Why do Nvidia carsds only start a 2nd monitor after Win10 loads?


  1. Posts : 84
    Windows 10 Pro 1909
       #1

    Why do Nvidia carsds only start a 2nd monitor after Win10 loads?


    With 2 monitors connected to a 'dual-head' Radeon graphics card BOTH monitors turn on when the computer boots and I'll even get 2x motherboard BIOS setup menus mirrored on both monitors. When Windows loads they then display the extended desktop as per my Win10 setup.

    With 2 monitors connected to a 'dual-head' Nvidea graphics card ONLY ONE monitor turns on when the computer boots and I get a motherboard BIOS setup menu on only that one monitor. The other monitor remains off until Windows 10 loads and will then display the extended desktop as per my Win10 setup.

    I'm assuming this is normal behaviour for their respective architectures. But is there some setting on Nvidia cards that will enable both monitors in a mirroring mode at startup like Radeon cards do?

    Sorry if this isn't a 100% Windows 10 graphics question. But I am running windows 10 Just thought there might be a knowledgeable person here with the right answer to this question that's nagged me for quite a while.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 4,802
    Windows 10 ProWorkstation -- Whichever is highest build number.
       #2

    I have on board AMD, but I use an Nvidia card. When I take my Nvidia card out, I experience the same behavior, two monitors showing identical displays. I always found that rather annoying. Personally, I do not need more than one monitor until I sign in to Windows, then I see all three of mine.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 13,898
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #3

    Why do Nvidia carsds only start a 2nd monitor after Win10 loads?
    What I've seen/experienced with dual monitors it is a driver/program issue that the OS/Operating System controls. The OS has to finish loading before everything is set up for use. While the OS is booting the second monitor can only see what the first monitor shows, drivers not yet loaded.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 84
    Windows 10 Pro 1909
    Thread Starter
       #4

    flybynite said:
    I have on board AMD, but I use an Nvidia card. When I take my Nvidia card out, I experience the same behavior, two monitors showing identical displays.
    So it seems it's just an AMD 'feature'. Both brands behave the same once the OS has loaded. fwiw I prefer the AMD behaviour as it confirms that both monitors are on and working a bootup. But it's really no problem.

    I just came fishing to see if there's some hidden graphics card bios setting (or whatever) on the Nvidia that would enable/disable that feature on their cards.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 217
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       #5

    In my Nvidia gt 730, only the HDMI connected monitor gets signal at POST. The VGA one doesn't.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 19,516
    W11+W11 Developer Insider + Linux
       #6

    AMD R7 260 I have turns on displays on all 3 monitors in BIOS and windows.
      My Computers


 

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