Trying to connect Mac and PC to one monitor

deedee
Posted:
in Genius Bar edited January 2014
I connected both my PC and my Mac to a monitor switch so I could use one monitor (Lacie monitor). The Mac screen appears to have a drop shadow (there are no problems when I switch to the PC screen). I tried switching the cables with no luck. This "ghosting" does not happen when the monitor cable is plugged directly into the Mac instead of being routed through the switch. Help, please! Thanks. <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 4
    splinemodelsplinemodel Posts: 7,311member
    I take it you are using such fine analog VGA cables. . . . . If the connections through the box aren't super, then the interference between the two lines and perhaps some resistances in the connection, then that's where your problem lies.



    Try using the box with the PC off. See if the problem is still there. Also try switching the positions of the two cables. Do this and report back. It could be that the PC video card just pumps out more current and thus is buffered against the interference while causing some for the mac, but I doubt it.
  • Reply 2 of 4
    deedee Posts: 3member
    Thanks... unfortunately neither of your suggestions were successful. I've tried every possible cable combination to no avail. I also tried turning off my PC and disconnecting it entirely from the switch box. The ghost shadow still remains. Do you think it might help to buy a higher quality switch? Any other ideas? Thanks again!
  • Reply 3 of 4
    scadboyscadboy Posts: 189member
    What sort of switchbox are you using? If it's one of those "looks like someone made it in their garage" bare metal boxes with a big honking knob, you're not going to get good quality. You need a KVM switch to ensure a clean signal and prevent interference. Also, you'll be able to use the same keyboard and mouse between your mac and pc, and some models also let you share audio, or share between several computers.



    check out belkin's line of KVM switches.



    <a href="http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatSectionView.process?IWAction=Load&Merchant_Id =1&Section_Id=200305&SuperParent=/56" target="_blank">Belkin SoHo KVM Page</a>



    ciao,



    Michael
  • Reply 4 of 4
    deedee Posts: 3member
    I am going to recheck my cables to make sure that they are Coaxial VGA cables, and not standard KVM cables. If they are KVM cables then I'd like to first try switching the cables. Do you think this might help? Otherwise I will go ahead and purchase a new switch (oh well). It is a fairly inexpensive switch that I got for free from a friend so I'm trying to avoid having to buy one. It actually also has ports for keyboard and mouse sharing but I have enough room for two sets. Thanks
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