Using Two Computer Monitors

molotovwars · Post by **molotovwars** » Tue Apr 06, 2004 11:47 pm

My sisters old (and I mean old) computer is preatty worthless in terms of slaving parts, but it does have a decent monitor, and I was wondering if I'd be able to have two monitors hooked into my computer at the same time both putting out the same images.

I'd be good to be able to turn either one a different way to allow someone else a better angle for viewing or just something neat.

would it be a simple matter of splicing a cord or would it be more complex?

please share your thoughts and ideas?

Post by **Quzar** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 1:07 am

you can do this with a spliced cord, but you will need to make sure not to connect the pins for DDC(?) info, because i think the computer would just get garbled signals anyways.

ninja · Post by **ninja** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 2:24 am

It can be done by splicing, on the "slave" monitor, heres a pin-out for the output on the vid card:

1. Red Out
2. Green Out
3. Blue Out
4. Unused
5. Unused
6. Red Return (Ground)
7. Green Return (Ground)
8. Blue Return (Ground)
9. unknown
10. Sync Return (Ground)
11. Monitor ID 0 IN
12. Monitor ID 1 In or data from display
13. Horizontal Sync Cut
14. Vertical Sync
15. Monitor ID 3 in or data clock

Post by **Quzar** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 2:41 am

im pretty sure that you just lose the 11,12 and 15 pins, that way it dosnt confuse between two monitors.

FETUS · Post by **FETUS** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 2:58 pm

well if your mobo has a built in video card it'd be a lot easier just plug another card in

rmbell · Post by **rmbell** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 9:00 pm

my new radeon 9800 pro has two monitor outputs, way easier to hook up 2.

molotovwars · Post by **molotovwars** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 8:35 pm

Does it make a difference that the monitor outputs are different on each of the computer towers, in doing so that the cords for the output are different? Is it still doable?

ninja · Post by **ninja** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 9:48 pm

well, as long as they are both 15 pin VGA / SVGA connectors, shouldnt be a connector. Now, if the older PC uses the old old old 9 pin configuration, then its a whole new ballpark

molotovwars · Post by **molotovwars** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 8:08 am

I'll take a look sometime in the next few days

Juggalo_Jay · Post by **Juggalo_Jay** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 2:11 pm

Connecting two monitors isn't as simple as splicing a cord... the signal will get too weak, I think. Here is a link to a diagram to make a nifty little device to drive two monitors from one signal without loss in signal power (For the 15 pin regular monitor, if that's what you got on both puters).

molotovwars · Post by **molotovwars** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 9:20 pm

ok I just checked, and both of mine are 15 pin, I'm really not that good with electricity and soldering and whatever else may be required in the above link, would someone be able to help me with this, I'd pay for the materials and some for labor, I'd want the cord for the second monitor to be maybe 10 feet - 15 feet away from the first monitor

Boshi · Post by **Boshi** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 6:58 pm

http://bk.2y.net/~boshi/pics/dualie.jpg

there is a pic of my PC. I run two monitors, but not the same picture on both... I just have twice the desktop space.

lucaspiller · Post by **lucaspiller** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 12:30 pm

Wow! Your room is nearly as untidy as mine!

I should think the easiest thing to do would just be buy another video card and a monitor extension cable.

molotovwars · Post by **molotovwars** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 5:12 pm

i'd go out and spend money on this but its not like the other monitor is worh all the trouble, i'd just like to have two hooked up, so i can play movies and ppl at different seats each have their own best view.

@boshi - how can you control what is on each monitor? maybe i'm wrong but it just looks like you have two computers hooked up side by side...

ninja · Post by **ninja** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 5:18 pm

for me, i have an ati radeon 9000. it has your standard 15 pin vga out, as well as an s-video out. anyway, the drivers that came with my card also include a "control panel" applet that allows me to control my 2nd monitor (aka the s-video out). I can set it for either "2nd desktop, clone mode, or theater mode". 2nd desktop is just that, a 2nd desktop that i can drag apps onto, clone mod shows the exact same that happens on the primary monitor, and theater mode will allow me to play a movie on my pc full screen on the 2nd monitor, while still being able to do whatever i please, on the primary. if you do the "cut / splice" technique, there would be some signal loss (im sure this can be fixed however with some sort of video amplifier), and the 2nd monitor would be in a "clone" state since its getting the same signal as the first monitor.

molotovwars · Post by **molotovwars** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 6:14 pm

my desk is the kind that in the center has the area for the monitor, and to the left and right are two raised areas, often used for printers and or scanners. If i wanted to instead place each monitor on the side areas would i still have to worry about a weak signal from just splicing?

revengeofLaEternal · Post by **revengeofLaEternal** » Sun May 16, 2004 1:18 am

Do you want to have the same picture on both monitors (aka "mirroring") or do you want to extend the desktop space onto two monitors? I think you want the latter, but I just want to make sure

If it's the first one, then splicing is the way to go for there's no need for extra hardware (although having the signal amplifier would be good). If it's the latter, then it's dependent on the hardware you have in your computer. It would require either two video cards or one video card that supports two monitors.