[Hunter W]

Hi, I've been wanting to setup two monitors. I know a guy who runs a setup using an HDMI splitter connected to the one hdmi input on his laptop and runs on two monitors.
I have a full tower with this gpu:

http://www.amazon.co...9mFL&ref=plSrch

If I got an HDMI splitter for my computer and hooked up two monitors, will that decrease performance in the monitors since it's only sharing one hdmi? If so, would I be forced to use vga? Or could I also use the HDMI port on my mobo?

. Thanks!

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Hello Hunter W,

If you are, indeed, using that graphics card, then all you need to setup two monitors... is a second monitor (and the appropriate [2] cables)!  If you're running Windows 7 on that machine, all you need to do is plug in/hook up the 2nd monitor, boot up the machine, and go Start>Control Panel>Display>Screen Resolution

It should look like this:




The Identify button will cause a big number 1 or 2 to pop up on the respective monitor to let you know which is which and may assist you in the configuration of your displays.


Good luck!

Edited by Fusionbomb, 03 February 2015 - 10:25 PM.

[Fusionbomb]

Hello Hunter W,

If you are, indeed, using that graphics card, then all you need to setup two monitors... is a second monitor (and the appropriate [2] cables)!  If you're running Windows 7 on that machine, all you need to do is plug in/hook up the 2nd monitor, boot up the machine, and go Start>Control Panel>Display>Screen Resolution

It should look like this:




The Identify button will cause a big number 1 or 2 to pop up on the respective monitor to let you know which is which and may assist you in the configuration of your displays.


Good luck!

Edited by Fusionbomb, 03 February 2015 - 10:25 PM.

[Hunter W]

Hello Hunter W,
If you are, indeed, using that graphics card, then all you need to setup two monitors... is a second monitor (and the appropriate [2] cables)!  If you're running Windows 7 on that machine, all you need to do is plug in/hook up the 2nd monitor, boot up the machine, and go Start>Control Panel>Display>Screen Resolution
It should look like this:
The Identify button will cause a big number 1 or 2 to pop up on the respective monitor to let you know which is which and may assist you in the configuration of your displays.
Good luck!

So I need to get a splitter cable? I don't have a second HDMI in my GPU.

[Fusionbomb]

I apologize, I thought I saw two.

1) I've never used a splitter, but can't imagine that it would cause any performance issues.

2) Could also use adapters on the other connection type.

3) I honestly don't know if using one connection on gpu and other on mobo would work... though I would rather go with adapters/splitter.

Edited by Fusionbomb, 04 February 2015 - 05:16 AM.

[iammykyl]

Gday.

You do not need a splitter.  Use any 2 sockets from the video card to matching sockets on the monitors. 

Do you have 2 monitors?   if yes, what brand/models?

What cables came with your GPU?

[Hunter W]

Gday.

You do not need a splitter.  Use any 2 sockets from the video card to matching sockets on the monitors. 

Do you have 2 monitors?   if yes, what brand/models?

What cables came with your GPU?

I have my 1920x1080 HDMI monitor hooked up right now, and I have a few old monitors in my shed that will only take VGA/DVI which I can work with. I will just buy another 1920x1080 HDMI monitor in the future although. Yes I am aware that I need to use 2 sockets but my problem is I don't have 2 HDMI ports in my GPU and I want to make sure I get the fastest display on both monitors.

[terry1966]

just for info,

 

your not actually running dual screens when you use a splitter to connect 2 monitors what your doing is running a single screen that is displayed on 2 monitors.

when running dual screens you can have each monitor display something different, maybe watch a film on one while browsing the web on the other, and as iammykyl has said requires 2 separate video port connections usually.

when you have 2 monitors connected to the same port with a splitter you can only watch a video (or not and browse the web) that will be displayed on both monitors.

 

only with a display port can you daisy chain more than 1 monitor to a single video output port and use each screen individually to display something different.

some links explaining display ports :- 

http://en.wikipedia....iki/DisplayPort

http://www.displaypo...layport-output/

 

 

both dvi and hdmi use digital signals

vga uses an analogue signal.

depending on gpu the dvi port may also output an analogue signal. (dvi is the only connection type that has different signal types and is differentiated by adding -x where x can be a,d or i telling you its signal output type.)

 

so depending on what connection type is on your monitor and what connection type is on your gpu will depend on what type of adapter or cable you will need to connect them both.

 

more info on the different connection types.

hdmi :- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI

dvi :- http://en.wikipedia....isual_Interface

vga :- http://en.wikipedia...._Graphics_Array

Edited by terry1966, 04 February 2015 - 12:37 PM.

