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[tunnie]

decent monitor is the way to go, ones that support picture in picture & multiple inputs with a decent resolution!

[pete.h]

Yes it's the telly that is lcd with vga socket , and the moniter that is crt but with vga socket to back of computer .

[tunnie]

what graphics card is in your PC?

If you don't know look under hardware in My Computer

[TheBoy]

I found those adapters a doddle... just plug it in to the graphics card, other end into the TV, display properties finds the monitor and bingo!

Most CRT tellies won't report back res, and can't deal with the 'strange' res and refresh of computers - hence normally having to use awkward resolution and refesh software.

Has to be Radeon, as Nvidia GeForce don't put out the sync in the way required by TVs...

[TheBoy]

what graphics card is in your PC?

If you don't know look under hardware in My Computer

irrelevent. We have ascertained the TV and the monitor can do the 1024x768 @ 75Hz.  No more info needed.

[TheBoy]

decent monitor is the way to go, ones that support picture in picture & multiple inputs with a decent resolution!

OP has a TV, doesn't need to replace it.

[tunnie]

I found those adapters a doddle... just plug it in to the graphics card, other end into the TV, display properties finds the monitor and bingo!

Most CRT tellies won't report back res, and can't deal with the 'strange' res and refresh of computers - hence normally having to use awkward resolution and refesh software.

Has to be Radeon, as Nvidia GeForce don't put out the sync in the way required by TVs...

Humm, i had a old Geforce MX 4400 in my old PC... i used a S-Video output from that, to a old 15" tube tv.

Windows picked it up in display settings with out any additional software, only the graphics card driver.

I asked about the graphics card, cause it my have their own drivers rather than 3rd party stuff.

I have Matrox drivers at work, to get the 3rd monitor working i had to install their own software so that i could have independent control over the duel head PCI card.

I found ATI Software usually will pick up extra monitors or TV's plugged in, least that was the experience i had

[TheBoy]

I found those adapters a doddle... just plug it in to the graphics card, other end into the TV, display properties finds the monitor and bingo!

Most CRT tellies won't report back res, and can't deal with the 'strange' res and refresh of computers - hence normally having to use awkward resolution and refesh software.

Has to be Radeon, as Nvidia GeForce don't put out the sync in the way required by TVs...

Humm, i had a old Geforce MX 4400 in my old PC... i used a S-Video output from that, to a old 15" tube tv.

Windows picked it up in display settings with out any additional software, only the graphics card driver.

I asked about the graphics card, cause it my have their own drivers rather than 3rd party stuff.

I have Matrox drivers at work, to get the 3rd monitor working i had to install their own software so that i could have independent control over the duel head PCI card.

I found ATI Software usually will pick up extra monitors or TV's plugged in, least that was the experience i had

TV-out or s-video is always 640x480, hence entirely useless really.

OP isn't looking for multi monitors simultaneously - a simple vga switch would be easier

[pete.h]

I'm going to try the cheapest solution first , which seems to be getting a vga switch box.  Money's a bit tight at the mo what with credit crunch and all , don't fancy me chances of selling the idea of a new moniter to the wife !

You were beginning to lose me a bit with the technical stuff aswell (as mentioned it's not my forte)  so I'll try the simple stuff first. Thanks very much for your help again , I'll no doubt be back with some more questions !!

[tunnie]

check the capability of the VGA switch before you get it, seen some that only support 640x480  

[TheBoy]

I'm going to try the cheapest solution first , which seems to be getting a vga switch box.  Money's a bit tight at the mo what with credit crunch and all , don't fancy me chances of selling the idea of a new moniter to the wife !

You were beginning to lose me a bit with the technical stuff aswell (as mentioned it's not my forte)  so I'll try the simple stuff first. Thanks very much for your help again , I'll no doubt be back with some more questions !!

As said earlier, before splashing out on switch box (usually around a fiver from car bootys or 'computer fairs' at local school etc), see how well it works just moving the cable between the 2 as and when.

Once you know its good, then by the switch box...

[Kate]

Why not just buy a new graphics card?  

They start from just £12 at Novatech.  Then you can plug a monitor and TV in the back and use the free software you get with the card to switch between the two devices.

This would allow you to set the resolution from your computer.  You will need a DVI to VGA adapter as most cards come with 1 VGA and 1 DVI.

Have a look at this:

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?NOV-FX2128

[TheBoy]

Why not just buy a new graphics card?  

They start from just £12 at Novatech.  Then you can plug a monitor and TV in the back and use the free software you get with the card to switch between the two devices.

This would allow you to set the resolution from your computer.  You will need a DVI to VGA adapter as most cards come with 1 VGA and 1 DVI.

Have a look at this:

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?NOV-FX2128

Trouble is, if you don't always want both screens active, sometimes, the clone fails if it can't seen other screen thats Off, requiring reboot to fix.

[Kate]

Why not just buy a new graphics card?  

They start from just £12 at Novatech.  Then you can plug a monitor and TV in the back and use the free software you get with the card to switch between the two devices.

This would allow you to set the resolution from your computer.  You will need a DVI to VGA adapter as most cards come with 1 VGA and 1 DVI.

Have a look at this:

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?NOV-FX2128

Trouble is, if you don't always want both screens active, sometimes, the clone fails if it can't seen other screen thats Off, requiring reboot to fix.

I've never had that problem and use a hot key for switching.  The Nvidia Geforce 8400GT is good.

[pete.h]

Thanks for the info,  I'm gonna try the vga switch first. I come over all funny when these things get technical and the idea of an actual physical switch appeals to my aged brain.
If it doesn't work I'll be back for some computer lessons !!