Quick swapping from hdtv to pc monitor

Hi, I need help with a dilemma i'm having right now.

I bought a Vizio VO32LF and currently am waiting for it. Alright, so it has HDMI inputs and a RGB input but no dvi.

I want to use this as a monitor on and off, depending on if i am using the pc monitor or not. For example, if i want to watch tv and use the computer at the same time, watch tv through my satellite, and use the computer through my pc monitor. That's pretty simple, but where the problem comes in is using my hdtv as a monitor.

I want to be able to swap between the two as a monitor but don't want to have to crawl around all the time with cables, then having to mess with the resolution output from my computer.

Any help on this?

My computer's video card outputs DVI and RGB and S-Video. I'm currently using my monitor with RGB, so I was thinking of getting a dvi-hdmi converter so I can plug both the hdtv and pc monitor in, then I would be able to swap between monitors somehow?

My current idea... although it's gonna cost me.

Buy a 3.5 mm audio jack splitter
Buy a dvi-hdmi converter
Buy a 3.5mm audio jack converter to analog stereo audio

Then, hook up the monitors with the dvi-hdmi on the tv, and RGB for my pc monitor. For the sound on my monitor, just use the normal 3.5mm inputs/outputs on them, then on the tv, i have to use an audio splitter, then connect the mini audio converter to analog stereo audio then plug it in to the tv.

Will this mean, if i'm using the displays at the same time (if i resort to cloning) will I have sound and video coming out of both my tv speakers and my monitor speakers?

I'm not sure how to clone either. My video card has an option for extended desktop, but i haven't thoroughly searched for cloning. I heard also there was a way to just run single?

But, my idea is w/ cloning, but it has problems. I was planning to just have it clone, then if i want to watch tv and use the pc monitor, just swap the tv input option to tv, and use the pc monitor for, well, pc purposes.. If i want to use the tv as a monitor, turn off the pc monitor, then go to the input option to hdmi on the tv.

Will this work? Does it use extra power, use more pc resources, and cause wear/tear since the video card is outputting to the 2? Or, since I don't have the pc monitor on or the tv monitor on that input option, will it not waste those resources.

Also, will the audio come out of both?

Thanks in advance.

 

Yes you can. You can do that from the video driver. Let me know your VGA card model, maybe I can help you locate the exact setting.

Since you are connecting over DVI, you have to send sound separately. Since there is only one sound output changing the display has no effect on sound. It will continue to play on what ever the speaker already connected.

AFAIK all graphics cards support, single/cloning and extended displays. However when cloning the maximum resolution you can use is the maximum resolution of the lower resolution display; meaning, if your monitor supports 1440x900 while your TV support 1080 (1900x1200) then you can only use 1440x900 when cloning. But you can use full resolutions of each monitor under single or extended modes.

Yes.

It may use a bit of extra power and graphics resources, but no need to worry about that. It is perfectly ok (they re designed for it).

Yes, as I said before , since there is only one output, a simple slitter will just split the wire. Unless you get a splitter with a switch, but even then you have to push the switch manually, software has no control over it.

 

Thanks for the help all this time phoenixfx . Sigh i'm disappointed if no automatic resolution change, owell. Maybe i'll try using extended desktop instead.

It's a Radeon X700 on an old desktop. Link: http://ati.amd.com/products/RadeonX700/index.html

But, if I have the splitter, the sound outputs to both right? And how does this affect 5.1 surround sound?

So that's a yes to 2 sound outputs at the same time, thus both speakers having sound?

So my video card will be able to handle it relatively well, even though it is pretty weak/old?