Widescreen Gaming Forum

Hi, it's time for me to readapt my monitor setup.

I have 3 Viewsonic VA912b's (19" LCD), and right two are connected directly to my "main computer", and the other one is on a 4-port KVM.

I've seen plenty of KVMs (Keyboard/Mouse/Video switch) that claim to handle the resolution of the DualHead2Go... is there one out there that would handle the TH2G? Or does anyone know of another solution?

I really want this thing... someone, please tell me some good news :-)

Thanks,
Strydyr

Those monitors have dual inputs (VGA and DVI). Do you have them connected right now via DVI? If so, you could connect the TripleHead2Go using the VGA inputs and switch the monitor inputs back and forth. Or, you could do this for the side monitors and only have the KVM the center monitor. This would mean that you could run the center monitor at a single-screen resolution when you're not gaming in triplehead, so you wouldn't have to worry about resolution restrictions.

you could connect the TripleHead2Go using the VGA inputs and switch the monitor inputs back and forth. Or, you could do this for the side monitors and only have the KVM the center monitor. This would mean that you could run the center monitor at a single-screen resolution when you're not gaming in triplehead, so you wouldn't have to worry about resolution restrictions.

Thanks, that's a very interesting idea. I wasn't considering the possibilities of using the monitor itself in that manner. I'll keep it in mind as I try to figure this out...

Unfortunately, hooking it up as you suggest would fail one of my goals: I was hoping to get dual or triple head "for free" on the other 3 computers with no additional cabling. Doing that means that all 4 would need to go through the KVM before hitting the TH2Go.

The best I've come up with so far:
CPUs -> TH2Go -> Dual Head KVM -> Monitors
(my "main/gaming" computer would route the 3rd lead directly to monitor, bypassing the KVM)

That setup gives me triple-head on the main computer, and I'd have dual on the other 3. Not too bad, since I could leave my mail client, etc in the unswitched monitor.

The downside is money... I'd have to get a new dual-head KVM and the TH2Go. If I'm spending $600+, I'd really like to be able to switch all three monitors. I can't help but think that someone has made a KVM that'll handle 3840x1024 @ 60hz.

The best I've come up with so far:
CPUs -> TH2Go -> Dual Head KVM -> Monitors
(my "main/gaming" computer would route the 3rd lead directly to monitor, bypassing the KVM)

Re-reading this confused me. With this setup, only my "main" computer would be routed through the TH2Go... the other 3 computers would have to provide dual-head support on their own. I think I'd only have to put a $50 video card into one of them to make it happen.

The price ends up around $700 with the switch (looking at the Belkin, since I know that a bad KVM can make your life miserable), cables, the TH2Go, and a low-end video card.

Below is (most of) an email sent by Matrox. They replied quickly to my query... unfortunately, the "answer", while informative, is almost a "tease".

The information about DDC support has me wondering if the IOGear GCS1744 might be a better choice for KVM.




Thank you for contacting Matrox.

The use of KVM switches, adapters, docking stations etc. is not OFFICIALLY supported with the TripleHead2Go. The reason for this is that not all devices preserve communication over the DDC*, yet the TripleHead2Go requires DDC communication to operate properly.

*(DDC: Short for Display Data Channel, a VESA standard for communication between a monitor and a video adapter. Using DDC, a monitor can inform the video card about its properties, such as maximum resolution and color depth. The video card can then use this information to ensure that the user is presented with valid options for configuring the display.)

Although I cannot give a specific recommendation for a KVM (since the use of KVMs is not “officiallyâ€Â

I don't think that's a tease. That's Matrox telling you that you have a decent shot, and offering you a return if your setup doesn't work out. Go for it (after getting a DDC-compliant KVM).

I can't help but think that someone has made a KVM that'll handle 3840x1024 @ 60hz.

The DDC is one thing but the other is the picture quality loss with a kvm switch at this resolution, no one is optimized to this resolution...

I don't think that's a tease. That's Matrox telling you that you have a decent shot, and offering you a return if your setup doesn't work out. Go for it (after getting a DDC-compliant KVM).

To some extent, I agree (I did say "almost")... the thing is, I KNOW I want the TH2Go, so that's not the part I'd be wanting to return :-)

The DDC is one thing but the other is the picture quality loss with a kvm switch at this resolution, no one is optimized to this resolution...

So it seems... I'm amazed at that, though. With all the high-end graphics work going on out there, and the crazy-size widescreen monitors coming out, it's still hard for me to believe that this resolution is so far out of the ballpark.

Going the other direction, I'll be happy now if I can just get a dual-head KVM that works between the TH2Go and the monitors. (My original hope was to put the TH2Go between the KVM and monitors.)

I'm not sure this whole effort survives a "sanity check".

