth, and refresh rate.

There are several methods to enable the extended desktop mode, see How to enable extended desktop mode.

What is 3-Display mode and how do I enable it?
3-Display mode is a configuration which allows you to have 3 displays active simultaneously. You can enable either extended desktop mode or clone mode while using 3-Display.

There are several methods to enable 3-Display mode, see How to enable 3-Display mode.

What is panning and how to enable?
On some computers, panning may be possible with Intel graphics. When enabled, panning allows a display resolution is larger than the display type (such as a notebook’s built-in display or a TV which supports a fixed or limited resolution). Panning allows a high-resolution display on a larger screen, while viewing a zoomed-in version on a smaller screen.

What is shown on the smaller screen corresponds to the mouse cursor movement. Since the screens are different sizes, the mouse cursor may be at different positions on either screen.

While the cursor is within the zoomed-in area of the smaller screen, the cursor behaves as normal. As the cursor moves near the edge of the smaller screen, the view pans toward the cursor until the edge of the full screen is reached. This does not affect the view on the larger screen, which stays the same regardless of the activity of the smaller (panned) screen.

Follow these steps to enable panning:

1. Enable clone or extended desktop mode.
2. On one of the display devices, select a resolution that is larger than the display’s supported resolution.
3. Click Apply. The image the display device that cannot support the resolution selected will pan.

I just plugged in another monitor or display device, but the other display is not seen or selectable. How do I resolve this problem?
To troubleshoot:

• Verify the other display is physically connected to the computer.
• Verify the other display is powered on.
• If the other display has multiple input connectors, verify that the display is configured to use the input connector that is connected to the computer. On some displays, you may need to use the display’s button or menu to switch to the appropriate input connector or source.
• Try reseating the video cable on both ends: where it connects to on the display and on the computer.
• Try re-opening the Graphics Properties window.
• Try rebooting the computer.
• If you are using a laptop computer and it is running on a battery, try re-opening the Graphics Properties window. If that does not help, try connecting your laptop to an external power source. On some laptops, the external display device connector might not be enabled when the laptop is running on battery.
• Try a different cable.
• Try a different input connector on the monitor. Some monitors have more than one input connector. You may need to use the monitor’s button or menu to switch to the appropriate input connector or source.

Can I install an external PCI Express* graphics card and use it in parallel with Intel graphics?
No, Intel graphics cannot be used along with an external PCI Express graphics controller. Installing a PCI Express graphics controller will disable Intel graphics.

How do I change monitor positions?
By default, the Intel graphics drivers positions the primary display is on the left of the secondary display. If your primary display is physically located on the right (or above or below) of your secondary display, the Intel graphics driver allows you to change the positions of the primary and secondary display devices relative to each other.

For steps on how to change the display device positions, see the Method to enable extended desktop using the Intel graphics driver properties.

Figure 1b: For older drivers, this is the multiple display with extended desktop mode selected

Figure 1c: For older drivers, multiple display with extended desktop mode selected

How do I set the external display as the primary display device?
In a multiple display configuration, you may have the option to select which display device is the primary display device and which is the secondary display device.

1. Open the Graphics Properties window or control panel.
2. On the Display Devices tab, select extended desktop or Intel® Dual Display Clone.
3. Select which display device will be the primary device and which one will be the secondary device.
4. Click Apply or OK.

Related Topics:
Intel® Driver Update Utility
How to enable Clone mode
How to enable extended desktop mode
3rd Generation Intel® Core™ Processors with Intel® HD Graphics 4000/2500

This applies to:

2nd Generation Intel® Core™ Processors with Intel® HD Graphics 3000/2000 3rd Generation Intel® Core™ Processors with Intel® HD Graphics 2500 3rd Generation Intel® Core™ Processors with Intel® HD Graphics 4000 Intel® 82945G Express Chipset Intel® 82946GZ Graphics Controller Intel® 82G965 Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) Intel® 82Q963 Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) Intel® 82Q965 Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) Intel® B43 Express Chipset Intel® Celeron® Processors with Intel® HD Graphics Intel® Core™ Processors with Intel® HD Graphics Intel® G31 Express Chipset Intel® G33 Express Chipset Intel® G35 Express Chipset Intel® G41 Express Chipset Intel® G43 Express Chipset Intel® G45 Express Chipset Intel® Pentium® Processors with Intel® HD Graphics Intel® Q33 Express Chipset Intel® Q35 Express Chipset Intel® Q43 Express Chipset Intel® Q45 Express Chipset Mobile Intel® 4 Series Express Chipset Family Mobile Intel® 945GM Express Chipset Family Mobile Intel® 965 Express Chipset Family