Running 2 x DVI Monitors w/ 1 HDMI HDTV, multi-room setup

LowItalian

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Apr 30, 2010
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My motherboard died on my PC so it's prompting me to rebuild my computer.

Here is what I want to do - please tell me if my plan should work or if you can think of a better way.

-My bedroom is on the 2nd floor, right above my living room.
-My bedroom is where my PC resides, along with two 22 inch monitors.
-On the first floor I have a 46 in HDTV

I want to upgrade my video card, I am thinking to a Radeon HD 5850 and hook up my two monitors to the DVI ports, and then run a long HDMI cable down to my TV. I will leave my existing keyboard and mouse in my bedroom and then purchase a wireless keyboard and mouse that will work from downstairs on my PC in my room.

In my current set up i stream movies to my TV downstairs via TVersity and it's worked really well but I would love to be able to use anything (surfing web/games) on my computer downstairs, not just movies.

I was thinking that I could clone my primary display to the TV downstairs and then just adjust the resolution between them whenever i am using one vs the other. From basic research I've found that the 5850 can only run DVI x 2 and DP concurrently, but I would never need to have all three going at once. I also don't mind having to buy an active DP>HDMI converter either if i have to.

Also does anyone have any experience with these: http://www.laptopdesk.net/futura-with-two-regular-mouzpads.html I think this would work well in the setup i am trying pull off.

I have looked all over the internet and I haven't really found much about anyone trying a setup like this.

So do you think this could work? What about audio, can i have it send audio through HDMI and also to PC speakers (I do have a seperate sound card, creative fatality extreme gamer)? Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance!
 

leon2006

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I don't have all the answers to your questions but below are some options or applicable information you can consider...

-For multi room HDTV you should consider 5870 or 5770 that is capable of infinity by design or run the 3 monitors/HDTV as one (same display). The board is designed to take care of multi-monitor application.

- The longest cable of HDMI 1.3 that i currently use is 25 feet. The best option to carry HD video and Audio is HDMI & Display port. Below is reference information...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hdmi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Display_port

There is a certain lenght that you may need an active repeater on the cable that it gets more expensive... Do some reading and research. Frys.com and newegg have several on their sites.

- I have 2 setups of multi-monitor configuration (24 inch LCD and 70 inch HDTV) configured @ 1080P.
---> Links on both is through HDMI
---> Audio comes out on the DVI port assigned/configured as primary display. There is only one AUDIO chip on the video card so it only goes to the primary display. It can be assigned on windows display settings
---> I have the option that both displays operate as one(not an extended desktop). You see the same information on both display.

Remote Control

For wireless control/remote i use Logitech DinovoMini...Its range is 20 feet its a keyboard and a mice in your palm.

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/keyboards/keyboard/devices/3848

Add in Sound Card:
=============

The best sound card to date with through 24bit TRUE HD is Asus Xonar

http://usa.asus.com/ProductGroup2.aspx?PG_ID=deBXUzMkKnQuGLGK

ON THE SOUND CARD:

Please take note the the sound on the PC goes to only one sound card. It is selected on the SOUND option of the control panel. You have select between HDMI (from your video card) or your Sound Card(if you decide to have one).

On the HDMI audio option , the sound is feed through the port (DVI/HDMI/DISPLAY PORT) assigned/configured as primary display. You can change that throuh windows display settings.


ON DVI TO HDMI Converter:

Make sure you use one that is provided by the maker of your video card. In my case my 4890 i use ATI DVI/HDMI converter. I called DiamondMM to send me an additional one and it did.

My second setup is BFG XOC 280OC. I use BFG provided DVI/ Converter. Same thing its included on the package. I called BFG for another one and it did.

Basic things that video card manufacturer provides and saves you a lot of trouble
- HDMI cable
- SPDIF cable ( for Nvidia card that has no audio chip inside like the BFG 280 OC)
- CF/SLI link or cable
- DVI/HDMI converter

Its a phone call away and 3 days it will be on your mail box. Whatever video card you purchase take the time to register. It pays off in the long run.

MULTI ZONE RECEIVER:

Again just another option... If you want to bring the sound to different rooms you can consider MULTI-ZONE receiver. Its an excellent solution for 1 source multiple distribution application.

I'm sure you will get more inputs from this site



 

LowItalian

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Apr 30, 2010
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Thanks for your response. Here is a little more about my current/future set up as well as new questions I have.

I have been doing a little research on the 5850 vs the 5870 and from what I have found, it looks like both can handle the same amount of displays and the 5850 is a little cheaper. The 5870 is more powerful for graphics, but for $100 cheaper I can sacrifice that, coming from an Nvidia 8800GTS 640 I should still see a big improvement.

As fas as running displays go I want to have two configurations:
1) 2 x 22 through two DVI ports
2.) 1 46in HDTV

I got the impression you thought I wanted them all to clone the same display.

The keyboard you suggested looks interesting but I would prefer to have a more traditional Keyboard/Mouse set up and the DinovoMini has them built together.
I found this which has a good price (kinda leary going with a brand I've never heard of before) and the reviews make it sound like it should work through walls, which I need it to: http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Keyboard-Mouse-Combo-Unit/dp/B001EE0TPW

Here is another one I found on new egg, and I trust logitech so I may just fork over the extra cash and get this, I just want to be sure it will work through walls and I can't find anything online where someone has used it in that setup so I am a bit nervous about it. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126049

It's based on the same technology so shouldn't it work the same?


Here is my current sound card - I didn't really want to upgrade this if I didn't have to: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102005

So with my two configurations I would have the PC speakers I use in my room or to my receiver downstairs (which can do two zones). Would I be able to do that? It sounds liek you were saying I could by tweaking a setting in the control panel, but I jsut want to be sure I could still do that with my existing soundcard. I want to be able to switch between the two configurations via a tweak, not having to plug unplug any wires.

As far as 24 ft for the HDMI cable, that in actuality is probably long enough, i currently run a cat 5 cable the same distance, i just can't remember how long it is. I will have to measure that out.