Shopping around, the only (self proclaimed) DCC supporting KVMs I could find for under $500 were by IOGear and another company which actually used the same part number. Cables longer than 6 feet were not even available.

With one of those, I still don't know that the TH2Go would work. Surely, with LCD monitors so affordable, and so many games already working to support it, there'll be a mainstream solution for triple-head gaming soon.

SLI has already made the hardware available, and its hard to believe that video card makers aren't yet jumping to tap the multi-head gaming market. I've seen one card (Quadro 400 NVS) that supports four monitors... I'm unclear about whether it can span 3 monitors for gaming.

I think I'm going to order the Belkin dual-head KVM and give up on the TH2Go. At least then I can get 10 foot cables, and wait patiently for a capable graphics solution. Once that happens, I should have a setup that goes way beyond the TH2Go's 1280x1024 per monitor cap.

I'll just put my $300 aside until then :-(

I'm going to keep watching this thread though... if anyone knows of an equally capable alternative to TH2Go, I'd appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks,
Strydyr

how about try my setup... with a digital vga switch (not kvm)

CPUs -> VGA switch -> TH2Go -> Monitors

My vga switch handles 6 inputs... therefore I could have 6 computers with 3840x1024 display output.

get a separate usb switch for the keyboard/mouse

Both switches together should cost below USD 30.

how about try my setup... with a digital vga switch (not kvm)

CPUs -> VGA switch -> TH2Go -> Monitors

Right on time... I knew the answer would come within a couple of hours after I placed an order :-)

That's an excellent idea... the old A/B type switch had ocurred to me. They're always wonderful for 2 weeks, then will work for a couple more months with some "jiggling" involved before being absolutely ready for the trash. I've been living with KVMs for so many years that I never even thought about the digital alternative.

I did order the Belkin dual-head, along with 4 10-foot cables for a cost of slightly over $300. With that investment, I'll have to seriously consider whether to change directions again. My little quest did spark some interest among my friends, though... I suspect at least one of them will end up using your solution.

What brand of VGA switch do you have? And, have you ever thought about hacking the VGA and USB switches together to use one physical switch for changing computers? As inexpensive as that solution would be, it makes me wonder why I've spent so much money on KVMs over the years (I think my first Belkin Omniview, about 10 years ago, ran around $500 with no cables included.) I think my only reason for abandoning it was when PS2 mice became prevalant.

Thanks again for the suggestion... I'm sure someone else will find it useful, too. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that the "right" combination of card and drivers for triple-head is right around the corner. Matrox created such a card before there was a market... maybe its time for them to update that product line.

What brand of VGA switch do you have? And, have you ever thought about hacking the VGA and USB switches together to use one physical switch for changing computers? As inexpensive as that solution would be, it makes me wonder why I've spent so much money on KVMs over the years (I think my first Belkin Omniview, about 10 years ago, ran around $500 with no cables included.)

Some obscure Taiwan company (Hexagon), with digital switch unlike manual switch does not degrade as the contacts age, been using it for 2 years (5 something years old product) no degrade in quality at least until 19200x1200 res, at 3840x1024 res.. there would be a slight blur that I atribute to cable(s) length and vga signal and not the switch. I prefer the switches (vga&usb) to be independent thou the numbering and switching could be confusing. Besides my vga switch is a 6 port switch and usb a 3 port switch. ....

8 computers, 10monitors/displays and so on but that is a different story.

Thought I'd post my own results...

The TH2Go does in fact work between the video card and an IOGear GCS1744 Dual View switch. I haven't tried the Belkin -- other problems led me to get the Belkin KVM out of my setup.

I've got two cables going through the switch, and my left-most monitor is unswitched. A friend of mine is looking at the VGA-Switch idea, to get triple-head on several computers.

I love it... I've only played Far Cry so far; but, it has already made me a believer in the potential of multi-monitor gaming.

I'm not sure of the business compromises, though. I need to do some more searching in this forum, then I might start another thread.

It seems there must be a way to get better non-gaming multiple monitor support from the TH2Go(?) Having my start menu all the way left, my system tray all the way right and a start bar that stretches across 3 screens is killing me. I also seem to be having problems when I maximize Remote Desktop, which I use very regularly.

I was running MultiMon up until now, had my start button on the middle window, and running programs appeared on the start bar according to the monitor they were running on.

I'd like to keep it; but, if the TH2Go is going to impede my work, I'll need to send it back to Matrox.

Any ideas would really be appreciated.

Thanks,
Strydyr

I'm not sure of the business compromises, though. I need to do some more searching in this forum, then I might start another thread.

It seems there must be a way to get better non-gaming multiple monitor support from the TH2Go(?) Having my start menu all the way left, my system tray all the way right and a start bar that stretches across 3 screens is killing me. I also seem to be having problems when I maximize Remote Desktop, which I use very regularly.

