# computer: splitting video signal (two monitors)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-splitting-video-signal-two-monitors/270366>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 21, 2004, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-splitting-video-signal-two-monitors/270366 "2004-10-21T08:18:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![capnfutile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e0b2c6/32.png) [@capnfutile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capnfutile)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-splitting-video-signal-two-monitors/270366/1 "2004-10-21T08:18:21Z")

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Is it possible to use a “splitter” VGA cable to run two monitors off of one video card? (same image)

Our slot car club uses an old PC for timing and we’d like to have a second monitor at another part of the track.

capn

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**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-splitting-video-signal-two-monitors/270366/2 "2004-10-21T08:31:25Z")

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[This](http://www.kvm-switches-online.com/vs92a.html) looks like it could do the trick. It’s a little more involved than a splitter cable, though.

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**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-splitting-video-signal-two-monitors/270366/3 "2004-10-21T08:35:39Z")

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After a little more browsing, I found a [cable only](http://www.pccables.com/00612.htm) solution, but it’s apparently not such a great idea unless you’ve got a good video card and are running at really low resolutions.

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**Author:** ![mbacko1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@mbacko1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbacko1)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-splitting-video-signal-two-monitors/270366/4 "2004-10-21T13:41:14Z")

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You could also get a video card like  
[this one](http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-142-005&depa=1) for $36 assuming you have an AGP slot. This would give you the option of running S-video to a TV at low resolution for your other display, or if your application can run on two desktop screens at the same time, you can use a DVI/VGA connectot and run two VGA connections off the card.  
If you don’t have an AGP slot, there are PCI cards available that can do the same thing.