Switching Video Output Between Monitor & HDTV

[lonb]

I've got a macpro with an 8800 video card. I've got two monitors connected, one to each of the dvi outputs. I'd like to add my HDTV (via HDMI) to the mix. I ONLY want to use the HDTV output when watching movies (or whatever), it will not be for daily usage.

What is the best (read: cheapest, most effective) way to do this?

My concerns are that I don't want to play with switching resolutions too much. And I don't want to mess up configurations each time I watch a movie.

My current thinking is to buy a powered DVI splitter:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10113&cs_id=1011302&p_id=4072&seq=1&format=2

And a DVI to HDMI cable:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10231&cs_id=1023102&p_id=2285&seq=1&format=2

I've also seen passive cable splitters:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10113&cs_id=1011304&p_id=2518&seq=1&format=2

The passive splitter seems to accomplish the same as the powered splitter, for a fraction of the price. However, I've read that there can be frequency issues, power conflicts, HDMI handshake problems, etc. Anyone have experience with this? Or are there just straight resolution conflicts between having a LCD monitor on one output and an HDTV on the other?

I'm not worried about continuous output to the HDTV, as the TV itself has a video input selector.

I'd LOVE some feedback. I'm totally new to the Mac and not sure how any of this will sort out.

TIA
- Lon

 

[walterblaurock]

I'm in the same boat as you. I have a dual monitor setup and a projector which I would like to use when watching movies. If you were to get a passive splitter and only have one of the devices on at a time, would there be any interference at all? As long as the device isn't processing the data, there would (as far as I can tell) be no difference between that and a single connection to the display that is currently powered on.

I would really like to find a passive DVI KVM switch and run it backwards. Since there would be no electronics, but rather a hardware switch, it seems as if that would work. The hard part is finding such a device...