Adding a second display to your system can have great benefits for your productivity. Working with reference material, graphic editing palettes or spreadsheets on a second screen can make a task much easier.
In the past, there weren’t many options if 3 you wanted to add a second display to a notebook or PC with no more available AGP or PCI slots. MicroGram’s USB 2.0 to SVGA adaptor makes it easy but, because the adaptor relies on USB 2.0 to deliver the signal, it’s not backward compatible with USB 1.1.
The adaptor can output a maximum resolution of 1,024 x 768 pixels in 16-bit (65,336) colours to a CRT or LCD monitor with a standard DB15 (VGA) connector. The decision to use 16-bit colour means it’s less useful for graphic designers, but reducing the resolution of the secondary display to 800 x 600 or 640 x 480 allows you to use a full 32-bit (16 million) colour palette.
Installation is simple. After basic driver install and reboot, Windows detects the adaptor and begins outputting to screen immediately. The adaptor comes with an extremely basic but very useful utility based around a system tray that enables a quick change of resolution and colour depth on the USB device. This same tool also allows it to be set as a primary or secondary adaptor, or turned off altogether.
Testing confirmed that the unit can produce a clear and consistent image on both CRT and LCD monitors at 1,024 x 768 and 800 x 600 resolutions. However, onscreen movement is delayed on the USB-driven display. When we moved Windows from one monitor to the other in a dual monitor setup, the screen connected via the USB adaptor lagged behind the PC-driven display. The effect on refresh rate is also worth noting. Movement on the adaptor lagged visibly as the screen is only redrawn four to five times per second, although it still maintains a sync with the monitor at 60Hz.
MicroGram’s USB 2.0 to SVGA adaptor is well worth the asking price if you can’t fit a second PCI adaptor to a machine. Although PCI solutions that far outpace this adaptor are available for around $100, its simplicity, portability and the fact that it can be used with a notebook or desknote make it stand out from the crowd.

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