Multiple monitor resolutions

WinXP
19" Viewsonic LCD Monitor 1440 x 900
37" Polaroid LCD Tv 1280 x 720
VGA Splitter Monoprice MSV-102 (Supports res up to 2048x1536)

I have two monitors hooked up with a splitter. A 4:3 monitor and the 37" Polaroid. I had two display modes (1440x900 & 1280x720) saved so I could quickly switch between using the two and still have the aspect look correct. I upgraded from a 4:3 monitor to widescreen monitor and now if i have the two monitors hooked up to the splitter it won't switch to the 1440 x 900 mode. I assume it is because the Poloroid doesn't support 1440 x 900. The only way to get it to switch to the 1440 x 900 mode is to hook up a cable from the viewsonic to the computer and then it will switch. What are my options to to be able to have the ability to watch the Poloroid at 1280 x 720 and then switch to the ViewSonic at 1440 x 900 when I want? Thanks

Hey there Zachjen!

I did a quick research to support my inkling and found that the splitter you're using duplicates signal.

"Simply plug the CPU video output and two monitors into the MSV-102A and the signal will be duplicated." (which is the souped up version of MSV-102)

I had the suspicion that you were using mirrored displays, which indeed results in a problem when you try and set a resolution one of your displays don't support. (although it should allow you to set the resolution, and the ViewSonic would have to work while the Polaroid would go out of synch or in other ways fighting for its life)

Your options are: To use a different resolution on two monitors, the best course of action is to not have them mirror (as in software mirror, the setting in displays under WXP), and definitely not hardware mirror, as in getting copied signal from a hardware splitter.

You will need to use two different outputs on your computer the very least, which with any recent video card should not be a problem.


Hope it helps, I can't think of a better way

I'd buy a cheap graphics card and connect each monitor independently. Then you won't have to use the splitters or worry about the resolution mismatch.

Thank you guys for the info. If I got a cheap video card and hooked up the the one with the current ouput and hooked up the other with the new video card output could I watch something on the Poloroid and do another task on the Viewsonic or does that take a certain type of video card?

It's all handled by the driver. You'll be able to watch a movie on the TV and browse on the ViewSonic at the same time for instance; all modern ATI and nVidia graphics cards can do it that have two outputs, and I can't say one off the top of my head that doesn't.

There are some small issues you'll run into, but otherwise it should work just fine with whatever VGA you're getting

Thank you guys for your help. Got a video card and am now typing this up while watching a show on the other monitor. Works perfect and you help was much appreciated.
Zach

Hey guys. I would like to be able to use both of my monitors at once. I have an 8800 GT and i would be using a 22" widescreen monitor and a 15" crappy old one. I can get the picture to show up on both of them but i would like to change the resolution so that my big one uses 1680x1050 and my smaller one uses 1024x768. The problem is i can only figure out how to get it to use the maximum resolution of my old monitor (1024x768). I am using NVIDIA Control Panel to turn dual boxing on and off so far. How do i change the resolutions? Thanks guys!