Question about DVI and dual monitors

August 10, 2008

Hello!

I want to have two identical Acer AL1917 LCD displays set up as their own

views, and not just a clone. I bought an AGP card with one DVI and one VGA

connector, and when I hook up the displays, the one connected to the VGA

output is FAR less bright than the DVI one, even at max contrast and

brightness. Backgrounds are grey, menu bars are brown instead of grey, etc.

I now want to hook up both to DVI, and I have Googled a little bit and found

references to DVI splitter cables to use with dual monitors. Which is

better, using one DVI output split into two DVI, or buy a dual-DVI card?

Can a dual-display setup work off of one DVI that is split, and still give

independent views? Or would that only work to clone the primary screen to

the secondary screen?

Thank you for your help!

Gregg Hill

August 10, 2008

RE: Question about DVI and dual monitors

Dual DVI cards are set-up for 2 DVI monitors,where as an adapter to VGA

have less capabilities.Also,with 2 monitors running at the same time,try

microsoft windows media professional exhibitor,the utility is specifically

for

2 or more monitors running on a pc.Get

at:http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/AllDownloads.aspx

"Gregg Hill" wrote:

> Hello!

>

> I want to have two identical Acer AL1917 LCD displays set up as their own

> views, and not just a clone. I bought an AGP card with one DVI and one VGA

> connector, and when I hook up the displays, the one connected to the VGA

> output is FAR less bright than the DVI one, even at max contrast and

> brightness. Backgrounds are grey, menu bars are brown instead of grey, etc.

>

> I now want to hook up both to DVI, and I have Googled a little bit and found

> references to DVI splitter cables to use with dual monitors. Which is

> better, using one DVI output split into two DVI, or buy a dual-DVI card?

>

> Can a dual-display setup work off of one DVI that is split, and still give

> independent views? Or would that only work to clone the primary screen to

> the secondary screen?

>

> Thank you for your help!

>

> Gregg Hill

>

August 10, 2008

Re: Question about DVI and dual monitors

"Gregg Hill" <greggmhill at please do not spam me at yahoo dot com> wrote in

message news:upy%23Yby%23IHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> Hello!

>

> I want to have two identical Acer AL1917 LCD displays set up as their own

> views, and not just a clone. I bought an AGP card with one DVI and one VGA

> connector, and when I hook up the displays, the one connected to the VGA

> output is FAR less bright than the DVI one, even at max contrast and

> brightness. Backgrounds are grey, menu bars are brown instead of grey,

> etc.

>

> I now want to hook up both to DVI, and I have Googled a little bit and

> found references to DVI splitter cables to use with dual monitors. Which

> is better, using one DVI output split into two DVI, or buy a dual-DVI

> card?

>

> Can a dual-display setup work off of one DVI that is split, and still give

> independent views? Or would that only work to clone the primary screen to

> the secondary screen?

>

> Thank you for your help!

>

> Gregg Hill

If you split a single signal, all of the devices that recieve it show the

same images. In other words, you will lose the ability to extend the

desktop, and it doesn't sound like this is what you wanted.

Swap the cables between the two displays to determine if the display quality

is related to the displays themselves, or the video card. You may find

that you have to replace some defective hardware.

HTH

-pk

August 10, 2008

Re: Question about DVI and dual monitors

Although not mentioned, I had already swapped to be sure it was not the

displays themselves. Yes, I do want to extend the desktop and not clone it,

so it looks as though I am off to find a dual-DVI card.

Thank you for the input!

Gregg Hill

"Patrick Keenan" <test@dev.null> wrote in message

news:OD8OfJz%23IHA.984@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>

> "Gregg Hill" <greggmhill at please do not spam me at yahoo dot com> wrote

> in message news:upy%23Yby%23IHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>> Hello!

>>

>> I want to have two identical Acer AL1917 LCD displays set up as their own

>> views, and not just a clone. I bought an AGP card with one DVI and one

>> VGA connector, and when I hook up the displays, the one connected to the

>> VGA output is FAR less bright than the DVI one, even at max contrast and

>> brightness. Backgrounds are grey, menu bars are brown instead of grey,

>> etc.

>>

>> I now want to hook up both to DVI, and I have Googled a little bit and

>> found references to DVI splitter cables to use with dual monitors. Which

>> is better, using one DVI output split into two DVI, or buy a dual-DVI

>> card?

>>

>> Can a dual-display setup work off of one DVI that is split, and still

>> give independent views? Or would that only work to clone the primary

>> screen to the secondary screen?

>>

>> Thank you for your help!

>>

>> Gregg Hill

>

> If you split a single signal, all of the devices that recieve it show the

> same images. In other words, you will lose the ability to extend the

> desktop, and it doesn't sound like this is what you wanted.

>

> Swap the cables between the two displays to determine if the display

> quality is related to the displays themselves, or the video card. You

> may find that you have to replace some defective hardware.

>

> HTH

> -pk

>

August 10, 2008

Re: Question about DVI and dual monitors

I will take a look.

Thank you!

Gregg Hill

"Andrew E." <eckrichco@msn.com> wrote in message

news:111C8312-FD8A-4866-A79B-4BD3A8C4AE66@microsoft.com...

> Dual DVI cards are set-up for 2 DVI monitors,where as an adapter to VGA

> have less capabilities.Also,with 2 monitors running at the same time,try

> microsoft windows media professional exhibitor,the utility is specifically

> for

> 2 or more monitors running on a pc.Get

> at:http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/AllDownloads.aspx

>

> "Gregg Hill" wrote:

>

>> Hello!

>>

>> I want to have two identical Acer AL1917 LCD displays set up as their own

>> views, and not just a clone. I bought an AGP card with one DVI and one

>> VGA

>> connector, and when I hook up the displays, the one connected to the VGA

>> output is FAR less bright than the DVI one, even at max contrast and

>> brightness. Backgrounds are grey, menu bars are brown instead of grey,

>> etc.

>>

>> I now want to hook up both to DVI, and I have Googled a little bit and

>> found

>> references to DVI splitter cables to use with dual monitors. Which is

>> better, using one DVI output split into two DVI, or buy a dual-DVI card?

>>

>> Can a dual-display setup work off of one DVI that is split, and still

>> give

>> independent views? Or would that only work to clone the primary screen to

>> the secondary screen?

>>

>> Thank you for your help!

>>

>> Gregg Hill

>>

August 10, 2008

Re: Question about DVI and dual monitors

personally I prefer the dual DVI card.

currently use ATI HD 2900 XT.

works great.

mikeyhsd@sprintpcs.com

"Gregg Hill" <greggmhill at please do not spam me at yahoo dot com> wrote in message news:upy%23Yby%23IHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...