connecting to multiple displays from HDMI output

[suzybee]

Hi gang,

I have a PC laptop which has 1 HDMI output (no other video out socket).
If i upgrade to Arena i know i will want to be able to experiment with multiple projections/displays.

It looks like the best way to do that is with a Matrox Triplehead 2Go.
However, they don't do one which has HDMI connection.
On the Matrox website it looks like they're saying for HDMI you should use the Digital version and use an adapter to convert the HDMI to DVI.
The outputs on the Matrox are also DVI so i imagine i'd also need to convert to HDMI or VGA to take the signal from the Matrox to the projectors?

Is the Matrox Triplehead 2Go the best option to use for an HDMI signal or is there something else more suitable?

Thanks for your advice!
Suzybee

[elgarf]

Hi.

You can use Matrox Triplehead 2Go or Datapath x4 (a bit more pricely) with DVI-HDMI/VGA converters.

I'm doesn't sure about Triplehead + DVI-VGA converter, but Datapath x4 + DVI-VGA converter works pretty good, so you can connect 4 projectors to your laptop.

[suzybee]

Thanks Elgarf -i just noticed the new Datapath fx4 uses HDMI.
It's hard to find a price for it but i saw a Datapath x4 on the Amazon website for just under £1,000 (!) so the new version (fx4) must also be very expensive.

The Datapath website says it can do lots of adjustments to the output for each display -but you can do that stuff with Resolume Arena anyway...

I wonder if it's worth paying so very much for the Datapath fx4 when you can get the Matrox Triplehead 2Go for under £300?

Does anyone have an opinion on that?
Thanks,
Suzybee

[Zoltán]

with the matrox you can only have 3 outputs which have to be the same resolution,
with the x4 you get 4 outputs, and you can set them to different resolutions, and even to the same input area

[elgarf]

Both triplehead and datapath do same things, but datapath is more durable. If triplehead is enough for you, it will be a good start to connecting multiply projectors to your laptop.

If you need only VGA outputs, I think you can use analog edition of triplehead and HDMI-VGA converter to send signal to triplehead.

[Zoltán]

and btw, the triplehead digital edition has a vga and a dvi input, which is signal compatible with hdmi, so you only need a cheap passive adapter from hdmi to dvi, and the three dvi outputs are dvi-i which means both digital and analog, so there you need 3passive dvi to vga adapters if you go to vga or 3 more of the hdmi to dvi, if you go to hdmi projectors.

[suzybee]

Hi ravensc and elgarf,

Thanks for your helpful replies, it will enable me to make a much more informed decision.

Cheers!
Suzybee

[suzybee]

...looking at the options and the fact that i'm new to multiple projections, i think it will probably make sense to go for the Matrox Triplehead 2Go Digital version, and go from HDMI to DVI, into the Matrox, and then from DVI to either VGA or HDMI to the projectors.
Then if i get really serious with multiple projections in the future i can upgrade to the Datapath fx4.

Thanks again for the great advice, guys!
Suzybee

[Oaktown]

A few add'l notes to this thread.

1) DVI is a subset of HDMI so an HDMI to DVI Adapter Cable will work both ways HDMI>DVI and DVI>HDMI for the video signal but will not carry audio.

2) Matrox Triplehead and Datapath X4/fX4 are not quit the same thing.

• Besides the number of outputs, the fact that each output can have its own resolution and frequency and proven durability, the main difference is that the Datapath X4/fX4 are programmable and can work as a standalone video processors. That means you could record your Resolume Arena composition and play it off a DVD player as a standalone player.

3) The Datapath fX4 has been announced at USD $1980.00 and is still in Pre-Order mode.

[jaydeeshow]

Hi guys,

I recently bought a fx4.
Next week I'm doing a hall walls mapping with 4 hitachi cp-wu5500 hdmi. Would you recommend me from the fx4 to go display port or hdmi?