2 DVI connections from 1 DVI port

**ayclens** · 04-19-2006, 01:12 AM

Not for my CarPC, but a general hardware (video) question that I can't find an answer for...

I need to connect 2 DVI displays (Dell 2405 monitor and Infocus 4805 projector) to a video card (ATI Radeon X300) with only 1 DVI port.

Is it possible to accomplish this? If so, how? I know there are DVI switches, but they seem to be $250+ and are geared for home theatre use rather than PC use.

Thanks

**nkotch** · 04-19-2006, 01:19 AM

After some searching that's all I see to (expensive splitter boxes).... it is a digital signal so there's going to have to be some circuitry involved to keep the signal up.

It's probably not an option but could convert to 15pin analog video connection and those splitters are cheaper.

**greenman100** · 04-19-2006, 01:42 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-DVI-M-to-2-x...QQcmdZViewItem

FTW?

**nkotch** · 04-19-2006, 02:26 AM

Hmm... good find. If you end up trying it let us know how it works.

**ayclens** · 04-19-2006, 02:00 PM

I didn't want to mention it in the original post just so I kept it simple, but I bought one of those DVI splitters from monoprice. It doesn't work as is. Both displays (monitor and projector) won't work at the same time.

That makes me ask the question - what application is that splitter intended for since it doesn't seem to actually "split" my DVI signal? Is the splitting ability possibly limited by my video card? In other words, do some video card's chipsets allow for attaching a DVI splitter and others don't?

My card has a DVI output as well as a VGA output so it seems that it has 2 separate display controllers....I just don't understand how to get those 2 outputs to be DVI!

**greenman100** · 04-19-2006, 02:05 PM

link to "monoprice" DVI splitter?

**ayclens** · 04-19-2006, 11:43 PM

Monoprice Link

**Jahntassa** · 04-20-2006, 10:14 AM

In your case, what's the press to use DVI with the projector? In the environment you're in, will you see the difference, and will it matter? With the LCD, I can understand..

I'd try seeing if you can clone the display between the DVI and VGA ports, don't bother trying to split the DVI signal. Sometimes the simplest method is best.

Unless you want to go out and get a new video card that supports dual DVI outputs.

**nkotch** · 04-20-2006, 12:28 PM

I was a little skeptical of that monoprice unit because it's just a cable splitter.... as opposed to the powered splitter boxes I saw everywhere else. I'm pretty sure those will work for you, but it's just a lot of $$$. I know you split the output because that's what a lot of electronic stores do to split Hi-Def DVI tv to multiple TV's on the showroom.

**ayclens** · 04-20-2006, 02:24 PM

After reading some responses here it seems that the best thing to do may be to buy a new video card that supports dual DVI outputs.

I was hoping that I just wasn't aware of some sort of easy way to accomplish the task at hand, but it sounds like NO

Thanks for the responses guys, and if anyone has any other ideas - by all means respond here

I'm still wondering what application that monoprice splitter is supposed to be used for since it doesn't seem to work for the most obvious application...