How To Split My Computer Display To TV Screen and New Monitor

I’ve recently been asked this question:
Just wanted a bit of advice really, looking to buy a new hd tv and have just noticed you can get a tv/monitor combo, i have had a little look into the split screen and how it works, but don’t know a lot about it. I’ve found a monitor i like, i want a tv with freeview, but something i can still plug my xbox into, any idea if i could run dual monitors through my pc while easily changing to a tv when need be….

Here is my response:
Hello, there are many ways to connect your pc to your tv and use it as a “dual monitor”. Probably the most common way is to use an s-video output from your pc to your tv. You need to see what video output your pc or graphics card has first of all. Probably has a VGA output (the blue one you plug your monitor into) and maybe a DVI output (the white weird looking one). S-video outputs are small roundish sockets.

The TV you linked has a few ways to interface:
Interfaces: 1 x VGA – 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) ¦ 1 x HDMI – 19 pin HDMI Type A ¦ 1 x component video input ¦ 2 x SCART – 21 pin SCART ¦ 1 x DVI-D – 24 pin digital DVI

Your job is to get a cable that will link that tv to your pc! I use ebay as it is nice and cheap. I see it has a DVI interface so you could use DVI to DVI cable if you pc also has a DVI port. You also have a VGA port on the TV so could use VGA to VGA cable or you can even get a DVI to VGA cable depending what your pc has.

I’m not sure what the xbox has port wise as i’m a ps3 guy but I assume it has a HDMI port, the HDMI port on the TV will probably be the best way to link your xbox up to it but means you will need to buy another cable from ebay if your xbox didn’t come with one.

Once your have the two machines connected in any of the ways above the actual process of making them work as a dual monitor is normally the easy bit. With newer versions of windows/graphics cards it may autodetect, Otherwise you just need to find your monitor options and switch it into dual monitor mode.

I have run many dual monitors using most of the above methods and it takes some messing about sometimes but its a good thing to do if your up to the job! Hope this helps and let me know if you need anymore info.

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