Using a splitter cable for dual monitor set up

[brindall]

Hello,
I have recently bought a new computer and with it i got a lcd monitor. As i alreadfy had a computer i thought i would start using a dual monitor set up in which i can have two screens doing different things, for instance one monitor plays a film while the other is on facebook. how ever when i received the computer it only had one AV monitor port on it. This meant i couldnt do a dual set up for even use the LCD monitor to its potential. So i bought a AV splitter cable to plug both my monitors into one port. but this just left me with two monitors doing the same thing and having to use the bad resolution from the old monitor on both monitors. HELP?

 

[lucuis]

Only way to fix that is to get a gpu with more then one output.

 

[brindall]

See, i thought that, but was gonna see if there is an easier method. oh well.

Cheers bud.

 

[shadamus]

You can get a USB to Video adapter. These allow you to plug a monitor into a spare USB2.0 or USB3.0 port. However, these are not GPUs with powerful features like hardware video decoding and 3D acceleration -- they are meant for "application" use (e.g. surf the web, run office apps, etc...). We use these at my office so that users can connect 2 external monitors to their laptops (which only have one video output), and use all 3 screens (laptop screen, plus two external monitors).

The devices work great for what you are mentioning -- running a game or playing a video on one screen (attached to your real video adapter), and less intensive apps on another screen (attached to the USB adapter).

They are available in VGA/DVI/HDMI versions, and prices start around $60. Search NewEgg.com (or your favorite retailer) for "USB DVI" or "USB VGA" or "USB HDMI", depending what you're looking for.

Here's one example http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812797002&cm_re=usb_hdmi-_-12-797-002-_-Product

 

[mightymaxio]

What you need is the double header to go or the triple header to go, it takes one input on a video card and turns it into either two or three separate different outputs so you can display different things on each monitor. Found Here http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/products/gxm/dh2go/.

 

[shadamus]

What you need is the double header to go or the triple header to go, it takes one input on a video card and turns it into either two or three separate different outputs so you can display different things on each monitor. Found Here http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/products/gxm/dh2go/.

MightyMaxio, the trouble brindall would have with that setup is that he's implied he's got two different target resolutions, and the double or triple headers from Matrox require the same resolution on each monitor. Good to have it listed in this thread for others to check-out, but not a good fit for this user.

 

[brindall]

You can get a USB to Video adapter. These allow you to plug a monitor into a spare USB2.0 or USB3.0 port. However, these are not GPUs with powerful features like hardware video decoding and 3D acceleration -- they are meant for "application" use (e.g. surf the web, run office apps, etc...). We use these at my office so that users can connect 2 external monitors to their laptops (which only have one video output), and use all 3 screens (laptop screen, plus two external monitors).

The devices work great for what you are mentioning -- running a game or playing a video on one screen (attached to your real video adapter), and less intensive apps on another screen (attached to the USB adapter).

They are available in VGA/DVI/HDMI versions, and prices start around $60. Search NewEgg.com (or your favorite retailer) for "USB DVI" or "USB VGA" or "USB HDMI", depending what you're looking for.

Here's one example http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812797002&cm_re=usb_hdmi-_-12-797-002-_-Product

Ah, okay, that seems brilliant, almost too easy to be honest. But i shall look into this, thankyou.