Iogear Video Card Offers DVI through USB

Iogear's USB 2.0 External DVI Video Card offers an extra DVI port for dual displays in situations where swapping out an internal video card isn't an option.

Adding a second monitor to your desktop for a dual display setup is usually can be as easy as plugging it in – if you have dual video outputs to begin with. For those who don’t, a video card upgrade is usually needed, and installing an internal card can be downright impossible for people in business environments using machines that don’t belong to them, or with certain laptops. Iogear attempted to alleviate this problem with its USB 2.0 External DVI Video Card, released Monday, which adds an extra DVI port for dual displays without having to crack open a computer’s case.

The card is ready to go after simply installing drivers and plugging it into a USB 2.0 port. It draws power directly from the USB connection, eliminating the need for an external power source. Iogear says up to six can be installed on a single machine, although you’ll need as many free USB ports on your box as cards, since Iogear doesn’t recommend using them with USB hubs.

As the name implies, the USB 2.0 External DVI Video Card requires a USB 2.0 port, and either Microsoft Windows XP or Vista. It’s available through Iogear for $149.95 immediately.