[Hunter W]

just for info,

 

your not actually running dual screens when you use a splitter to connect 2 monitors what your doing is running a single screen that is displayed on 2 monitors.

when running dual screens you can have each monitor display something different, maybe watch a film on one while browsing the web on the other, and as iammykyl has said requires 2 separate video port connections usually.

when you have 2 monitors connected to the same port with a splitter you can only watch a video (or not and browse the web) that will be displayed on both monitors.

 

only with a display port can you daisy chain more than 1 monitor to a single video output port and use each screen individually to display something different.

some links explaining display ports :- 

http://en.wikipedia....iki/DisplayPort

http://www.displaypo...layport-output/

 

 

both dvi and hdmi use digital signals

vga uses an analogue signal.

depending on gpu the dvi port may also output an analogue signal. (dvi is the only connection type that has different signal types and is differentiated by adding -x where x can be a,d or i telling you its signal output type.)

 

so depending on what connection type is on your monitor and what connection type is on your gpu will depend on what type of adapter or cable you will need to connect them both.

 

more info on the different connection types.

hdmi :- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI

dvi :- http://en.wikipedia....isual_Interface

vga :- http://en.wikipedia...._Graphics_Array

Ah ok! So I could buy a Display port to HDMI adapter for a dual screen?

[terry1966]

depends, does your gpu have a display port output? if you give us a link to your video card then we can tell you exactly what your options are for running dual displays.

eg.

 

if the 2nd output on your gpu is dvi then you'd simply buy a dvi to hdmi adaptor or cable like this :- http://www.amazon.co...e/dp/B0002CZHN6

 

if the 2nd output port on your gpu is vga then you'd need a signal converter built into the adaptor or cable like this :- http://www.amazon.co...rds=vga to hdmi

 

if the 2nd output is a display port then yes an adaptor cable like this should work. :- http://www.amazon.co...customerReviews

but may need a converter like this depending on plug and play compatibility of both devices:- http://www.amazon.co...e/dp/B0027HYK7S

 

 

the fastest options are always going to be where no signal conversion is required, so a straight dvi to hdmi cable or display port to hdmi cable are going to offer you the best response times.

Edited by terry1966, 04 February 2015 - 01:19 PM.

[Hunter W]

depends, does your gpu have a display port output? if you give us a link to your video card then we can tell you exactly what your options are for running dual displays.

eg.

 

if the 2nd output on your gpu is dvi then you'd simply buy a dvi to hdmi adaptor or cable like this :- http://www.amazon.co...e/dp/B0002CZHN6

 

if the 2nd output port on your gpu is vga then you'd need a signal converter built into the adaptor or cable like this :- http://www.amazon.co...rds=vga to hdmi

 

if the 2nd output is a display port then yes an adaptor cable like this should work. :- http://www.amazon.co...customerReviews

but may need a converter like this depending on plug and play compatibility of both devices:- http://www.amazon.co...e/dp/B0027HYK7S

 

 

the fastest options are always going to be where no signal conversion is required, so a straight dvi to hdmi cable or display port to hdmi cable are going to offer you the best response times.

http://www.amazon.co...9mFL&ref=plSrch

There's thy GPU and I was just saying DP to HDMI if I was going to buy a new monitor.

[Hunter W]

So would this adapter work well?

http://www.amazon.co...dp male to hdmi

[terry1966]

should work just fine but think i'd just get a straight dvi to hdmi cable.

 

at the moment you said you have a 2nd dvi connection monitor you can use, so i'd set that up with a straight dvi to dvi cable,

when you buy the 2nd hdmi monitor (or a display port monitor?) then you can use either a straight dvi to hdmi cable or a straight display port to hdmi cable, etc.

 

here's a better link to the specs of your video card :- http://www.gigabyte....spx?pid=4882#sp

 

Edited by terry1966, 04 February 2015 - 02:02 PM.

[iammykyl]

So would this adapter work well?

http://www.amazon.co...dp male to hdmi

 

As terry said, yes, but take note, "An HDMI cable (sold separately) is required"  

For you new monitor, select one that has Display Port input.

[Hunter W]

So would this adapter work well?
http://www.amazon.co...dp male to hdmi
 

As terry said, yes, but take note, "An HDMI cable (sold separately) is required"  
For you new monitor, select one that has Display Port input.

Why couldn't I do it the other way around? From tower ➡ Display port to HDMI ➡ HDMI to monitor?

[terry1966]

nothing stopping you doing that, just depends on what connections your new monitor will have, but seeing how it's going to be a new monitor sometime in the future, don't see a reason not to buy one with display port input if you want the best performance, depending on it's cost of course.