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Of HDMIs and Men
Arang
HUEYLEWISRegistered User regular
HUEYLEWISRegistered User regular
I recently bought a new computer screen, and long story short I have no cables that fit. My video card has two DVI ports, both of which are in use, and an HDMI port which I had thought would do nicely for the third. However, whoever made either my case or my video card had the foresight to make it impossible to insert an HDMI cable into the HDMI port without a piece of case getting in the way because the video ports are receded from the backside of the case. Basically, the HDMI cable that I have is too wide and won't fit, and neither will the DVI-to-HDMI M-to-M adapter that I have. My options as I see them:
1) Return. I can still do this and be left with two screens, which is still one more than I strictly speaking need. The screen was marked down so I am unsure of whether or not this is actually possible, plus it would be a fair amount of hassle to repackage it, mail it, etc.
2) Get a second video card. This option has the drawbacks of me having to find one I can afford that is compatible with what I already have, then finding it, buying it, installing it plus extra cost. I don't really like this option a lot.
3) You excellent folks could help me toward my goal! Are there narrower HDMI cables available for sale? Is there some clever workaround I have overlooked? These, and many other questions, need answers.
If you feel like you need technical details or pictures to answer, just ask and I'll see what I can do.
1) Return. I can still do this and be left with two screens, which is still one more than I strictly speaking need. The screen was marked down so I am unsure of whether or not this is actually possible, plus it would be a fair amount of hassle to repackage it, mail it, etc.
2) Get a second video card. This option has the drawbacks of me having to find one I can afford that is compatible with what I already have, then finding it, buying it, installing it plus extra cost. I don't really like this option a lot.
3) You excellent folks could help me toward my goal! Are there narrower HDMI cables available for sale? Is there some clever workaround I have overlooked? These, and many other questions, need answers.
If you feel like you need technical details or pictures to answer, just ask and I'll see what I can do.
Arang on
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Does your video card use a full-sized HDMI cable connection? Or does it use a 'mini-to-full" adapter?
Is it an aftermarket card?
http://foglabs.tumblr.com
I am linking it because somehow it is 800k, tell me if I have taken a picture of the wrong thing
In any case, which part of the case is obstructing it? If it's the little flap that is the mounting point for the cards, I don't think I can advise trimming it away. You may want to try shaving down the HDMI plug instead. Of course, you would run the risk of cutting too deep and ruining your cable.
If the problem were the strip of metal between two card slots, I actually say to use a nibbler instead of a dremel. A nibbler will cut out easily-caught chips of metal, instead of hurling metal filings all about.
Anyway, I probably won't get around to all that before tomorrow afternoon at the very earliest, so keep suggesting if you have any good ideas. Thanks so far!
Getting a second video card is most likely what you'll need for running a third screen regardless of getting the plugs to fit. Also, the second card does not need to have any particular capability with the first card. The only time you need identical cards is when you have both cards driving the same screen like in a crossfire setup. What do you intend to use your third monitor for? If it's just more real estate space for your desktop, then a cheap pci video card would work just fine (something like this).