3dfx Archive - Multi-Card Monitor Cable

janskjaer

Ex Member

Multi-Card Monitor Cable
07.10.04 at 19:23:19

As I would like to put a 3dfx card (pref. Voodoo4 4500 PCI or Voodoo5 5500 PCI) of mine into my current system, until I have time to put my 3dfx rig together (which will have to unfortunately be slated to next year to due to heavy final year university work Sad

) would it be possible to hook up my monitor to two graphics cards at the same time?

My monitor is currently running off my Radeon's DVI port (with the CRT-DVI adapter on the end). If I could find an adapter cable that could split the signal between a DVI connector and a CRT connector, that would save me having to keep switching the cable round every time I wanted to choose between the Radeon and the Voodoo.

Here's an image I drew to make more sense of what I mean:

Do these splitter cables exist? What I would be looking for is one that would connect to my CRT connector on my monitor cable, and would output with another CRT connector but also a DVI connector as well.

Wishful thinking?

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DenisF Senior Member Offline So fluffy it hurts Posts: 409 Israel Gender:	Re: Multi-Card Monitor Cable Reply #1 - 07.10.04 at 19:45:03 You can get a KVM which will do exactly that, but i'm not sure if there are switch-cables that do it :s
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janskjaer Ex Member	Re: Multi-Card Monitor Cable Reply #2 - 07.10.04 at 20:51:07 KVM Switch? ??? Google perhaps.
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janskjaer Ex Member	Re: Multi-Card Monitor Cable Reply #3 - 07.10.04 at 20:53:52 Had a look, and DO'H! Should have realised that already! We use these at work! Hehe. I just thought there could have been an easier way such as a Y-Cable splitter which would then allow me to switch between the two using a software app. Oh well. Cheers anyway.
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janskjaer Ex Member	Re: Multi-Card Monitor Cable Reply #4 - 07.10.04 at 20:56:54 Here's something I found: http://www.kvm-switches-online.com/sv211micro.html This is what I meant. Something like this, but omitting the PS/2 connectors, of course.
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DenisF Senior Member Offline So fluffy it hurts Posts: 409 Israel Gender:	Re: Multi-Card Monitor Cable Reply #5 - 07.10.04 at 21:35:38 That looks mighty cuter than the last KVM that iv'e seen [square metal box with a stove-like switch, back in 97' or so in my school's computer lab thing.. lol]
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paulpsomiadis

God Member

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Posts: 2011
Newcastle U.K.
Gender: male

Re: Multi-Card Monitor Cable
Reply #6 - 08.10.04 at 01:14:34

Hmm...cables are O.K. - but I prefer boxes. Wink

@DenisF is probably referring to something like THIS... Roll Eyes

http://www.cablesnmor.com/video-switch-box.html

Which is what I plan to get once my PCI V5500 arrives... Grin

(Maplin U.K. sells something similar) Roll Eyes

THIS one is cooler - all digital! 8)

http://www.cablesnmor.com/vga-switch-box.html

I might even think about an import... Wink

And now, some eBay links for the manual version... Wink

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=45341&item=6706170639&r...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=45341&item=6708491098&r...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=45341&item=6707054103&r...

Okay, that'll do! Tongue

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DenisF Senior Member Offline So fluffy it hurts Posts: 409 Israel Gender:	Re: Multi-Card Monitor Cable Reply #7 - 08.10.04 at 01:32:23 yeh i was talkin about those, goddamn did that bring some bad youth memories or what
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paulpsomiadis

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Posts: 2011
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Re: Multi-Card Monitor Cable
Reply #8 - 10.10.04 at 00:18:06

Okay, my MAC V5500 PCI arrived TODAY! Grin

8)

So I've got my DUAL video card system up and flyin'! Wink

(Add one V5500 and one Radeon 9700Pro - mix vigorously - and enjoy! Heheheh!) Grin

Here's the 'recipe' with Pro's and Con's... Roll Eyes

INGREDIENTS
==========

Your PC (whatever it may be) with it's 'normal' GFX card... Cheesy

One PCI V5500 (PC or re-flashed MAC card) Grin

One MANUAL KVM for monitor switching (see my last post) - auto KVM's are no good as BOTH cards are active at the same time. Roll Eyes

Two Male-Male VGA cables (preferably high quality). Wink

RECIPE
=====

Put your V5500 in your PC and install the drivers (you can install 3Dfx tools if you want...but we'll get to that later) Tongue

O.K., now plug your monitor into the central port of the KVM (usually marked I/O) Wink

Plug the 1st VGA cable into your MAIN GFX card and then into the LEFT KVM port (usually marked A) Wink

Plug the 2nd VGA cable into your V5500 GFX card and then into the RIGHT KVM port (usually marked B) Wink

There ya' go! ALL DONE! Cheesy

PRO's 8)
====

Hardware GLiDE support!
You've got a Voodoo in your case!
A SECOND desktop...useful!

