The Official Computer Tech Support Thread

[Freebase Dali]

Originally Posted by LoathsomePete

Hey Freebase I've run into a slight snag in a future monitor prospect I've been working on. I just got a VGA splitter so I can plug two monitors into my computer. I had my regular 19.5" monitor plugged in and then the 42" screen TV that sits unplayed next to my computer. However when I turned on both monitors I found to my dismay that both screens were a little discolored. My desktop monitor was more of a pinkish color and my TV monitor was more of a lime green color. I unplugged them and just have my desktop monitor plugged in right now and everything seems to be fine. This was more of a test for my plan on getting a second monitor so I could duel screen stuff for work and have more room to use the multiple programs and files I have open. Will I have the same effect as with the much larger TV?

Well firstly, if you're planning on using dual monitors in such a way that you're able to move program windows from one monitor to the other (extended desktop) then you won't be able to achieve that with a splitter. To achieve that, you need to have a dual head video card. (Video card that has two separate VGA outs)
If you only have one output, the only thing you can accomplish by using a splitter is having the same thing on two screens, and at the same resolution... which doesn't accomplish anything as far as screen real estate is concerned. You'll just have a larger version of what's on your monitor, on your TV.
The only other way around this is if you have a laptop and you use the laptop screen as one monitor, and the VGA output as another. Otherwise, you might need to upgrade your video card. (Believe me, it's so worth it... once you go dual monitor, you will NEVER go back)

As far as why you're getting off-colored screens when you use the splitter, it could be a problem with trying to split the coloring between two monitors... I'm not sure. Have you tried just plugging in the TV? If the coloring issue is only present when both the monitor and TV are connected, I wouldn't even try to diagnose a problem beyond just assuming your graphics card isn't set up to be able to handle that kind of thing.