Reddit mentions of HDMI to DVI Adapter w/Gold Plated Connector (Male to Female)

Biggest question I have is why two desktops?

I can't speak to the room layout since you need those doors. However, If your monitors have the ability and you use both gaming machines yourself, I personally would do the following:

• Move both desktops to a location off the desk top. Say, on the far left side. We're going to be scooting you slightly to the right anyway so there's no problem. You can put one outside the desk leg and one inside if they fit that way. You could even stack them if you think the Corsair can take it. Either way, I suggest putting the laptop on top of them like you do now
  
• Install Synergy+ or a related free software to use one keyboard/mouse for all three machines if you can install it on your work laptop. That lets you get rid of one keyboard/mouse and you can potentially keep your laptop plugged in to your system all the time depending on your monitors. However, the one on the far right looks like an Asus VE247h or similar and it has three inputs. You're only using HDMI and you can use an HDMI to DVI adapter to use another. Then you have input control at your fingertips.
  
• Go triple-monitor. Put your 27" in the middle and the two 24"s on the sides. You have the space for it. This leaves your right hand side (writing side) for arm support or handwritten notes. Yes, I see that paper pad and tablet there.
  
• Wire up whatever combination of the computers to monitors you can. For example, monitors 1 and 2 go to gaming computer 1 and laptop and monitor 3 is always on desktop 2. That or some combination thereof, depending on your laptop's capability (psst: you can use a USB to HDMI video card to extend if you need or want it. I use 2 of them for my work laptop for 4 total screens. There are USB to other output adapters too)
  
• Ideally, get arms for your monitors. That'll get them off your desk, give you room for your mouse/keyboard/speakers, and enable you to hide cables easier. I have these and they work pretty well if you don't move your monitors much.
  
• Now cables and peripherals. Use either double sided tape or screws to mount your power strips under your desk at the back. Same with the Arris. You don't need those on your table. Sinice you're an Ikea guy, grab some cable baskets and put them under there too. That lets you run your extra cables out of sight.

You just described DVI. DVI can also be used with HDMI with a cheap adapter.

This should help clarify what he means by dual link.

As for double ended he means it's a DVI-D-to-DVI-D cable as opposed to a DVI-D-to-HDMI.

And yes, it would need some sort of adapter.

No, that was not the adapter. That is a splitter (one output to two displays). You would need a DVI to HDMI adapter.

yup. Both are digital signals so it's not much of an issue

https://www.amazon.com/Generic-GC2080-Adapter-Plated-Connector/dp/B000FUVNX8

No HDMI port... FYI.

~~Grab one of these for $2 + Free Shipping. Has good reviews as far as I can tell.
http://www.amazon.com/Generic-GC2080-Adapter-Plated-Connector/dp/B000FUVNX8~~

Edit: see below for proper connector

According to Newegg the DVI port is DVI-D with HDCP support, meaning an adapter like this one should work

Get an HDMI to DVI adapter? $2.19 on Amazon.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908

faster than the 550ti for $10 more after rebate

that hard drive is made for laptops, it'll work just fine but you'll need an adapter plate to get it to fit in the case

you're buying a previous generation CPU and motherboard, not a problem so i'm just letting you know. you can get an i5 3570k and a z77 motherboard for a little bit more if you're so inclined

the HAF 912 is a cheap case disguised with molded plastic, the NZXT source 210 elite is a better case in every way for around the same price

power supply is overkill and kinda expensive, the corsair CX430 is $22 after rebate and will power your PC just as well

any video card that has DVI out will be able to output to HDMI with an adapter that usually comes in the box. HDMI and DVI have the same pins, so adapter (if you don't get one) are like $1 online: link. won't output audio though, so you'll need a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable if you don't have one already

No, only DisplayPort connections can run multiple displays off one port.

HDMI to DVI adapters definitely exist:

http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-Adapter-Plated-Connector-Female/dp/B000FUVNX8

better alternative is HDMI to DVI adapter

Going from HDMI to USB won't work. And you can't daisy chain using DVI.
If you have HDMI output available on the macbook, you can get a HDMI-> DVI adapter/cable if the monitor does not have HDMI input.

