Can you safely plug/unplug a DVI cable while computer & monitor are on?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Drew Tronvig
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Drew Tronvig

I'm trying to share a 1920x1200 LCD monitor (an HP L2335) between two
computers (with GeForce 6600 based video cards), but there doesn't seem
to be a Dual Link DVI switch for less than about $200. They all appear
to be active relays. There doesn't seem to be a straight mechanical
switch. Apparently this has been tried, but I hear there is a problem
matching impedance, I guess between the cables and the switch. So I'm
wondering if I could just move the monitor cable between computers
while they're running.

If I turn the computers off, I can certainly connect the monitor to one
computer or the other and start them back up. The LCD would be the
second monitor on either computer, so each computer would still have a
primary monitor in any case. The question is whether I can move the
monitor cable from one computer to the other while they're running
without damaging anything or crashing the computers.

Thanks for any help,
Drew
 
Drew Tronvig said:
I'm trying to share a 1920x1200 LCD monitor (an HP L2335) between two
computers (with GeForce 6600 based video cards), but there doesn't seem
to be a Dual Link DVI switch for less than about $200. They all appear
to be active relays. There doesn't seem to be a straight mechanical
switch. Apparently this has been tried, but I hear there is a problem
matching impedance, I guess between the cables and the switch. So I'm
wondering if I could just move the monitor cable between computers
while they're running.

If I turn the computers off, I can certainly connect the monitor to one
computer or the other and start them back up. The LCD would be the
second monitor on either computer, so each computer would still have a
primary monitor in any case. The question is whether I can move the
monitor cable from one computer to the other while they're running
without damaging anything or crashing the computers.

Thanks for any help,
Drew
Click to expand...
===========
While it may not be uncommon to do so, neither the VGA nor the DVI
connectors are truly rated for "hot plugging", so if you do so, it will be
at your own risk. Neither the PC nor the monitor manufacturer will back
their warranty if damage happens and they discover that hot plugging
has been performed. (OTOH, how they would know could be a long
discussion...)
BTW, I think you'll discover that the 2335 DVI in not a dual link.... and
that may change your situation a bit....
You could consider a "compromise" of using the DVI from one PC and
the VGA from the other - image degradation should not be to bad for
VGA. Then you can simply select the appropriate input to display from
the monitor bezel.

HTH
NGA
 
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