Switching between dual monitors

chowks · 17 Dec 2010 at 08:04

At the moment I have two monitors on my desk - the main one for my PC and the one to the side for my PS3. Sometimes I like to switch the two and have the main one connected to my PS3 so I can game without having to sit awkwardly.

Does anyone know if a device exists that let's me switch between the two without having to keep on physically switching over the cables every time?? Like maybe a box I connect both PS3 and PC to that then connects to the monitors and that has maybe a button/switch that you can press to switch over signals??

Just a long shot....

Cheers lads

cmndr_andi · 17 Dec 2010 at 10:53

Hi there, may I ask what make and model of monitor you have?

Assuming it only has one HDMI input, a HDMI switch box like this should do the job.

hesham1516 · 17 Dec 2010 at 11:02

cmndr_andi has it almost right, but you would need a switchbox with 2 outputs rather than 1, a company named syvio had some for cheap if I remember correctly. I think they came with remotes to let you select the input and output source.
Quick look around found me this http://www.tvcables.co.uk/cgi-bin/tvcables/hdmi-matrix-switch-4x2.html , if you read the description it does exactly what you need, but its a little pricey

chowks · 17 Dec 2010 at 11:10

hi mate,
They've got no hdmi inputs unfortunately (they're both Samsung 226BW's). I've got a HDMI to DVI cable for my PS3. Each monitor has one DVI-D and one VGA input.

cmndr_andi · 17 Dec 2010 at 11:11

+1 that looks great

The switch box I linked to above could work for this usage, but you would need both monitors to have two digital inputs and buy two of the switch boxes. This would be a bit cheaper - though a bit more hassle than just switching them over using that syvio box.

Edit: Since your monitors are VGA x1 and DVI x1, then your best bet is to go with the syvio box. You could try a PS3 VGA cable and a VGA switch box (in addition to a 2 input DVI switch box for the PC) - though i'm not sure what the quality/max res of the PS3 via VGA is.

chowks · 17 Dec 2010 at 11:12

Actually...if I just get 3 more HDMI to DVI cables then I could use one of those switch boxes right??

chowks · 17 Dec 2010 at 11:15

Sorry....was posting that while you were posting!

What I mean is, if I have a DVI to HDMI from my PC (gfx card doesn't have an HDMI output) to the box, and HDMI to HDMI from my PS3 to the box. Then have 2 HDMI to DVI's running from the box to each monitor.

Does that sound like it would work?

Cheers guys.

cmndr_andi · 17 Dec 2010 at 11:18

chowks said:
Sorry....was posting that while you were posting!

What I mean is, if I have a DVI to HDMI from my PC (gfx card doesn't have an HDMI output) to the box, and HDMI to HDMI from my PS3 to the box. Then have 2 HDMI to DVI's running from the box to each monitor.

Does that sound like it would work?

Cheers guys.

Aye, that should work fine.

hesham1516 · 17 Dec 2010 at 11:24

hmm, now that I know what monitor you have, a simpler solution would be what you just mentioned, ooooor the cheaper hdmi 2 port splitter. basicly split the ps3 hdmi source to 2 and connect your pc via vga (dvi-vga adapter usually in the box). personally I would stick with the digital connections but the quality of vga is a lot better than what it used to be.