CON's Cry

====

No 3Dfx tools (they just DON'T work!)
You have to keep switching screens...
The MAC V5500 uses a 'non-standard' DVI socket (MAC DVI probably...)

There ya' go people - all the details laid out plain! Cheesy

Now go KICK A$$ in U.T.! 8)

==EDIT==

Almost forgot... Roll Eyes

Obviously, you'll have to install the drivers for your V5500 when setting this up. (Your Radeon should be fully installed...) Tongue

Once this is done, go to 'Display Properties' and to 'settings'... Wink

...click on the SECOND monitor (should say V5500) and then click the box 'extend my desktop onto this monitor' to ACTIVATE video output from the V5500. Grin

That's all folks! 8)

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« Last Edit: 17.10.04 at 07:52:34 by paulpsomiadis »

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janskjaer

Ex Member

Re: Multi-Card Monitor Cable
Reply #9 - 10.10.04 at 22:18:07

Quote:

yeh i was talkin about those, goddamn did that bring some bad youth memories or what

Yes, these do look quite the antique don't they? I remember going to my first computer fair a few years back now, and remember seeing these. They look as if they had been brought to the fair for the past 20 years. Cheesy

Still they do the job, but they look quite ugly in my highly fashionable PC cupboard! Grin

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janskjaer Ex Member	Re: Multi-Card Monitor Cable Reply #10 - 10.10.04 at 22:19:45 Paul, thanks for the recipe. I would have asked for this sooner or later, so thanks for reading my mind! Did you have any trouble installing the V5's 3dfx drivers after your Radeon's presence already being there? No driver conflicts or software side affects? Also, which V5 drivers did you use?
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janskjaer

Ex Member

Re: Multi-Card Monitor Cable
Reply #11 - 15.10.04 at 18:49:35

Is it possible to switch between the two cards (for the time being until I get a switch box) by just removing the monitor cable from one card, and plugging it onto another? While the PC (and the two graphics cards) are powered up? ???

How will the PC know which card I am currently using? Or does it need to know?

e.g. using the Radeon 9500 PRO, then I change the cable over to run a 3dfx game. Will the game still run?

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janskjaer Ex Member	Re: Multi-Card Monitor Cable Reply #12 - 15.10.04 at 18:59:06 Paul, I found this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=45341&item=6715089622 Will this do the same job as the old antique switch boxes?
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paulpsomiadis

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Posts: 2011
Newcastle U.K.
Gender: male

Re: Multi-Card Monitor Cable
Reply #13 - 17.10.04 at 07:48:43

Allo matey! Wink

Okay, Q&A time... Cheesy

First off congrats on the V5500 MAC, I spotted you a while back... 8)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5128892662&ssPageName=...

Second - nope there are absolutely NO driver conflicts!(although I haven't yet tried ALL of the games on my system...) Tongue

I used the Amigamerlin 3.1 - soon going to update to the recent 3.1r1 Grin

It is possible to switch between the cards by unplugging the monitor cable - even when the machine is powered. Cheesy

As for 'which card' to use - most games will have a setup (like U.T.) that will let you choose this... Tongue

Hmm...that mini KVM 'should' work - but you'd have to think of an 'awkward' keyboard combo. to switch screens with...I prefer the old switchboxes - it's manual, but it WORKS! Roll Eyes

==EDIT==

This post has been corrected, see my later post for details... Roll Eyes

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« Last Edit: 18.10.04 at 23:17:05 by paulpsomiadis »

-=To MOD or not to MOD, that is a DUMB question - just MOD it!=-&&&&+May God stand between you and harm in all the empty places you must walk.+

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janskjaer

Ex Member

Re: Multi-Card Monitor Cable
Reply #14 - 17.10.04 at 18:20:31

Quote:

First off congrats on the V5500 MAC, I spotted you a while back... 8)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5128892662&ssPageName=...

Yeah, I need a temp 3dfx card to play my retro games. I can't be bothered waiting around until I build my 3dfx rig. Like I said, I won't have time this year with being in my final year at uni.

Quote:

I used the Amigamerlin 3.1 - soon going to update to the recent 3.1r2 Grin

Will they include the 3dfx Tools? Should I install the 3dfx Tools if they do?

Quote:

As for 'which card' to use - most games will have a setup (like U.T.) that will let you choose this... Tongue

What about the games that don't?

Quote:

Hmm...that mini KVM 'should' work - but you'd have to think of an 'awkward' keyboard combo. to switch screens with...I prefer the old switchboxes - it's manual, but it WORKS! Roll Eyes

I think it's just a case of connecting my keyb/mouse to the switcher instead of the computer.

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