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Purpose of Second HDMI Port
I have a Dell XP 8700. I use the HDMI port from the video card to stream to my TV. There is a second HDMI port (from the motherboard?). What is the purpose of this port?
Thanks
RoHe
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September 21st, 2015 16:00
That's the video port you'd use to get HDMI output if you didn't have an add-in video card.
You can use that onboard HDMI port to support a second HDMI monitor, if needed, if your add-in video card can't support two HDMI monitors at the same time.
In order to use any of the on-board video ports, you'd have to go into BIOS setup (reboot and press F2) and enable the Intel Multi-Display option which will turn the onboard ports on.
Notes:
RoHe
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September 23rd, 2015 12:00
If you have 2 HDMI ports, you have an add-in video card because the motherboard only has one HDMI.
The on-board HDMI is #18 in figure below. If you have an add-in video card, it will be located in the area marked #21, most likely in the top slot, directly below the audio ports (#20).
The onboard HDMI port (and DisplayPort, #19) is disabled automatically when an add-in video card is installed, They can only be used, if you enable Intel Multi-Display in BIOS and connect the first monitor to the video card.
eliascm
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September 21st, 2015 17:00
Thanks for the answer. Actually my original post may have been misleading; The video function is built in and not an add-in card. I assume that your answer still holds. However, when I first got the computer I tried using the other port for streaming video and it would not work. I soon found that I had to use the port associated with the internal video function (the equivalent of a video card).
RoHe
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September 22nd, 2015 11:00
Now I'm thoroughly confused. :emotion-42:
Do you have an add-in video card, which would be down near the bottom at the back of the XPS 8700 case? Since you say you have 2 HDMI ports, that leads me to believe you have an add-in card with its own HDMI port. Or are you confusing "HDMI" with the onboard DisplayPort (DP) video port?
If you have an add-in card, you have to connect at least one monitor there and enable the Intel Multi Display option in BIOS to simultaneously use either of the onboard video ports (HDMI and DP), which are nearer the middle of the case.
If you only have onboard video, I don't know if you can use both the HDMI and DP connections at the same time, at least not without enabling Multi Display in BIOS.
eliascm
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September 23rd, 2015 07:00
Sorry for the confusion. My computer is a an XPS 8700 special edition. I don't know if the "special edition" is significant for this question. When I ordered the computer I remember being concerned because I did not have a choice of video cards--the video function is integral to the computer. I needn't have been concerned because the video is quite adequate for my needs (I am not a "gamer").
I do not intend to use dual monitors. I asked the question about the other port out of curiosity--not of need for an extra video port.
No, I am not confusing HDMI with DP. Both of the ports I am discussing have HDMI connectors.
eliascm
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September 24th, 2015 05:00
Thank you for your detailed answer. My curiosity is satisfied. I will not enable the second port since I have no need for it.