Running dual screens with my 6600

[Stafa]

Hello all,

Alright so I need a little help no more.

Here's the deal, I've got a nvidia 6600, not the GT one, I'm planning on getting two HP 22" LCD screens which support hdmi. Now I understood that I can output hdmi through dvi with a dvi -> hdmi cable. But since I will be getting two monitors, I am obviously going to use this setup

1 screen connected through VGA --> HDMI cable

1 screen connected through DVI --> HDMI cable

now my question is, will my 6600 be able to output HDMI to both screens? or will it be capable or running HDMI on one of them only?

just a note: I just want display running through the cables, no need for sound.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[gwai lo]

If you just want video, why not just VGA -> Monitor + DVI -> Monitor?

[Stafa]

because I want to output hdmi, the 22" lcd screens I'm getting support hdmi

[chconline Veteran]

I don't see the point. VGA is an analog interface that, with the video card, converts digital signal to analog signal via a DAC and outputs to an analog monitor (Or monitor with analog input). A cable with VGA to HDMI wouldn't exist since HDMI is a digital interface, and theoretically it could work with an ADC but then what's the point :s Signal quality loss.

DVI to HDMI is pointless as well, both are digital interface and in your cases occupies the same amount of bandwidth with the difference of a connector, just use standard DVI.

HDMI in your case is either non applicable or just pointless :p

[alisalem]

I assume you'll be getting the w2207h? Excellent monitor BTW. :)

You should buy the w2207 without the "h" which has DVI instead of HDMI.

And your 6600 has two DVI inputs...

[Revolution.]

HDMI = DVI without sound features.

[Stafa]

Alright thanks everyone for the help but I'm really confused now

so now once I get both of the screens, how am I to connect them to my gfx card to get the highest picture quality possible with my 6600? I checked my 6600 and it has ONE vga input and ONE dvi input, and not two dvi inputs like Sir Ali stated.

[gwai lo]

Then use the VGA output. chconline already explained..and it's not like you're losing on much if anything.

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

I think he meant how can you use dvi on vga, i think there's a converter for this, no?

[gwai lo]

Yep, card should've came with one. That's assuming the monitor doesn't have a VGA input..which it should as well. Couple ways to do it.

[McDave]

I just googled HP w2207 (that is the one Sir Ali quoted) monitor has both DVI & VGA Sorce

So you could simply connect one LCD via the DVI port on your graphics card and the other via the VGA, its better than trying to convert outputs etc.

[Stafa]

if i connect one through vga and another through DVI, they'll both show the same resolutions and picture quality?

[gwai lo]

Same resolutions yes, quality..more or less the same. The only way you can get two digital outputs is via a new card, not only will conversions not work (e.g. upscaling doesn't make the picture quality HD) but conversions will always result in quality loss. Only way to fix it is by fixing the source...anyway I wouldn't worry that much about it. It shouldn't be that significant.

[Stafa]

that's cool, thnx for the help gwai lo!

Just one more question, will I need any special software or drivers to display widescreen resolutions from my 6600? or will it be able to do it automatically without the need of any further software/driver?

[gwai lo]

You shouldn't need anything..

[alisalem]

The HDMI/VGA is a bit sharper.

I might get myself another one. Currently, I'm connecting the one I have using the HDMI cable...I might get the other one with DVI support and not HDMI.

[McDave]

Both HDMI and DVI are both digital and have the same image quality. The only diffrance is that HDMI carries an audio as well as video.

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

to get the full effect, you need an HDMI out, with an HDMI cable, and an HDMI input for your monitor. Having a VGA and a DVI, means you'll lose that bandwith in the conversion, making it costly and pointless. Just stick with VGA and DVI

[alisalem]

Sorry I meant the HDMI/DVI are sharper than VGA*