Is there a way to take an HDMI out port from a laptop and buy a converter that will change it to a VGA for dual monitors?

8/23/2010 3:10:43 PM

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4311588 ($7)



+

2 of these

8/23/2010 3:17:39 PM

^ this would result in one huge display I would think. Would windows 7 be able to detect two monitors coming from one port? I would probably only use one port and keep the VGA plugged into the other outlet.

8/23/2010 3:21:09 PM

i've never tried this particular combination, but since i've successfully used DVI-to-dual-VGA cables before, and it's worked without any trouble, i assume it would work

HDMI/DVI is smart enough, as long as the driver supports the configuration...that depends on the chip...what have you got?

8/23/2010 3:33:08 PM

Quote :

"but since i've successfully used DVI-to-dual-VGA cables before, and it's worked without any trouble"

cool, I'll try it then. I figured it would be like the VGA splitters out there and it would treat it was one giant screen and make the desktop stretch across the whole screen not split it like it would if you had two outs on a video card.

8/23/2010 3:41:10 PM

VGA, being analog, is a lot "dumber," though, so you should get better results going from digital to analog

if your chip manufacturer doesn't include a utility, you may need something like ultramon (or whatever)

8/23/2010 3:48:31 PM

Monoprice sold me two HDMI to VGA cables for $4. But they didn't work because VGA does not support HDCP, as I suspected but wanted to make sure :-)

[Edited on August 23, 2010 at 4:37 PM. Reason : .,.]

8/23/2010 4:36:22 PM

btw the card in the notebook is a ATI Mobility Radeon 5650

I've got two DVI monitors laying around, I'll just buy the cable and leave the converters out for now.



[Edited on August 23, 2010 at 4:41 PM. Reason : d]

8/23/2010 4:38:30 PM

My brain is about to explode at the thought of this request.

Also, I just lost all respect for quagmire02 forever about all things technology related. You are suggesting that it's possible to go from DIGITAL to ANALOG through JUST cables?

To the OP: No, this will not work at all.

HDMI is a PURELY DIGITAL connection

DVI is a hybrid connection support DVI-I (digital+analog), DVI-D (digital) and DVI-A (analog). DVI->VGA adapters work because they use the DVI-A pins.

If you buy all this shit, you will get nothing to work.

You *CAN* do HDMI -> DVI, but there's no way in hell you're going to get HDMI -> dual DVI. To be clear, you will get two screens with exactly the same content on it. Not two independent screens.

[Edited on August 23, 2010 at 11:44 PM. Reason : .]

8/23/2010 11:41:58 PM

What about USB -> DVI connectors, worth a damn?

8/23/2010 11:46:17 PM

^ I doubt it.

Quote :

"To be clear, you will get two screens with exactly the same content on it. Not two independent screens."

8/24/2010 3:15:19 AM

Can't ATI's Hydravision distinguish the monitors connected by one cable?

I'm actually interested in this because I've thought about adding more monitors to my setup.

8/24/2010 3:27:01 AM

[Edited on August 24, 2010 at 7:35 AM. Reason : .]

8/24/2010 7:35:04 AM

Quote :

"Also, I just lost all respect for quagmire02 forever about all things technology related."

oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit! no way! some computer geek who was a loser in high school and is a loser in his adult life, some dumbass who has to compensate for his complete inability to get laid with multiple pathetic attempts to make it seem like his one-of-thousands role at microsoft makes him special in some way other than being yet another drone...he doesn't RESPECT me?

WHATEVER WILL I DO?

oh, yeah, i guess i'll go get married in 3 weeks, then spend 2 weeks in europe having sex (with a living woman that doesn't charge by the hour, mind you...ever met one of those?) in the alps and on the cliffs of cinque terre on the mediterranean, then come back and continue to work on my phd contributing something unique to world

but trust me, Noen, the majority of my time will now be spent dwelling on the fact that some short fuck in a lotus DOESN'T RESPECT ME

8/24/2010 7:48:31 AM

u mad?

8/24/2010 8:24:32 AM

yes, of course

i will now be consumed by how much i am not respected

8/24/2010 8:31:43 AM

Quote :

"What about USB -> DVI connectors, worth a damn?"

they work well for what they are, which is a way to get extra NON-ACCELERATED screen real estate. so if you need another monitor for just text, they're nice.

8/24/2010 8:32:37 AM

Totally lame comeback ITT

8/24/2010 8:33:41 AM

Quote :

"they work well for what they are, which is a way to get extra NON-ACCELERATED screen real estate. so if you need another monitor for just text, they're nice."

Pretty much all it will would ever see would be excel, youtube videos, and outlook on it.

Quote :

"Can't ATI's Hydravision distinguish the monitors connected by one cable?"

Good point, will try this as well.

8/24/2010 8:42:53 AM

VGA, being analog, is a lot "dumber."

8/24/2010 9:56:41 AM

nothing dumb about analog you hater!!

i also find it really amusing to see noen called short. hahahaa

8/24/2010 10:21:32 AM

6'4" ain't jack to someone who's 6'9"

8/24/2010 10:46:55 AM

Hahaha dipshit. I live with my gorgeous and amazing girlfriend, 6'4" is in no way short

Just like this thread, your flame is also full of all kinds of fail

8/24/2010 10:59:53 AM

8/24/2010 11:03:25 AM

this thread is hilarious. when i first saw the OP i was going to respond with Noen's response = can't do it without a converter box, but i'm so glad i waited...

8/24/2010 11:14:49 AM

Quote :

"I live with my gorgeous and amazing girlfriend"

did she start out as your per-hour escort to your high school reunion? where IS that thread...hmmm?

can we lock this thread, or should we continue for fun?

8/24/2010 11:41:30 AM

I went to my reunion solo, though that thread was a lot of fun

And I met her the night before the reunion, she didn't go to my high school.

8/24/2010 4:11:01 PM

insecure nerds trying to sound happy ITT

8/24/2010 4:16:31 PM

8/24/2010 9:31:06 PM

got these things in:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4266219&CatId=466



Anyway, it's awesome, works perfectly, problem solved. Carry on.

8/26/2010 11:54:13 AM