Question on Setting Up Dual Monitors

[xenova]

Hey guys, i'm looking to set up dual monitors but I'm not sure if I have the right idea as to what the initial procedure is.
I currently have a Samsung monitor that utilizes a DVI cable. My GPU is a HIS Radeon 7870 that houses 1 DVI port and 1 HDMI port.
I'm looking to buy this monitor:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059&cm_sp=Spotlight-_-24-236-059-_-02222013

but the package contents does not state that it contains a HDMI cable. Do I have to purchase one of these separately? And afterwards I connect the new monitor to the HDMI port and it should work right?

 

[manofchalk]

Yep, most of the time monitors are bundled with a VGA cable, because any computer in existence will have one of those ports on them. You have to buy a HDMI seperately.

You should be fine to just plug it into the card, then just set it up in Windows so it knows where the monitors are physically (so your mouse moves between them correctly) and you should be done.

 

[willard]

Typically unless you're using DVI or VGA, you'll need to buy the cable separately. Steer clear of anyone claiming their HDMI cable is special. Unless you're buying a cable that's 35' or longer, there's effectively no difference between cables, and the companies selling $100+ cables (I'm looking at you, Monster) are doing nothing but preying on people who expect to get what they pay for, and equate higher price with higher quality.

In reality, it's just an astonishingly high markup on exactly the same product, and it provides no benefit. Do yourself a favor and buy the cheapest 6' HDMI cable you can find that doesn't have tons of negative reviews. Newegg should have them for $5 - $10.

As far as setting up the second monitor, it's really easy. Just connect the monitor to the HDMI port. If your computer is powered on, the monitor may power up on its own or you may need to tell Windows to detect the displays. You can do that in the same place you set your screen resolution (On Win7, right click the desktop and choose Personalize, on Win8, right click the desktop and choose Screen Resolution). From there you need to tell Windows where the monitor is physically, to the left or right of the old monitor. Just click and drag the picture of the monitor to the correct side.

You can also adjust the vertical position of the displays in the same way, in case one monitor is taller on the other. This lets you keep the mouse from jumping vertically as it moves from one display to the other.