HDMI vs DVI splitter?

[cerulianbaloo]

I was hoping someone with some experience with both could tell me which tends to work better in terms of splitting the image and retaining most of the original quality. I'd prefer an HDMI one just because I have two HDMI cords already and zero DVI ones, but I've read mixed things on the HDMI splitters. Any suggestions or brand/model recommendations for either?

[BloodShed]

Because it's a digital signal, you should be fine when splitting a short DVI connection without needing a video signal booster.

However, you cannot split an HDMI connection. HDMI authenticates the display device during a handshake using HDCP. The unique key generated during authentication prevents connecting multiple displays to the same output.

Do you mean an HDMI switch box?

[Marulu]

Oculus VR actually recommends not to use a splitter, because it could lead to your computer not detecting that second screen as the Rift.
Some games require the Rift to be detected as both a human interface device and as a display, you would not be able to play such games on your Rift if you are using a splitter.

[cerulianbaloo]

@Bloodshed: Yeah you're prob right I think it is a switch box. But if that's the case that the format doesn't allow it to be split, then what the heck is this thing http://www.amazon.com/SANOXY%C2%AE-HDMI ... pd_sim_e_4

@Marulu: So what are people using in all the Rift videos where we see the image reproduced on another display? Are they just duplicating it? I'd think that would be upping the performance cost.

[Marulu]

@Marulu: So what are people using in all the Rift videos where we see the image reproduced on another display? Are they just duplicating it? I'd think that would be upping the performance cost.

I can´t speak for other people, but when using my Rift I always duplicate my screen.

[cerulianbaloo]

@Marulu: So what are people using in all the Rift videos where we see the image reproduced on another display? Are they just duplicating it? I'd think that would be upping the performance cost.

I can´t speak for other people, but when using my Rift I always duplicate my screen.

So do you notice that much of a perf hit when using that method? If not I may as well wait and save my money.

[Marulu]

@Marulu: So what are people using in all the Rift videos where we see the image reproduced on another display? Are they just duplicating it? I'd think that would be upping the performance cost.

I can´t speak for other people, but when using my Rift I always duplicate my screen.

So do you notice that much of a perf hit when using that method? If not I may as well wait and save my money.

I don´t notice a big hit in performance, I am using a Nvidia graphics card with 2GB DDR5 RAM.

[cerulianbaloo]

Which card? I'm not really sure what's going on under the hood when you use that method, is it essentially requiring 120 fps to work properly?

[Pokey]

Theoretically it doesn't need to rerender anything, just push the final render to another device. The overhead would be minimal.

[Marulu]

Which card? I'm not really sure what's going on under the hood when you use that method, is it essentially requiring 120 fps to work properly?

I don´t know of the top of my head, wait a bit I am going to check.

[cerulianbaloo]

Theoretically it doesn't need to rerender anything, just push the final render to another device. The overhead would be minimal.

Thanks for that. I was thinking I'd be having to switch back and forth between monitor/Rift while setting things up till I got a splitter. Guess not!

[Marulu]

I am using a Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 Ti.
You can find the specs of the card at the link below.
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop ... ifications

[BloodShed]

@Bloodshed: Yeah you're prob right I think it is a switch box. But if that's the case that the format doesn't allow it to be split, then what the heck is this thing http://www.amazon.com/SANOXY%C2%AE-HDMI ... pd_sim_e_4

Interesting device. It looks like a switchbox but it doesn't seem to actually switch. It seems to act like a splitter.

My assumption is that it works by acting like a single display and authenticating over HDCP from your video output to the box itself. The box then acts as a video output device of it's own and authenticates it's own secure connections across both outputs. That is probably why it's a box and not a simple cable like a typical analog splitters. So, your computer would probably detect only the box.

I suspect that, if you don't need two outputs at same time, you'll probably have less headache with an HDMI switch box. I don't speak from experience on this. I have not ever needed to split an HDMI or DVI signal. When my Rift arrives, luckily, I have 4 video outputs.

[3dvison]

Read this thread about an HDMI Splitter for $30 that chenhaus is having good luck with if you set it up right.
https://developer.oculusvr.com/forums/v ... tter#p3066


If your not a member, and can't use the link above, this is what he had to say.
Postby chenhaus » Fri Apr 05, 2013 3:05 pm

Here's the <$30 HDMI splitter we've been using for demos:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6812270376

This one is a little finicky about EDID reporting, but we've got a pretty stable connection sequence:

1) Make sure everything (computer, splitter, Rift, monitor) is powered on.
2) Plug the Rift directly to the GPU alone and verify that the computer recognizes it in the settings. "Screen Resolution" should report the display as "Rift DK" and the resolution as "1280 x 800".
3) Remove the Rift from the GPU and plug it into Output 1 on the splitter.
4) Plug the GPU into Input on the splitter. Wait and verify that the computer recognizes the Rift.
5) Plug the monitor into Output 2 on the splitter. Wait and verify that the computer recognizes the Rift.

We use HDMI because we don't always know what monitor/screen/TV inputs we'll have available at a venue, and HDMI is always a safe bet. Of course you can use DVI-HDMI cables from your GPU and to the Rift.