OK, so with the new WFH plan probably going to take a while, I decided to splurge and bought 2 new 22" IPS monitors instead of the 20 year old 17" square one. Computer has Windows 10 OS and video output is one HDMI and one VGA output. Initially, I hooked them up to the VGA output using a cable splitter. Same display on both monitors, not recognized in Windows as 2 separate monitors so I can't extend the screen across both. Crap. Dug up a spare HDMI cable. Hooked one monitor up to the HDMI output and the other to the VGA output. I can extend the screen to both monitors (Minor Win!), but the VGA monitor is blurry while the HDMI one is very crisp and clear. I cannot get Display Settings to automatically adjust and correct the blurry monitor and I can't find a way to do it manually. All I can do is change the resolution which just seems to make the text larger or smaller but still blurry. What am I missing? or alternately is there a way to run both off one output (HDMI or VGA) where the OS will recognize there are 2 monitors so I can extend the screen across both?
----Edited out my reference to daisy chaining HDMI.. You cannae do it, only daily chain Display Port. -----
Are you new screens 4k or 1080?
VGA is analog and will be inherently blurry to some extent. It will never be as sharp as the HDMI connected one, even with the same monitor, but shouldn't be horrible. Is the resolution set to the "native" resolution of the screen? (Meaning, if the screen is 1024x768, do you have it set to 1024x768?)
Sorry, correction to the above post: You can only daisy chain Display Port, NOT HDMI.. My bad!
In reply to secretariata (Forum Supporter) :
Any kind of splitter will mean that the computer isn't aware that there are multiple monitors, so you'll need to use multiple ports - one for each monitor. You wouldn't happen to also have a DVI output on the back of the computer would you?
You can adapt from DVI to VGA or HDMI and that might be clearer.
Sometimes the scaling can get funky. Go into settings, then display and down about the middle set the "change the size of text, apps" and whatever to 100%. Do that for both monitors and reboot it and see if that helps. There's also an option in the advanced scaling to "let windows try to fix apps so they're not blurry".
I would drop your resolution until it looks good. Fact is, you're trying to run the same resolution through two cables with very different capabilities. Without two HDMI outputs, you may just have to deal with the difference.
Oh, and when you get a moment, post the brand and model # of the computer and monitors, please.
In reply to WonkoTheSane :
No HDMI out. These were $90 cheapies. Only have power, HDMI in and VGA in. 1080 screens.
In reply to WonkoTheSane :
Computer is an HP 2MO9234DC6. Monitors are ACER SB220Q.
Update the number shown on the back of the computer may not be the model number. Found the paperwork which says it is an HP 290-p0043w.
In reply to wae (Forum Supporter) :
No DVI, just the one VGA, one HDMI and one with 9 male pins and |O|O|O| on the case next to it. Box is a Walmart from cheapie when my computer died last year. A friend was going to build me a new one and after a couple of months I got tired of doing everything on a phone or tablet so I got this one to get me by for a while. 6 months later still no new one from my friend...but he has been working like 100 hours a week and out of town with work for at least half the time.
In reply to N Sperlo :
Problem is that it is blurry at any resolution from 800x600 to 1920x1080. Makes my head hurt after trying to read on it for a few minutes.
In reply to dculberson :
Not sure. I let it auto detect and it went blurry. Now I have tried every available choice from 800x600 to 1980x1020. There are 16 different resolutions to pick from and all are blurry...maybe something crapped out in the monitor? Guess I need to switch source cables and see if that does anything.
Okay, I can't find anything about that model of computer, and I don't have a chance to look up the monitor's instructions right now, but, what I'd do is make sure that you're at 1920x1080 resolution and the Scaling is set to 100%. Then, look through your monitors settings (Via the button(s) on the monitor itself) and see if there's an "auto adjust" somewhere.
That seems like something I had to do back when I last used VGA cables years ago :)
What do you mean "read the manual?" 
I should see what the buttons are for...
I did swap the cables to see if maybe something had failed within the monitor itself and the problem moved with the VGA cable, so I guess I'm down to the manual. 
This is a desktop computer (the model number doesn't work with Google)? If so you might look into running 2 video cards. (note: I have no experience with dual monitors so this may be bad advice)
My work laptop runs dual 24" monitors with USB connections just fine. Most of the time. We have usb hub that everything plugs into and then into the laptop. Usually. The hub kinda sucks sometimes.
In reply to slowride :
Yeah it is a cheap HP from Walmart. I was in a bind on a Saturday and needed an actual computer so I think I paid about $300 with tax. It's in one of those mini cases that's about the size of 2 reams of paper.
