Dvi splitters on ebay

ageary08

I recently got a hdtv which I would like to hook up to my pc. Theres no vga in, but fortunately for me it I can just use a hdmi to dvi converter. The next problem is that I am already running a dual head setup so I dont have a free dvi connector. I found some Dvi splitters on ebay for around 10 euro ( http://cgi.ebay.ie/DVI-Splitter-Cable-DVI-D-to-2xDVI_W0QQitemZ360088562933QQihZ023QQcategoryZ41999QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem ) .

Has anybody got experiance with one of these cables ? I dont want to blow up a monitor, a computer and a hdtv just because somebody on the internets thought you can just solder a bunch of cables together and it will just work.

zilog_jones

I think those kinds of splitters are for outputting to two displays from one source - I'm not sure if that's what you want. What are you trying to do exaclty?

ageary08

zilog_jones wrote: »

I think those kinds of splitters are for outputting to two displays from one source - I'm not sure if that's what you want. What are you trying to do exaclty?

A DVI splitter will do the job for me i think, I want to swap the hdtv with a monitor, currently I just unplug one monitors cable and put in the hdtv. What I dont know is will it work well, I thought as its all digital and new fangled DVI/HDMI wouldnt support a good old fashioned Y splitter.

zilog_jones

Well like any simple splitter like that you're dividing the signal so may have trouble at high resolutions. I dunno how robust DVI signals are in this respect. You may be better off with a switch box but I've only seen these for the other way round i.e. two inputs for one display. Maybe there's ones for your purpose too, or maybe they work the other way round too...

ageary08

I took a chance and got one for 10 squid, problem is, doesnt work as I had hoped it would. I think the problem lies with the graphics card/windows more than the splitter, and the fact I am using a monitor / HDTV which are two different beasts when it comes to video signals (not to say its impossible though). I have gotten the same video signal on both displays at once, which is quite impressive as the hdtv is at the end of a 10 meter hdmi cable. The main problem is that if I just have the monitor on its own in the splitter, or the HDTV and monitor but the HDTV is off then it doesn`t pick up the monitor.

This a pain as I just want to have the splitter sitting there, and when I feel like it can just turn on the hdtv and flip over to the resolution that suits that and play a game or whatever. The interesting thing is that the HDTV will display the 1650x1050 signal that the monitor uses along with a bit of overscan, I`m guessing it drops some pixels, I have to flip over to a custom resoltuon of 1280x720 to get the whole image. I guess Ill have to do some serious tinkering with powerstrip or the like to get it working right.

Cuddlesworth

I think you are looking for something along the lines of a video switch, more akin to a KVM swith then the older style of analouge splitters. Something like the following

http://www.amazon.co.uk/2-Port-DVI-D-Switch-Audio/dp/B000IAI57C

ageary08

A switch is 2 devices to 1 display, I am after 1 device to 2 displays, the cable fits the bill but falls a bit short due to the way it works.

Cuddlesworth

I see your point, you are looking for a single input to dual output. They exist but they are amazing expensive considering how much the opposite costs. Here's one a found from looking quickly.

http://www.converters.tv/products/hdmi_converters_555.html

Its HDMI but there should be a Dvi one somewhere for cheaper.



The cable you currently have would work correctly if both displays were the exact same, since Dvi devices put out and receive a identifier signal.

ageary08

Yea, the splitter cable seems to cause some issues, the main annoyance is that it wont pick up my monitor unless the hdtv is also hooked up and turned on. Guess I should have splurged a bit more on a hdtv with a vga in, oh well.