Can I hook up my monitor like this???

[fretman]

Right now I have two machines. One supports VGA video and the other supports DVI-D video.

I have one monitor that supports both. I would still like to use both machines in the meantime.

Can I hook up 2 monitor cables at the same time (VGA and DVI-D) and run them to my machines?

I wouldn't be running my machines at the same time but I thought this would eliminate me from having to swap the monitor cables everytime I used a different machine.

I don't really want to try this as I'm not sure if this might damage my monitor.

I hope I was clear in explaining this. Thanks.

 

[Keysplayr]

I don't think it will hurt your monitor, but you will have to use the monitors controls (I think) to choose between analog input (VGA/D-Sub) or digital (DVI). But it should work as you said.

 

[ZimZum]

Depends on the monitor but most modern LCDs have options in the on-screen menus where you can select the input source just like with a television. So its houldnt be a problem.

 

[fretman]

I believe you are both correct. Thanks for the information.

Now here's a follow-up question. Can I have both machines on at the same time. One machine will be plugged into the monitor via VGA port. The other machine will be plugged into the monitor via DVI-D port.

If I have both machines going at the same time then would it be just a matter of selecting the proper input source on my monitor to switch between the two machines?

And would this still work if both machines were connected to to my monitor via VGA port?

Thanks again.

 

[darckhart]

If both machines are on and connect via diff ports (one vga and one dvi), then yes it works just fine (I'm doing that right now.) and all you do is select the input.

Originally posted by: fretman
And would this still work if both machines were connected to to my monitor via VGA port?

I don't quite understand how you will connect both machines into one vga port....

 

[P2Mc28]

I think he means going thru the VGA port on both machines, vs one using VGA and the other using DVI.

I figure it wouldn't matter how you connected them - through an adapter or different cables - just so long as they're correctly connected to independent ports, and your monitor can select between them, it sounds like it would work just fine.

 

[fretman]

Originally posted by: darckhart
If both machines are on and connect via diff ports (one vga and one dvi), then yes it works just fine (I'm doing that right now.) and all you do is select the input.

Originally posted by: fretman
And would this still work if both machines were connected to to my monitor via VGA port?

I don't quite understand how you will connect both machines into one vga port....

Thanks...if you're doing it then I guess it's OK.

As for the VGA port you are right as well. I got confused. My monitor only has one VGA and one DVI-D input jack. However, both machines have video cards that can support VGA.

Good catch.

Hmmm...just realized. I have an adapter jack that can convert the DVI-D input jack to a VGA jack...

 

[fretman]

Originally posted by: P2Mc28
I think he means going thru the VGA port on both machines, vs one using VGA and the other using DVI.

I figure it wouldn't matter how you connected them - through an adapter or different cables - just so long as they're correctly connected to independent ports, and your monitor can select between them, it sounds like it would work just fine.

Yup...you're right. However I got confused and now realize that it has to be DVI-D and VGA and not both VGA as my monitor has 2 input jacks (DVI-D and VGA).

 

[gramboh]

Not that it matters for your config, but if you had two devices with only VGA out, you could buy a VGA switch, plug both cards into it, plug the switch into your LCD's vga input, then use the switch to toggle what was being displayed. /end useless factoid

 

[fretman]

Originally posted by: gramboh
Not that it matters for your config, but if you had two devices with only VGA out, you could buy a VGA switch, plug both cards into it, plug the switch into your LCD's vga input, then use the switch to toggle what was being displayed. /end useless factoid

Thanks for the advice. I have it set up right now where I can swich by touching a button on my LCD monitor....I'll leave it at that for now or I'll get confused again.

 

[Denithor]

If both computers only have VGA outputs you will want to get a KVM switch to link them up. That way you can also only have one mouse/keyboard shared between the two systems instead of a big mess on your desk (or swapping plugs all the time). You just plug the monitor, keyboard and mouse into the KVM and plug it into both computers. Then press a button (do yourself a favor and buy one that has a physical switch instead of keystroke switch) to switch between the two systems while using the same monitor/keyboard/mouse for both.

 

[fretman]

Originally posted by: Denithor
If both computers only have VGA outputs you will want to get a KVM switch to link them up. That way you can also only have one mouse/keyboard shared between the two systems instead of a big mess on your desk (or swapping plugs all the time). You just plug the monitor, keyboard and mouse into the KVM and plug it into both computers. Then press a button (do yourself a favor and buy one that has a physical switch instead of keystroke switch) to switch between the two systems while using the same monitor/keyboard/mouse for both.

That might be something else to think about. Thanks for the suggestion.