Updated model number above as I found the paperwork for the computer. Apparently they put random numbers on the back of the case next to the HP logo...
Have you tried a VGA to HDMI adapter?
pinchvalve said:
Have you tried a VGA to HDMI adapter?
No. Didn't know those existed. So I surely do not have one handy... 
secretariata (Forum Supporter) said:
pinchvalve said:
Have you tried a VGA to HDMI adapter?
No. Didn't know those existed. So I surely do not have one handy...
I've never had one do better, at some point you're transmitting in analog (VGA), so it's up to the monitor to deal with getting that to digital.. Getting an adapter just moves the analog > digital into a little black box first, which may or may not be better.
My guess is that you're not going to be happy until you spend the big bucks on a new video card. Looking at NewEgg (who allows you to sort by profile (you need low profile) and HDMI & DVI connections), it looks like this would be the cheapest card I'd go with for $45:
https://www.newegg.com/msi-geforce-gt-710-gt-710-1gd3h-lp/p/N82E16814127931?Item=N82E16814127931&quicklink=true
Note that the video card will come with a lower-profile plate than what is pictured, and you'll just unscrew the little standoffs and unplug the VGA connection connected by the ribbon in the picture.
You'll need to grab a DVI > HDMI cable as well, like this one for $10:
https://www.newegg.com/black-tripp-lite-6-ft-cable-connectors/p/N82E16812120061?Item=N82E16812120061&Description=DVI-D%20to%20HDMI&cm_re=DVI-D_to_HDMI-_-12-120-061-_-Product&quicklink=true
That'll let you hook up both monitors digitally.
Try changing the refresh rate in the windows settings for the vga monitor.
You may have to go to advanced, but use the native monitor resolution and try changing the refresh rate to correct the blurry image.
I had to do this to get mine to have a sharp image last week.
WonkoTheSane said:
secretariata (Forum Supporter) said:
pinchvalve said:
Have you tried a VGA to HDMI adapter?
No. Didn't know those existed. So I surely do not have one handy...
I've never had one do better, at some point you're transmitting in analog (VGA), so it's up to the monitor to deal with getting that to digital.. Getting an adapter just moves the analog > digital into a little black box first, which may or may not be better.
My guess is that you're not going to be happy until you spend the big bucks on a new video card. Looking at NewEgg (who allows you to sort by profile (you need low profile) and HDMI & DVI connections), it looks like this would be the cheapest card I'd go with for $45:
https://www.newegg.com/msi-geforce-gt-710-gt-710-1gd3h-lp/p/N82E16814127931?Item=N82E16814127931&quicklink=true
Note that the video card will come with a lower-profile plate than what is pictured, and you'll just unscrew the little standoffs and unplug the VGA connection connected by the ribbon in the picture.
You'll need to grab a DVI > HDMI cable as well, like this one for $10:
https://www.newegg.com/black-tripp-lite-6-ft-cable-connectors/p/N82E16812120061?Item=N82E16812120061&Description=DVI-D%20to%20HDMI&cm_re=DVI-D_to_HDMI-_-12-120-061-_-Product&quicklink=true
That'll let you hook up both monitors digitally.
This. I came here to say this, get a proper low profile video card with more than one digital output (HDMI, DVI, DisplayPort). AMD (ATI) or nVidia it doesn't matter.
BTW, I do have a low profile triple output video card that I'm not using:
I just don't have the low profile piece for it (lost in various cleanings I'm sure, but I'll look around for it.)
I can send it to you along with a DVI cable if you'd like. Just PM your addy.
Mike
SuperDork
4/2/20 7:33 p.m.
Lots of good advice above me.
Is your VGA cable routed alongside 110V AC cables? Can you move the wires around such that the VGA cable is as far as possible from the 110V, and when they must cross, the cross at a right angle? But analog video can show visual artifacts from the noise picked up from AC power.
No Time said:
Try changing the refresh rate in the windows settings for the vga monitor.
You may have to go to advanced, but use the native monitor resolution and try changing the refresh rate to correct the blurry image.
I had to do this to get mine to have a sharp image last week.
That's a good call.. VGA connected monitors can't negotiate that with the video card, I don't think.
It's definitely worth a shot. Note that sometimes the proper setting is pretty hidden. You may have better luck adjusting it through your Intel Graphics Control Panel (Right click on your desktop to bring it up) > Display > choose which monitor it is. The way though Windows can be convoluted depending on what drivers it thinks its using.
