[ale] Best way of setting up a 2nd monitor.

Scott Castaline skotchman at gmail.com
Mon Dec 27 10:06:37 EST 2010 

On 12/27/2010 08:50 AM, Greg Clifton wrote:
> DVI & HDMI are the same DIGITAL signal but HDMI incorporates sound 
> along with video. As others have said, if you are running a 30' video 
> cable, you want to go with a digital signal, not an analog one as with 
> VGA. Finding a 30' VGA cable won't be easy or cheap (should be made 
> with high quality low impedance cable), but a 30' HDMI cable 
> (purchased locally) will probably take your breath away. For cables 
> such as that, Ebay is your friend. You might also try monoprice.com 
> <http://monoprice.com>. I haven't scouted them for HDMI, but have 
> purchased hundreds of 3 wire fan extension cables from them. BTW, you 
> do NOT need a Monster Cable or other such premium cable for HDMI. In 
> fact, from what I have seen, the cheaper cables have performed as well 
> as or better than the high dollar HDMI cables in head to head tests. 
> Basically, the noise that is such a problem with an analog signal is 
> ignored in digital signal and either the cable works or it doesn't. 
> One further note, HDMI devices have a communication link that "tells" 
> the source (video card, DVD player, etc.) what the display is capable 
> of so you get something on the order of an auto-configuration. 
> Finally, HDMI cables have a pretty weak connector that is easily 
> broken if bent. I have noticed some HDMI cables that have a swivel on 
> the end which should help prevent breakage.
> GC
>
> On Sun, Dec 26, 2010 at 6:04 PM, Scott Castaline <skotchman at gmail.com 
> <mailto:skotchman at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>     On 12/26/2010 05:06 PM, Richard Bronosky wrote:
>     >
>     > For your longer run I would suggest using a DVI to HDMI cable. The
>     > digital is more tolerant than the analog VGA. But, before you buy a
>     > long cable, try your tv out and make sure it doesn't overscan. I
>     have
>     > a sharp that always overscans the HDMI but not the VGA.
>     >
>     I have a VIZIO 22" and tried with an existing VGA (8ft) cable that
>     I had
>     and the result was my top and bottom panels and open windows moved to
>     the 2nd screen, the VIZIO while the desktop icons stayed on the 1st
>     screen, my Viewsonic 22". The specific models are on my original post,
>     "Using a HDTV for 2nd monitor" with links to mfg web pages related to
>     the model specs. The VIZIO does not have DVI inputs only 2 HDMI (1
>     type
>     1 and the other type 2), VGA, composite, S-Video and RF. I wasn't able
>     to try the HDMI as my current setup the viewsonic uses the HDMI output
>     from the MoBo and I can't use the HDMI at the same time leaving
>     only the
>     VGA output, that is why I was wondering if I should leave my Viewsonic
>     alone and install my HD3650 PCIe x16 for the VIZIO, this way I
>     could go
>     with HDMI or as you mentioned DVI-HDMI for the VIZIO. I could probably
>     try it tomorrow, I think the VIZIO did come with a short HDMI cable.
>
>     I had also seen something about the limitations of Compiz-Fusion is
>     restricted to a combined resolution that I had figured would be
>     smaller
>     than my 2 screens side by side, but was fine with one over the other.
>     What effect would that have on my virtual display? Also what would
>     happen if I were to set one over the other?
>     >> On Dec 26, 2010 4:58 PM, "Scott Castaline" <skotchman at gmail.com
>     <mailto:skotchman at gmail.com>
>     >> <mailto:skotchman at gmail.com <mailto:skotchman at gmail.com>>> wrote:
>     >>
>     >> I reference an earlier post as to using my HDTV as the 2nd
>     monitor. This
>     >> is just a temporary solution until I get the necessary hardware
>     for a
>     >> separate box for a MythTV solution. I am wondering if I'd be
>     better off
>     >> using a 2nd video card for the other screen instead of using
>     the 2nd
>     >> display port of the onboard video. My thought was to go with a
>     30ft VGA
>     >> cable from the VGA port to the TV. Doing that is there a way to
>     control
>     >> which screen gets what desktop objects or can I just drag and
>     drop them
>     >> to the desired part of the virtual display.
>     >>
>     >>  From what I've been able to find about xrandr it seems to only
>     allow
>     >> positioning the 2nd screen either to the left, right, above or
>     below the
>     >> primary screen, but no mention of object placement on the
>     desktop. On
>     >> another forum someone had suggested using a separate video card
>     or at
>     >> least something other than the onboard video to do this. Also
>     before I
>     >> get the cable should I consider HDMI or would VGA be ok? As I
>     said in my
>     >> earlier post I do have a HD3650 PCIe x16 card so I could go
>     that route
>     >> which would allow me to go with the HDMI option since my primary is
>     >> using the DVI port on the onboard not allowing the use of the
>     HDMI which
>     >> would require the use of VGA.
>     >>
>     >> With these options which way am I better going?
>     >>
>     >> 1. Primary monitor on the onboard vdeo DVI port and 2nd monitor
>     on the
>     >> VGA port same video bd.  getting a 30 ft cable.
>     >>
>     >> 2. Primary monitor on the onboard video DVI port and the 2nd
>     monitor on
>     >> the HD3650 going either VGA or HDMI same length cable needed.
>     >>
>     >> Also I believe on another thread (Re: [ale] xinit, autoexec,
>     xorg, gdm,
>     >> kdm, etc.etc.,) Bryon Jeff (or Jeff Bryon) mentions running a
>     2nd copy
>     >> of X Server allowing 2 separate users with graphical access to the
>     >> system. I am wondering what is involved in setting that up and how
>     >> complicated would that be to do? What options to configurations
>     would I
>     >> have?
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Yeh, been looking at monoprice.com. I have already bought 2 audio cables 
from them and so far pretty happy with them. They do have a CL2 rated 
silver coated(?) and gold ends 30ft VGA for a fairly reasonable price. 
They also had HDMI cables for as low as 10.98 25ft. It was standard 
speed so I'm assuming that means HDMI 1.x whereas High-speed must be 
HDMI 2.x. They do have a DVI-HDMI that is 30ft, not sure on the price as 
I was mostly looking at HDMI or VGA. I haven't seen any HDMI with swivel 
ends yet, do you remember any sites that you saw them at? I'm intrigued 
with that concept, might come in handy for me.

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