How to run two monitors on one system?

jackmell

Under Windows, what does it take to hook-up two monitors so that when I move a window off the right side of monitor 1, it appears on the left side of monitor 2 sitting on the right side of monitor 1?


Any of you guys have that set up? If so, is it useful or mostly just a play-thing? Need two cards or do you need a special card with two video outputs?

I assume it require an operating system upgrade and drivers.

Thanks,
Jack

Borek

I have a two monitor video card, based on Radeon X1950 Pro. No need for special upgrades, it is enough to install drivers. Windows already have some support for more than one monitor - since at least W2K. Before I had some other Radeon, and earlier it was Matrox G400 Dual Head or something like that.

I think I have read it is also possible to install more than one video card, but I have no idea about details.

jackmell

Ok, thanks. What about the user-interface? Do you just use the mouse to move smoothly a window across one screen to the right, and that window smoothly begins appearing from the left side of the other screen? Or do you operate the monitors essentially independently, opening and closing windows on each one? For example, when I boot-up, and all my icons get drawn on the screen. So with a dual-monitor, that would happen on just one screen, say the left one, then as I start opening, moving windows, I can just slide them across to the other monitor?

minger

For the most part, theses days dual monitor setups are quite easy. One typically needs a dual-capable video card. Many "aftermarket" cards are capable of dual output. I have a Radeon 4850. I believe I got mine for under $100 off of Newegg.

There are a few different options for exactly how you want to configure your monitors. Most people run something called Dual-View, where each monitor acts separately, but you can move between them easily.

Another common is horizontal span, where both monitors act as one. The main difference between the two is that in the former a maximized screen will only take up one monitor, whereas in the latter full screen encompasses both (noting that horizontal span is usually only available if both monitors are running at the same resolution).

There is also options for rotated monitors and "vertical spans". In all honesty, in this day in age, I consider a dual-monitor setup almost necessary. Try one out and you'll immediately see how much more efficient you can be (at work or play) with minimal investment.

jackmell

Ok, thanks. Not something I want to do immediately, but it sounds very tempting. :)

Borek

This is my desktop:



My left monitor is positioned about half a feet lower (I have a fancy computer desk), and what you see reflects that fact (you can position monitors any way you like in operating system).

jackmell

I don't understand. Where's the vertical gap between the two monitors? No way you could post a picture of the actual hardware huh? Guess maybe you'd have to straighten out. Mine's cluttered. Also, do you need special monitors for a dual system or will any do. I just bought a 23" "Life is Good" LCD monitor. If I get the Radeon card, could I just get another monitor just like it, and bam! Got duals? :)

Is the software easy to install and configure?

Borek

That's how it looks on the desk.



Installation of the drivers was not more complicated than installation of drivers for a single monitor

jackmell

Oh, I see. So you're using dual-view and not horizontal span. And didn't bother to tidy-up neither. :)

Thanks for takin' the time to show me that. It's tempting for me not so much to have them but something rather qualitatively different than anything I have ever worked on with computers. Yeah, if I got that . . . Jack's back. :)

Borek

Huh? This is a tidied-up version. There was even a place for a cat.

Mark44

LOL! I didn't notice the cat before, but now I see it staring out from under the shelf!

rcgldr

ATI's triple head technology called "eyefinity", supports 3 monitors (last I read, you need two Nvidia cards to get 3 or more monitors):

http://www.amd.com/us/products/techn...eyefinity.aspx

There are also (or at least one) "seamless" triple wide monitors.

haxtor21

the ati HD5770 has dual HDMIs and dual DVI, this 4 connections. quite bada$$ for 120$.

http://www.provantage.com/xfx-hd577xznfc~7PINE0JE.htm