Splitter Cable or Switch Box?

Question

Would a - 1 male DVI to 2 female DVI - splitter cable (only one video card on the computer) be OK for 2 monitors, or would a Switch Box be better (i.e. would a splitter cable lose power)?

Answer 1

It all depends on what you plan on doing. Using a splitter will send the SAME picture to both monitors. A switchbox will only switch from one monitor to the other. If your looking for a dual display setup, you really need a dual head video card.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I would never use a splitter cable. You are going to mess up the impedances on the line possibly getting no signal, the DDC connection needs to only go to one monitor. I would see these as a bad idea.

A switch box would allow you to connect either one of the monitors at once, but not both at the same time. You can get DVI splitter boxes where the signal is received, buffered and properly retransmitted. But these tend to be expensive.

Unless you have a high power video card probably the best solution for the price is to buy a new dual head video card, and then run it in clone mode rather than an extended desktop.

Answer 3

Yes that would work....a switchbox would bee god if you only plan to use one at a time...