Dual monitors on VGA splitter?

[Viper87227]

I am currently running 2 monitors, and have a 3rd sitting around id like to hook up...i had planned on a cheap PCI video card, but then I thought, what about a VGA Splitter, something like this....

http://i13.ebayimg.com/03/i/02/60/d2/c2_1_b.JPG

would getting that allow me to use 3 monitors on one card, or do I have to get a 2nd card?

 

[Kruzin]

A VGA splitter will only give you a duplicate(clone) of the port it's hooked to.
So, if what you want is 2 monitors displaying the same thing, it will work. If you want to extend your desktop to a 3rd display, you need another card.

 

[nexus_7]

Matrox parhelia.

I got one. it is basicaly a 8500.

not what you were looking for I am sure.

Greg

 

[archevilangel]

I've heard of people getting a vga splitter work w/ 2 different displays on a all in wonder card w/ only 1 output, but the only reason that works is because it has 2 ramdacs still. There aren't 3 ramdacs on normal cards, so I would have to say it wouldn't work to drive 3 displays off a card other than a parhelia(or any of the other specialized multimonitor cards). Best bet would be to get a pci card.

 

[Kruzin]

Matrox parhelia.

I got one. it is basicaly a 8500.

not what you were looking for I am sure.

Greg

I run a Parhelia myself.
Triplehead, surround gaming goodness.

I've heard of people getting a vga splitter work w/ 2 different displays on a all in wonder card w/ only 1 output, but the only reason that works is because it has 2 ramdacs still. There aren't 3 ramdacs on normal cards, so I would have to say it wouldn't work to drive 3 displays off a card other than a parhelia(or any of the other specialized multimonitor cards). Best bet would be to get a pci card.

That is not a simple splitter. That's a breakout cable (aka 'dongle'). Same way Parhelia runs 3 CRTs off 2 DVI ports. One DVI port can carry the info of 2 traditional db-15 ports. So, with a proper breakout cable, 1 DVI can run 2 VGA (provided the card is designed that way).

 

[ameoba]

Not to mention that, since your splitting an analog signal in half, each monitor is only getting half the original signal (power-wise) so you're likely to see some degradation in image quality.