I was running MultiMon up until now, had my start button on the middle window, and running programs appeared on the start bar according to the monitor they were running on.

Yeah, it sucks, doens't it? For $300 it's a pitiful 2D desktop management implementation.


Here's what I did. The idea is to get Windows to think you have three discrete monitors. Ideally Matrox would do this with fancy software, but they don't. So I used the simple appraoch - I actually show Windows 3 discrete monitors. :)

To do this you need side monitors with dual inputs and you need a cheap secondary GPU. I have the primary output on my main video card (7900GT) connected to my TripleHead2Go. The TripleHead2Go is then connected to the #1 inputs on all 3 monitors. I have the secondary output on my main video card connected to the #2 input on my right monitor, and I have the output on my secondary GPU (MX4000) connected connected to the #2 input on my right monitor.

I have the TripleHead2Go set to a single-monitor resolution on the Windows desktop, and I have the left and right monitors set to input #2. This gives me a dekstop composed of 3 discrete monitors. I use UltraMon with the Smart Taskbar, I have the Start button and taskbar on the center screen, and I can jump windows from screen to screen. When I game in triplehead, I just switch the left and right monitors to input #1, and then back again when I'm done gaming.

Using the 2nd inputs seems like it would work, except my 2nd inputs are DVI :-(

I could just use those for primary inputs were it not for the dual-head switch, which is VGA.

I need to poke around a bit. If I can find two small VGA switches for a reasonable price, I still might be able to pull this off.

My thanks to everyone for the ideas!

I really hope Matrox gets on the ball with the software support for this product before its obsolete. The Soft-TH2Go thread has really gotten my attention.

Uh, I'm confused. The fact that your second inputs are DVI is a good thing. That means you can run DVI from the Primary GPU output #2 to one side monitor and DVI from the Secondary GPU output to the other side monitor. These can be DVI and not interfere with the TripleHEad2Go.

The only problem would be if your GPUs didn't have DVI output. Since I gather you don't have a Secondary GPU yet, you just have to make sure that you buy a card with DVI. :) As for the Primary GPU, I don't know what card you're using but if it's powerful enough to drive a TripleHead2Go I'm guessing it has at least one DVI output.

Actually, if the second inputs were VGA, I'd be set...

I've got 2 computers in this configuration:

CPU -> Dual-Head VGA KVM -> Monitors

And 1 in this one:

CPU -> TH2Go -> KVM (2 leads) -> Monitors
-> Monitor (1 lead)

All wiring is VGA (though the last computer has 2 VGA and 2 DVI ports).

So I'm stuck with VGA on the TH2Go, and VGA when I go through the KVM. If either route could be changed to DVI, I'd be set.

It would also help if I could put the output of the TH2Go to the left monitor when in "single monitor" mode... if so, I could route that around the KVM, route center and right through one port of the KVM, and route two "business" connections through another port. The KVM is USB, so I could attach both mouse/keyboard ports to the same CPU.

Please tell me there's a way to do the last part... it appears that when resolution is at 1280x1024, the TH2Go insists on using the center monitor. Push it to the lefthand display, and everything else falls into place.

Ok, there's an analogue KVM. Now I get why DVI is a problem. You could get a digital KVM, but I think they're expensive, and it would probably complicate the other systems to which the KVM is connected. Or you could get cables like this that supposedly take a VGA output and adapt it to a DVI input.

Please tell me there's a way to do the last part... it appears that when resolution is at 1280x1024, the TH2Go insists on using the center monitor. Push it to the lefthand display, and everything else falls into place.

Nope, can't be done AFAIK.

Those cables are an interesting find. I wonder how many people have been disappointed by them...

After seeing them, I realized that I had just assumed that the DVI -> VGA conversion was a one way process (without really expensive equipment). I know it only works if the DVI includes DVI-A (analog).

Anyway, I had to take the stand off the monitor for it to fit, but I hooked a DVI -> VGA adapter to the DVI input, then the VGA cable into it. Unfortunately, it doesn't see a signal. I'm guessing that the Viewsonic monitor only accepts DVI-D (digital).

I'm sure these cables do exactly what my quick-rigged setup did, so at least I don't have to shell out $50 for another experiment (I was tempted).

I really had my hopes up for a minute. Had that worked, I'd have started rerouting this mess of cables that I once called a desk.

I'll probably box the TH2Go back up after the weekend is over. Maybe Matrox will be producing a TH2Go-Digital Edition soon... the price will probably be out of my budget, though. The TH2Go is too expensive already.

Sooner or later, there WILL be triple-head gaming in my life.

Thank you again... I really appreciate your help and suggestions while I tried to get this sorted out.