[Tenacious Dyl]

Hello everyone... I use a Dual 2.5 ghz G5 (newest version) which I put the Nvidia 6800 GT into. I use two Monitors, and also do work with a tv (bought the composite adapter). I have a new "studio" set up... and it is a PAIN to go behind the desk under many many cables and other electronics, yank one of my monitors off my 6800, hook up the tv, and climb back out again.

I figured I could buy a cheaper video card (PCI mac one) and run my tv and one monitor off the 6800 and the other monitor off the pci card.. but that would slow down my video on one monitor... and I would need to buy a card.

I was thinking of a "reverse" KVM switch idea. Where I could somehow have the TV and Both monitors hooked up to just the 2 ports on my 6800. And I would have some sort of box or switch that I could "select" which "monitor" i would like.

Example: .... Click button... Just one CRT is on, click, two crts, click, one crt and tv, click, just tv.

Is there such a device out there to do this? I finds tons of things for multiple computers to connect to ONE monitor / keyboard / mouse (KVM things) But I cant seem to locate any "video splitters" that would have a simple switch or button control.

Can anyone recommend either 1) a device that switches monitors
2) An alternative setup
3) experiences / ideas / help... anything works

Thanks in advance!

[Tenacious Dyl]

Seriously.. no one knows of such a "switch"

[Tenacious Dyl]

Spent a long time googling, looking around, and talking to people that seemed to know a few things about video... here is what I came up with. It seems that having both monitors and a tv hooked up will cost me at least $239... I suppose I can continue my hunt though :-\ Here is the information I found, summarized to my best effort for you. Please contribute / comment / etc if you can.

a device that splits "hdtv" signal... but really is just 1 into 2 dvi ports...
up to 1920x1200 resolution
up to 1640 ft of broadcast "power"
comes with box, power adapter, and one 6ft dvi cable.
http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/hd-DVI-Dist.htm
cost $249

another device.. that splits DVI signal (not specified as HDTV like above)
up to 1600x1200 redolution
up to 30 ft of broadcast "power"
comes with box, power adapter, and 3(?) cables
http://www.datapro.net/products/MDV-204B.html
two versions... one splits it 2 ways.. which is $159, other splits it 4 ways which is $239

yet another.. this is another specific DVI only splitter
up to 1920x1200 res
(can be chained with other boxes to go to up to 6 dvi splits)
When multiple boxes are used, you can use the remote to select which inputs and outputs to use. (They network to eachother through ethernet?)
comes with box, power adapter, 6 ft dvi cable
http://www.clubmac.com/clubmac/shop/...pno~141771.asp
cost $319.99

[Superchicken]

I saw one a while ago that was USB to Svideo but it doesn't work with a Mac... what I'd do is get a manual DVI switch and run your second monitor through that and connect the DVI/Video adapter into that.

[jebjeb]

I would think by far your best option is to get a PCI video card. Something like that Radeon 9200 Pro http://eshop.macsales.com/item/ATI%2...ies/100436011/ would be great. DVI, VGA, S-video and composite for $129. Cheaper than all you options above plus you can keep both your monitors and your TV on all the time with no switching. Run both your monitors off your 6800 and the TV of the S-video port on the PCI video card.

I am not sure how you want to use it. Do you want to mirror one of your monitors desktop on the TV or do you want to extend your desktop to the TV?

[tooki]

If this is for video editing in Final Cut Pro or the like, get a video capture card or FireWire bridge that supports output. That has the advantage of giving you accurate color on the TV -- the TV output from the ATI or nVidia cards is not.

tooki