Either something like this http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-Adapter-Plated-Connector-Female/dp/B000FUVNX8 if you have a DVI cable.
or a straight up HDMI-DVI cable: http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-HDMI-DVI-Adapter-Cable/dp/B001TH7T2U/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1418893883&sr=1-1&keywords=hdmi+dvi+cable

Whether or not the macbook will output to two monitors at the same time you'd have to get a Mac user to answer, but I can't imagine that it wouldn't.

That's a bit of a relief, I was not prepared to buy a new monitor.

Any kind of adapter would do? Kinda like this?

Yes adapters are a thing. https://www.amazon.com/Generic-GC2080-Adapter-Plated-Connector/dp/B000FUVNX8

Any reason that you arent gonna just use the DVI port? As far as I know every 960 comes with one.

You can get HDMI-DVI adapter. HDMI and DVI are electrically compatible, HDMI is basically DVI with audio and smaller connector.

https://www.amazon.com/Generic-GC2080-Adapter-Plated-Connector/dp/B000FUVNX8

> I'm all ears on how to plug a DVI cable into a HDMI port

Oddly enough, what the other guy didn't tell you, with his lifetime experience on working with computer hardware is that most of the DVI and HDMI protocols are shared. i.e. most of the time, the connector is irrelevant, just buy an adapter and turn one into another. Things like these:

https://www.amazon.com/Generic-GC2080-Adapter-Plated-Connector/dp/B000FUVNX8

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-HDMI-DVI-Adapter-Cable/dp/B00NH11X64/

But I never remember which end is male or female, if I had to guess, I think end of the HDMI cable is male. That would make the second one the better choice. But I really can't remember about the DVI end.

The tedious differences between DVI and HDMI should not matter to you (or to your needs at least). HDMI also carry sound, DVI can also include analog RGB signal (etc)

Also the max resolution that can be carried aren't only dependent on the cable, the GPU do have limitations of their own. I can't find the specs of the Radeon HD 4600, I don't know if it can push 1440p.

Now for the driver issue, you're gonna have to buy a box of donut or a handful of cupcake and nicely ask the network peeps to come and install the right driver for the card, since cupcakes are so good, they would be so kind :)

Go HDMI to DVI. It will be cheaper as VGA will need a converter and not just an adapter.

For example:
http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-Adapter-Plated-Connector-Female/dp/B000FUVNX8

The Y40 doesn't have multiple outputs so if you want a third monitor you'll need a USB to HDMI adapter.

For example: http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-SuperSpeed-2048x1152-1920x1200/dp/B00BPEV1XK

No issues with different resolutions if they are going to be extended desktops.

Next-gen steambox revealed

> Still, generally speaking you don't have to look at system requirements when buying a console game.

You usually don't have to do that for gaming PCs, too. I've been gaming on PC for years, and I never once referenced system requirements. I used to manually adjust settings, but with nVidia's GEForce Experience software, I don't even need to do that, as it optimizes settings automatically based on your PC.

>I understand that newer PC's and Laptops will have HDMI out on them but I still see several people with older system's that are without one. And because they aren't using them for gaming I doubt they feel the need to buying a new one until their current one stops working.

In that case, you can buy a VGA to HDMI adapter off Amazon for $5 or a DVI to HDMI adapter off Amazon for $2.

Cool cool, 1xDVI 2x DP. What you can do with this is pick up an HDMI-DVI adapter like this one and slap it into the HDMI output of the card. Bob's your uncle, now you're running.

e: if you have to, you can go to Best Buy, but I wouldn't recommend it because Best Buy is terrible. MicroCenter and Frye's are your best bets, followed by Amazon/Newegg.

Looks much better.

A couple things to consider though.

RAM - I would change this to 2x4GB instead of 1x8GB. Yes in the future if you wanted 16GB of RAM (not sure why you would) you would have to toss your old sticks, but with only 1 stick you dont get the benefits of dual channel. In this situation, the benefits of dual channel are necessary.

GPU/Mobo/Monitors - So the mobo you picked only has two video output ports; 1 DVI and 1 HDMI. The problem is the monitors you picked only has VGA and DVI, so you wouldn't be able to plug both of them in. The easiest thing to do is get an adapter for HDMI to DVI. Another option is adding a cheap video card (An RX460 would suffice) to avoid the issue all together.