Question about Multiple Monitors

[zeroburn]

I have looked around the internet for answers to this and have found too much contradicting information for me to be sure about this..

Can a DVI Y splitter provide an extended desktop environment (not cloned) to two identical monitors from a single port on a computer??

Seems like a simple question, but there is too much contradiction between other forums and i want to be sure before i invest too far into any project

Also curious, does this still work if it is a HDMI to DVI adapter then plugged into the DVI splitter??

[Lisa_maree]

Hi

The answer is no. The same information will be on both monitors. To get  an extended desktop you would need to outputs from the video card (most modern cards and motherboards have this) or to buy a hardware box that say runs 3 or 4 monitors. which is quite expensive.

[zeroburn]

Is there some sort of software that will make the computer think of two or three displays with a VGA splitter of DVI splitter as a single monitor, with a large resolution??

[quaxo]

Is there some sort of software that will make the computer think of two or three displays with a VGA splitter of DVI splitter as a single monitor, with a large resolution??

Not quite sure what you're saying there, but I think the answer is no.

As was already stated, one output per port. A splitter will only duplicate that same signal. If you want an extended desktop, you will need to plug a cable into each port and to each of the two separate monitors. Nvidia and ATI/AMD cards will only support 2 monitors (provided they have two ports). To give you any advice on this, you'll need to tell us:

1. What is the make and model of your current video card? Or is it a built-in chipset? (if built-in, you will likely need to purchase a graphics card to use multiple displays)

2. What type of and how many output ports are present on your video card?

3. What type of input ports are present on your monitors?

4. Exactly how many monitors do you want to use? (the requirements are different whether you need only 2 screens or 3 or more screens)

[zeroburn]

The graphics do seem to be the built-in chip, being an Intel 965GM.

I am currently running dual, but want to use four screens (on a laptop, and i will probably be criticized for that)

1 VGA and 1 HDMI and the built-in screen

Im hoping that i could get a HDMI to VGA adapter (they are pin-compatible, as i hear) and then get one of those USB external video cards (that is, if both VGA and HDMI ports will work simultaneously)

i have four built-in usb, that i am sure are spread out on two headers on the motherboard, then the standard networking, firewire, and thats about it.

I have both VGA and DVI inputs on my monitors, but not HDMI directly.

I plan to run four screens on final setup.