How to setup dual monitors for iMac 07-08

[Gamble]

Hey,

I’m looking to setup another monitor for my 07-08 iMac, I have tried searching and googling for an answer but don’t seem to have had much luck, so I have got a few questions.

1. Is my iMac even able to support dual monitors?
2. If so how would I go about this?
3. Will just any monitor work or has to be a certain type?

Cheers

 

[arjen92]

This is pretty simple. You're imac supports every screen with VGA or DVI, VGA is most common (until now). This is how VGA looks like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_Graphics_Array

The article says something that vga is a resolution of 640 by 480. But that's when you talk about the resolution. The cable itself is commonly known as VGA. Maybe you see some projectors with XGA etc, that stands for the resolution. But they all use the same cable. http://www.made-in-china.com/image/2f0j00gvNtfhkPJGbWM/RGB-Monitor-Cable-VGA-Cable-.jpg

DVI is something more new, you have digital DVI (DVI-d) and analog. Don't ask me why they made it both analog and digital instead of going with one sort, I don't understand it neither.

Now if you're smart you say: "I don't see any of those ports (VGA or DVI) on the back of my mac". That's correct, you don't have those ports. What you also don't have is the adapter: http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/mac_accessories/displays?mco=Nzk4ODExMw

Yes, apple has a lot adapters, they just don't know which one they will stick with. These days they use displayport, but your mac (and mine as well) uses mini-DVI. So you should get the mini-DVI to VGA (http://store.apple.com/us/product/M9320G/A?fnode=MTY1NDA5OQ&mco=Nzk2MDk3NQ), or when you get a screen with a DVI connector; mini-DVI to DVI. (http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/mac_accessories/displays?mco=Nzk4ODExMw)

You just connect everything right, and your screen should turn blue for a second, and extend to your screen.

This guy asks for the maximum resolution, and he gets an answer: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8345282