Dual Monitors Help

[Reverend Turk]

Ok, I have two computers. One that is an online comouter for email, the other is our new programming box. It is offline.

 

I have two new Dell Monitors. I curerently have one monitor run to each box and use a KVM switch to bounce the keyboard and mouse from one to the other.

 

I would like to run dual monitors on each box, that way I have a bigger window to use Mastercam in..plus..it is just much cooler.

 

I have a Quadro 1700 in he online box and a Quadro 1800 in the new box.

 

What else would I need to accomplish this so that I can have dual monitors on each box other than a dual monitor KVM switch?

 

I hope I stated this clear enough. I am not a computer genius but know enough to get in trouble.

[3R!< W3NG3R]

I think you have two options. Get a KVM switch that supports 2 monitors (I have one and it works good) or get another 2 monitors. There is no other way to use 2 monitors on each box.

[Reverend Turk]

Yes, I was thinking of using the KVM switch that supports dual monitors...but how do I hook them up? Just run the monitors to the KVM switch?

 

And will the graphics card be bogged down by the dual monitor set up?

[Jayson Kramer]

Dell monitors if they are like the 22 " wide have two inputs so you can run both computers that way. so on the second input being Analog connect one computer and on the Digital connections connect the other.

[Reverend Turk]

Jay you lost me a bit. I am using the Dell 22" monitors. If I run a dual monitor KVM switch I just hook them both up to that right?

[Matthew Hajicek - Singularity]

Yep. Both monitors run to the KVM, then four cables from the KVM, 2 to each computer. The video cards should each have two ports. No, this won't slow down your video cards.

[Reverend Turk]

So the Nvidia Quatro 1800 does indeed have two ports?

[Reverend Turk]

Any suggestions as tyo which KVM switch to go with?

 

I was looking at this

 

http://www.kvms.com/Product/EXT-VGA-422.aspx

[bogusmill]

You might want to look a little closer. Are your video cards for 1 VGA & 1 DVI port? If so you may have trouble. That type viedo card did fine for me with dual 21" CRT's but wouldnt run dual 24" DVI dual link wide screens.

 

Your monitors have 1 of each port but your better off using just the DVI ports. Forget using the buttons on the monitor to switch between inputs. I bet you have to push a button several times to navigate menus and select input. So since you must use a KVM switch you gotta find one that will work with DVI-D which is a dual link digital connection. The switch you want says its VGA and DVI (analog) and other switches state DL or dual link. this one doesn't. You'll need a different KVM and some DVI/VGA adapters. Have fun!

[Reverend Turk]

Seeing how you lost me with the VGA vs DVI....I need help.

 

I have a Quadro 1800 in one and a 1500 in the other.

[Matthew Hajicek - Singularity]

A given card spec, such as a 9800 GT or a Quadro 1800 can be made by several different companies, like MSI or EVGA or BFG. These companies may also have different versions of those cards with different ports and such.

 

A VGA port is the old-fashioned monitor port with 15 pins and a trapezoidal plug. A DVI port is the new digital monitor port (Digital Video Interface) that most flat panels use. Here:

 

 

The white one on the left is DVI, the blue one on the right is VGA.

[Reverend Turk]

It is Nvidia.

Thanks I think. Time to do some more research

[Reverend Turk]

Ok, is this better?

 

http://www.pcnation.com/web/details.asp?af...306&item=N27888