How can I use a DVI splitter cable on 1 DVI port?

Question

I have a GTX 275 video card with 2 DVI ports. I already run 2 monitors, but I've seen cables that plug into one DVI port and split into 2 more connectors.

Is there some special trick to getting this to work with my card so I could have up to 4 monitors running? I don't really want to buy the adapter until I know that it will work (or not work as it may be).

Answer 1

Unfortunately a splitter will just mirror the display on 2 monitors. You will need something like the dualhead2go devices from Matrox to do what you're talking about.

Answer 2

It is quite possible that the cables you saw were not plugging into a normal DVI port, but into a DMS-59 port (especially if you saw it on a Dell). DVI and DMS-59 look quite similar unless you look close enough, but the DMS-59 connector has in fact the equivalent of two full DVI connectors, and thus needs the split cable (you cannot directly plug a DVI cable into a DMS-59 port; it will not fit).

These ports are normally used so a smaller card can be used for two DVI or VGA monitors (Dell likes using half-height cards on some models).

Answer 3

Your card has two Dual Link DVI connectors (see Wikipedia page here). However, a Dual Link DVI connector cannot output two independent displays -- it is used for driving higher-resolution monitors (2560 × 1600 as opposed to 1920 × 1200 on Single Link DVI).

Answer 4

You cannot split a single DVI port to two monitors. I have seen splitters on video cards (like the Dell I am on now), but it's not connected to a DVI (though it looks roughly the same size), but another style of connector to two DVI's. I do recall seeing a splitter from a DVI to two DVI's but it wasn't used for two monitors but for a monitor which required two DVI inputs.

Answer 5

Best way out would be to use either a dvi splitter or a vga splitter

Answer 6

A 4 port dvi splitter would be the best choice in your situation.

Answer 7

What is the difference between driving two monitors through DVI and driving them through VGA (with respect to using a splitter)? I have card in my PC at work that uses one VGA output through a splitter into the DVI port of two monitors. The card gives me the ability to extend the monitor, so that I can have different images on each screen (very nice!!)

Answer 8

I have an iMac and HP 2009m monitor. I just installed the mini DVI cable to VGA from imac to HP monitor. I didn't have to make any change on Mac side every thing is working perfectly. On Windows 7 I was having some issue where I have the duplicate image and could really use the mouse interdependently from a monitor to the other. Here is the solution:

In Windows 7:

• Right click your Desktop
• Click Screen resolution
• Change the appearance of your desktop
• Display, I choose the imac Monitor Color LCD)
• Resolution, 1980 8 1080 depends what urs is.
• Orientation: Landscape
• Multiple Displays: Extend these displays

Click Apply Ok..Done.