DVI question

[wanderica]

Hello all,
First of all, this is my first post here. I have been lurking for a few months while researching my first computer build.

The question is:
If the LCD monitor I have only has 1 DVI connection, can I use a DVI switch to connect both an HDTV receiver and my computer?

Kindof a n00b question, but then . . . I am a n00b after all.

I was looking at this switch from newegg.
Cables To Go - 2-Port DVI PS/2 KVM Switch

I'm not married to this switch. It is just to serve as an example.

Any and all Ideas are appreciated. Thanks in advance for your input.

wanderica

 

[Twsmit]

I am by no means an expert, but wouldnt something like this be alot cheaper?

http://www.pccables.com/01700.htm

(I just googled this randomely)

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Twsmit
I am by no means an expert, but wouldnt something like this be alot cheaper?

http://www.pccables.com/01700.htm

(I just googled this randomely)

I'm pretty sure those are specifically designed for matrox cards. It looks like the single end of that is not a DVI connection, but a proprietary matrox conneciton.

wanderica, welcome to AT.

I think a DVI switch should work for you. I haven't tried one though. I've seen some people have trouble sometimes in general using a monitor as a display for HDTV, but I don't have any specific advice to give.

Just thinking... does your monitor have DVI and VGA input or just DVI?

 

[Mday]

yeah, that would be something you would use. the only thing is, does your HDTV receiver output DVI-HDCP (high-def digital copyright protection, or something like that). Since you are BUILDING it, i am not sure what components you have already. For the most part, computer LCDs do not support DVI-HDCP which means, if you plug in any source that outputs DVI-HDCP, you will only see a blue screen on your LCD. HDCP encodes the video signal, so unless your LCD, or TV, is HDCP compatible, you're out of luck.

 

[wanderica]

I am by no means an expert, but wouldnt something like this be alot cheaper?

I looked at something like that as well.

shown here

The only problem I have with that is I want to be able to switch between the feed, because I want to use the monitor for my computer and television.

 

[Joony]

those cables are for single output Nvidia Quadro workstation graphics cards. It's used because some of their video cards are low profile and you can't really fit dual DVI heads into a low profile card hence the dense connector.

 

[wanderica]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Twsmit
I am by no means an expert, but wouldnt something like this be alot cheaper?

http://www.pccables.com/01700.htm

(I just googled this randomely)

I'm pretty sure those are specifically designed for matrox cards. It looks like the single end of that is not a DVI connection, but a proprietary matrox conneciton.

wanderica, welcome to AT.

I think a DVI switch should work for you. I haven't tried one though. I've seen some people have trouble sometimes in general using a monitor as a display for HDTV, but I don't have any specific advice to give.

Just thinking... does your monitor have DVI and VGA input or just DVI?

The monitor is the 2405 FPW from dell, and yes it does have DVI and VGA, as well as component and composite inputs.

 

[wanderica]

Originally posted by: Mday
yeah, that would be something you would use. the only thing is, does your HDTV receiver output DVI-HDCP (high-def digital copyright protection, or something like that). Since you are BUILDING it, i am not sure what components you have already. For the most part, computer LCDs do not support DVI-HDCP which means, if you plug in any source that outputs DVI-HDCP, you will only see a blue screen on your LCD. HDCP encodes the video signal, so unless your LCD, or TV, is HDCP compatible, you're out of luck.

Hmmm. Not sure about HDCP. Will have to find out. Is that common? I have never even heard of it.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Try searching for 2405 threads. There are several already out there (mainly in video) where people are trying to attempt this sort of thing.

I haven't really gone into them because it doesn't really interest me.

I was thinking if you had vga and dvi inputs, you could use the vga for comptuer and dvi for your HDTV receiver... since you have more inputs on that 2405 maybe dvi from comptuer and component from the hdtv receiver? You could try it at least, no harm in that.

 

[wanderica]

Checked out the video section. Numerous threads on this monitor. Looks like the easiest thing to do is to just run the comp in vga. Thanks for all the help.