Monitor set up question with Vegas...

GFFmatt wrote on 11/7/2009, 7:01 PM
Hey folks-

I've got a GTX 260 vid card with dual DVI (no HDMI).

I'm running two monitors with this card.

I'd like to add a 19" Vizio HDTV so that I can preview the look on a regular screen, and I've seen this output option in the Vegas Pro 9 software, but I need a better idea of how to run all 3 outputs.

Is it possible to run a DVI splitter off of one of the vid card DVI outs to run my monitors and then run a DVI-HDMI cable to the TV? Is anyone running a similar set up? Tips...anyone?

Thanks!

Comments

ushere wrote on 11/7/2009, 9:52 PM
from what i gather, and i'm about to put it into practice, the easiest way is to get another (cheap) vid card (same manuf as existing card. eg nvidia) with hdmi out and run a third monitor from that.

leslie
farss wrote on 11/7/2009, 10:32 PM
I thought DVI to HDMI adaptors are pretty simple and readily obtainable as are HDMI and DVI splitters.

A Google found heaps of adpators and cables.
Amazon has DVI splitter cables at under $15.

Of course all this assumes you're running both monitors at the same resolution. Plus of course there's no audio output on DVI.

Bob.
TheHappyFriar wrote on 11/8/2009, 5:01 AM
Win XP lets you mix vid card series (the drivers can be different), Vista & (from what I've read) 7 require the same video driver (so they can be different cards but require the same driver). So you may require another 260 series card, not sure.

A splitter won't help: it will take your monitor #2 & put it on two screens. Then you might as well just preview on Monitor #2. A second card is what you want. Most cards (at least all retail ATI I've seen) includes DVI->HDMI converters. But there's no difference in quality so go with whatever cables you have. :)
MPM wrote on 11/8/2009, 10:46 AM
IMHO there's too many potential Gotcha's to avoid some quality time with Google -- see what you can find [perhaps starting with the AVS forums] on someone running dual cards using the hardware you have & may want to add.

Splitters as already posted would make your TV & 2nd monitor show the exact same thing -- if that's all you want easier to just use a 2nd monitor capable of the same display as the TV. Replacing your card with one that has dual DVI + HDMI, you'd have to make sure it can run all 3 at the same time -- not sure that's possible as most cards are limited to 2 AFAIK.

Adding a card with HDMI, I'd be cautious about conflicting drivers -- If your current card has HDCP [even though no HDMI] for HDTVs, that means it handles audio too. Add a 2nd card with HDCP, along with it's audio handling, & it could potentially be a mess to work with IMHO. There are already enough potential problems driving a HDTV via HDMI I'd definitely want to read about someone else running the same 2 cards before I bought the 2nd.
farss wrote on 11/8/2009, 1:15 PM
There's plenty of good reasons to clone a monitor e.g. client monitor. Would you want a 60" HDTV on your desk.

Bob.
TheHappyFriar wrote on 11/8/2009, 8:06 PM
Would you want a 60" HDTV on your desk.

YES! :D
JJKizak wrote on 11/9/2009, 5:05 AM
The Matrox Parhelia card will do what you want if you can afford it.
JJK
RZ wrote on 11/9/2009, 7:59 AM
What about BMD Intensity Pro or AJA Xena. Would they be a reasonable alternative to out put on a 42 inch TV?
TheHappyFriar wrote on 11/9/2009, 8:24 AM
they would be good: GTX 260: $165 with 1x HDMI & DVI.
BMD: $185, HDMI+SD/analog out.

But does that BMD work with Vegas's preview? The vid card you're guaranteed to, and it can servce as a 3rd/4th monitor. The BMD it preview output only.
MPM wrote on 11/9/2009, 11:06 AM
>"There's plenty of good reasons to clone a monitor e.g. client monitor. Would
> you want a 60" HDTV on your desk."

For editing I'd assume you'd want it on/near your desk, & at 19" that's PC monitor size ["I'd like to add a 19" Vizio HDTV so that I can preview the look on a regular screen,"] -- in fact I think the main difference between the Vizio 19 & a PC monitor with HDMI/HDCP (& of course HD rez) would be the tuners. So, if you wanted to sacrifice your 2nd monitor to previewing, why have a 3rd monitor at your desk showing the same thing you could accomplish with 2?

Once you get over the 30" mark it does make sense to have the HDTV screen a ways away to match viewer habits, optimal viewing distances etc, so sacrificing a monitor to cloning isn't so much of a sacrifice at all -- I'm sure someone can do it, but I can't watch 3 screens when 1 is in another direction. ;-)

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>"The Matrox Parhelia card will do what you want if you can afford it."

So can a ~$50 m/board with graphics/HDMI on-board plus a cheap graphics card. ;-)

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>"What about BMD Intensity Pro or AJA Xena. Would they be a reasonable
> alternative to out put on a 42 inch TV? "

As long as you're paying for it, & not me. ;-)
AFAIK the cheapest route for 3 or more displays is a m/board with built-in graphics [they start around $50 last I looked] with a regular graphics card (same brand) added on. 2nd cheapest is 2 graphics cards on a m/board with 2 or more graphics card slots [they start around $100]. 3rd because I believe, or AFAIK etc it's harder to find, 1 regular graphics card plus one that's compatible for non-graphics slots [pci/pci-e].

BTW, depending on what you use your PC for [i.e. gaming in off-hours or whatever], running 2 cards or a card + m/board graphics, they don't have to be the same model/quality/horsepower, as long as they're compatible. You can even run different ATI cards/chips crossfire, but verify compatibility before you buy.