My company has a sub-standard IT department. I need help. (I'm self-employed and am my own IT department.)

What do I need to do to support a 3 monitor set-up? I am hoping it is possible... I am assuming my PC can only manage two without modification. How can I verify? How can I add a graphics card... I think I am happy hiring someone to do this for me I've never used the Best Buy Geek Squad folks... this seems simple enough that they could handle it BUT.

My PC is an HP Pavilion Desktop 595-p0074. Here are the product specs on the HP website. This is basically a foreign language to me: https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c05999912.

Your link isn't working for me, but this seems to be the same model.

https://support.hp.com/lt-en/document/c05999912

According to that, you can only drive two monitors with the integrated video and one of those outputs is VGA, which many modern monitors don't even support anymore.

The best way to support a triple monitor setup is with a new GPU and that PC won't support anything very high powered. Something like a Quadro P400 is probably your best bet.

https://www.amazon.com/PNY-NVIDIA-Quadro-Professional-Graphics/dp/B06X9PW5DZ/ref=asc_df_B06X9PW5DZ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309777534894&hvpos=1o23&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6269575638659482045&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9028280&hvtargid=pla-576776004927&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=58425267301&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=309777534894&hvpos=1o23&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6269575638659482045&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9028280&hvtargid=pla-576776004927

Thanks you!

To make sure I understand you correctly... I would be replacing the current graphics card with the one you linked from Amazon? And that one would support three monitors (actually four)?

When you say my PC won't support anything high-powered, what does that mean?

You're likely using the integrated video, so there's no GPU to replace. You drop the card I linked into the PCIe slot and it will disable the integrated video you're currently using. The GPU I linked does indeed support at least three monitors.

When I say that your system can't supported a higher powered GPU, I'm referring to the fact that your PC only has a 180 watt power supply. For reference, many GPUs can exceed the power output of your power supply by themselves. In addition, that PC likely has minimal, if any, additional power connectors inside that more powerful GPUs require.

Okay. Thanks!

FYI, there are CHEAP usb (external) graphics adapters designed for adding more monitors to your laptop/desktop

This is your solution (assuming you aren't trying to make this a high-end Gaming rig (which you probably wouldn't do with an HP computer)

https://www.amazon.com/USB-Dual-HDMI-Adapter-External/dp/B0725K1MHH/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3TT9UHP127HOO&keywords=usb+graphics+adapter&qid=1554822565&s=gateway&sprefix=usb+graph%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-4

91_Aggie said:

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FYI, there are CHEAP usb (external) graphics adapters designed for adding more monitors to your laptop/desktop

This is your solution (assuming you aren't trying to make this a high-end Gaming rig (which you probably wouldn't do with an HP computer)

https://www.amazon.com/USB-Dual-HDMI-Adapter-External/dp/B0725K1MHH/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3TT9UHP127HOO&keywords=usb+graphics+adapter&qid=1554822565&s=gateway&sprefix=usb+graph%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-4

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This is probably the best solution. Make sure you plug it into the USB slot on the back which should be blue.

Oh, good to know. NO, not a gaming rig. It's a CPA-ing rig. I just need to be able to read documents on it.

Sooo... I don't have any BLUE USB slots. However, there's one with an SS right before the little USB symbol. S The SS USB on the back of my computer is a "3.1 Gen 1" port. Same thing? I Googled it and they seem the same.

The GPU I linked will likely be a more reliable solution as those USB video adapters tend to be a bit flaky. We've gone through a pretty decent number of different models at work and just haven't been very happy with them in most cases. The CHEAP USB video adapters are worth about what you pay for them and to get the ones that are marginally more reliable, you'll spend almost as much as you would on the GPU above.

The Quadro P400 isn't a gaming GPU, it's built for driving multimonitor setups.

Yeah, I read the reviews on the adapter. Noi bueno.

tamusc said:

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The GPU I linked will likely be a more reliable solution as those USB video adapters tend to be a bit flaky. We've gone through a pretty decent number of different models at work and just haven't been very happy with them in most cases. The CHEAP USB video adapters are worth about what you pay for them and to get the ones that are marginally more reliable, you'll spend almost as much as you would on the GPU above.

The Quadro P400 isn't a gaming GPU, it's built for driving multimonitor setups.

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I agree with this. Look at what interfaces your monitors have and order the required cables along with it.

You may need Displayport to HDMI cables. I like to get the amazonbasics ones since they're reasonably priced and they'll get you a replacement quickly if you have a problem.