PC to HDTV ???'s

[ZEUS]

So yesterday I bought a Mitsu 60" 1080p DLP TV! The big problem appeared when I tried last night to hook it up to my PC. My monitor was hooked up to the video card with a DVI cable. The motherboard manual tells me that I cannot have dual screens if I want to use one monitor with DVI and the other with HDMI. I went into the BIOS and changed the setting to allow a VGA connection (instead of the DVI) and an HDMI connection in unison. It starts to boot and then gives me an error message saying "POST ERROR!" Then it wants to boot from the last successful configuration. Anyone know what I need to do to get both screens to work? I would rather not have to get a DVI to HDMI cable since I would lose the benefit of HDMI audio. Gurus?

[JAMAS]

are you trying to have shared screens, or cloned screens?

ie: do you want to see 2 different things or the same thing on both screens?

if you are okay with the same thing on both screens....

buy this
http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-Splitter-.../dp/B000FMJLQC

and this
http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Unlimit...0299995&sr=1-4



also....do you have a video card, or is it onboard video?

[ZEUS]

My monitor has 2 single VGA and DVI outputs only.
My TV has 3 HDMI inputs.
My video card has 2 DVI outputs only - Like I said, I have been using this for my monitor.
My motherboard has 1 VGA, 1 DVI, and one HDMI - plus audio spots.

The DVI and HDMI cannot function together according to the motherboard manual, although that would be ideal for both screens. That has proven correct too. I tried hooking up both screens to the motherboard VGA and HDMI ports but it won't complete the boot! Like I was saying, I don't want to have to use the DVI-to-HDMI cable because I would lose digital audio and the HDMI quality to my TV - besides I shouldn't have to. The HDMI splitter you linked to splits the signal strength in half so one screen would maybe work, but not both of them. On top of that, I would have to purchase an HDMI-to-DVI cable for my monitor if it did work. Also, like I mentioned I have seen both screens fire up with the same image so I know I am connected ok but something in the software is fritzin on me during start-up.

are you trying to have shared screens, or cloned screens?

ie: do you want to see 2 different things or the same thing on both screens?

if you are okay with the same thing on both screens....

buy this
http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-Splitter-.../dp/B000FMJLQC

and this
http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Unlimit...0299995&sr=1-4



also....do you have a video card, or is it onboard video?

[JAMAS]

Like I was saying....purchase those two items

Like I was saying.....it should be a cheap MacGyver solution to make it work



send the video out of the hdmi in your motherboard.

then into the hdmi splitter

then connect one port of the splitter to the tv

then connect the other port of the splitter to the hdmi to dvi cable

then connect the dvi cable to your monitor

Like I was saying, this should work

[JAMAS]

Another solution is a new video card that offers both hdmi and dvi outputs


motherboard video is usually half crappy anyway.


....this may prove to be the best quality solution, but I am not sure of your budget.

I really hope this helps.

[ZEUS]

Like I said, thanks for the effort! I think I just tracked down the issue to the motherboard having some software issues regarding the VGA card display order - I won't know if this is the issue until I get home tho and update the drivers, BIOS, and whatnot. Like I was saying, I think it's a software issue so I don't like any of your solutions except for the new video card idea... I am going to go that route at some point anyway, so that I can use the 3D glasses emitter my TV is setup for, which is why I chose this style TV. Right now my PC has a decent video card meant for 3D drafting.... I want to upgrade it into more of a HTPC.

I really do appreciate your posts... like I said!

Like I was saying....purchase those two items

Like I was saying.....it should be a cheap MacGyver solution to make it work



send the video out of the hdmi in your motherboard.

then into the hdmi splitter

then connect one port of the splitter to the tv

then connect the other port of the splitter to the hdmi to dvi cable

then connect the dvi cable to your monitor

Like I was saying, this should work

[JAMAS]

Hold out for this....


http://gizmodo.com/5421136/first-shots-of-boxee-box

[JAMAS]

The HDMI splitter you linked to splits the signal strength in half so one screen would maybe work, but not both of them.

Perhaps a better model may work. I just did a VERY quick search.

[Thmstec]

My monitor has 2 single VGA and DVI outputs only.
My TV has 3 HDMI inputs.
My video card has 2 DVI outputs only - Like I said, I have been using this for my monitor.
My motherboard has 1 VGA, 1 DVI, and one HDMI - plus audio spots.

What I'm reading from this is that you have integrated video in the motherboard AND a video card. Why not hook the monitor up via one of the DVI on the video card, and the TV via the HDMI on the integrated video?

The only problem I see possibly arising in that situation is driver conflicts if you have two different brands of video drivers. (like integrated NVIDIA external ATI or vice-versa) But it is also my understanding that vista or 7 can handle multiple video drivers with no conflict. Last time I tried to run two different cards was back in the XP days.

If you are still struggling with it, the official forum for the motherboard manufacture is often EXTREMELY helpful

[ZEUS]

Sorry guys, I thought I was being more concise than I really was. Thmstec is right tho. And what you recommended is what I initially tried to do but for whatever reason the hardware won't allow the HDMI and DVI hookups at the same time. Thru my current configuration, the only ways to hook up the monitor and the TV seems to be monitor thru VGA and TV thru HDMI or DVI... or both hooked up via DVI.

Anyway, all this is almost a moot point as I was informed what my xmas bonus will be... with that I will be getting a 2nd video card with HDMI and stereoscopic ability specifically for the TV, Windows 7 is required for the 3D hardware so I'll get that stuff too. I built my machine a year ago so it seems like everything else I have will be able to keep up - I still may upgrade a couple things tho.

Bart, I'll be talking nerdy to you on the phone after the holidays - got a lot going on till then...

Thanks for the help, guys!

[nfpgasmask]

Sonuds good. 2 video cards is the way to go, imo!

Bart

[ZEUS]

I would like to clone. The TV and monitor should have the same image.

[JAMAS]

I kept editing that first post after I would think of something else.

I don't know which update you last saw. Hopefully that cheap MacGyver solution will work.

[ZEUS]

I think cost effectiveness is what I am after. And I don't think I have room for two PC's, external hard drive, my receiver, sub, PS2, PS3 (which I finally bought last night and played with until 3:30 this morning) in my entertaiment center, and I would rather not have to buy 2 cases, motherboards, power supplies, keyboards... yada yada yada. With the 2 graphics cards, I think I would abandon the clone screen option and instead use the monitor for tracking downloads while the movie is playing on the TV. I may use torrents or have to render a building or buggy while I am watching a 3D movie and would like to keep the progress in my peripheral - I think more opps would also present themselves after having the setup in place.

[nfpgasmask]

OK, if consolidation is what you are after, then yeah. I have an "office" room at home with a desk and that is where my main computer is so there is no way for my main computer and my TV computer to be one in the same...at least not without some really long wires!!!

I'm so pissed about Sony removing the backwards compatibility of the PS3. I sold my PS2 thinking I will just go out and get the PS3 with the big hard drive and the backwards compatibility but then I get to Best Buy and they tell me they discontinued that one.

I need to get a PS2 again so I can play all my PS2 and PS1 games.

Bart