Topic: another Tech question Dual Monitors. (Read 12500 times)

Sirgod · « **on:** January 17, 2004, 08:52:38 pm »

My system stats.

Quote:

Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1 (build 2600) MSI MS-6712 1.0
Processor a Main Circuit Board b
1.67 gigahertz AMD Athlon XP
128 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache Board: MSI MS-6712 1.0
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. Version 07.00T 04/02/01
Drives Memory Modules c,d
33.80 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
24.75 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

JLMS XJ-HD166S [CD-ROM drive]
MSI CD-RW CR52 [CD-ROM drive]

Maxtor 6E040L0 [Hard drive] (33.81 GB) -- drive 0 512 Megabytes Installed Memory

Slot '0' has 256 MB
Slot '1' has 256 MB
Slot '2' is Empty
Local Drive Volumes

c: (on drive 0) 33.80 GB 24.75 GB free

I'm getting ready To install a Hitachi 62 gig Hd, as soon as I can figure out the jumpers as another Drive for Backup/Dual Boot.

However, My vid card is PCI, and I have a gforce MX 220 agp card (32 mb), What I'm curious about is If I run a dual Monitor, which card should be the first, and which the second. Also can I run say SFC on one , while having a movie/Music playing on the other? f so how would I set this up.

Thanks Guys,

Stephen

Towelie · « **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2004, 09:03:42 pm »

I am a few years out of date on this one, but the last I heard on most standard systems, dual monitors was only possible if one was monocrome. But back then, it was because monocrome and VGA used different areas of base memory.

I would assume nowdays it is possible. Don't most games and other programs have option to change what video adapter to use?

Good luck and let me know what you are up to.

Sirgod · « **Reply #2 on:** January 17, 2004, 09:08:57 pm »

I'll keep you and everyone informed, Towlie My friend. I actually got the idea From reading a forum at pcclub.com, apparently one guy had made a system able to Watch TV, while playing a game at the same time, But I kinda suspect, He was running 2 MB's, in one case.

Stephen

Towelie · « **Reply #3 on:** January 17, 2004, 09:19:06 pm »

I would just use a television or HDTV for that.

Bonk · « **Reply #4 on:** January 17, 2004, 09:41:11 pm »

My card, the Matrox Millenium G450 dualhead handles two monitors no problem (though there are few good dualhead games), the ATI radon series can handle dual display through it's TV or video output as well (but not in the same way).
I highly recommend a visit to http://www.matrox.com as things have evolved considerabley since I purchased my G450, the new Parhelia series looks nice... To make the most of multiple monitors is a rather expensive proposition however - it is best to use identical monitors - but not necessary.

Mind you, some around here might appreciate these shots from some of the games enabled for the Parhelia multimonitor:

NWN:

IL-2 Sturmovik: Forgotten Battles :

Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force

Edit: but ah, I see you already have two video adapters... theoretically you should be able to install both, I'd use the AGP adapter as the main one and set each application to use the appropriate adapter as Towelie suggests. I've never tried that myself though. I'm not sure your system would be able to handle playing a game and decoding video at the same time... Perhaps a hardware DVD decoder card like the HollywoodMagic is in order, which I have used sucessfully in such applications (though now it has no drivers for XP...)

jualdeaux · « **Reply #5 on:** January 17, 2004, 11:55:37 pm »

I was just looking at the new parhelia line myself Bonk. They do look rather interesting.

Towelie · « **Reply #6 on:** January 18, 2004, 02:08:51 am »

Multiple monitors for games, I just want good VR and I'm happy!

TOCXOBearslayer · « **Reply #7 on:** January 18, 2004, 08:32:14 am »

Oh I wish I could remember where I saw it..... but there is a pic on the web somewhere that has a guy's set up for MS's flight simulator.... amazing... he has like 12 monitors covering every view angle.....

It was impressive

jualdeaux · « **Reply #11 on:** January 18, 2004, 11:14:21 am »

To continue the hijack, I wasn't really considering the use of a parhelia for games. Actually, I haven't played a pc game in a very long time. I really wanted it because it is rather akward to flip back and forth between apps with only one monitor. Plus, if I want to monitor something, I have to have it buried underneath other windows which is really inconvenient. Having multiple monitors would make life much easier.

Bonk · « **Reply #13 on:** January 18, 2004, 11:43:06 am »

Its funny, when I first got my G450 I put the monitor from my server on it too (only 800x600) and played with dragging windows from one to the other for a while just because I could, neat stuff! But it really does call for identical monitors or at least the same resolution. My G450 only has 32MB RAM and it splits it for dual display and I need the other monitor for the server (remote all the time is a pain) anyway so it didn't work out very practical for me, but I do use the TV adapter for the second output sometimes. But with monitor prices now and the parhelia I think it is a lot more practical.

Dash Jones · « **Reply #14 on:** January 18, 2004, 06:40:05 pm »

I've used dual monitors (never triple monitors as shown above though) myself, but found I'd rather use an extra large monitor instead, or projection screen.

The only one that I thought looked pretty cool was the flight sim/airplane. Put one monitor on each side, and the primary one to the front and that seems as if it would be rather cool!

Sirgod · « **Reply #15 on:** January 18, 2004, 08:24:58 pm »

Along time ago, I had a friend who had this 2 little moniter's (maybe 9") on either side of his 15 " monitor, that I believe he was using for quake one. But man that was along time ago.
Stephen

Barabbas · « **Reply #16 on:** January 19, 2004, 12:32:41 pm »

You always want the best card to be primary, and that would be whatever you plug into the AGP slot. All your games will default to the primary, and you won't get any high-performance effects out of the secondary card.

I absolutely LOVE my dual monitor set-up, and it's a blast with a TV Tuner card. Windows XP will run two monitors all by itself, but there's a real slick piece of software called 'UltraMon' that gives you many new options for dual monitors and makes it truly awesome.

JMM · « **Reply #17 on:** January 19, 2004, 01:08:27 pm »

I just wish I was rich and could afford a plasma display tv that can be used as a monitor! I'd love to see what OP and SH2 look like on one of those babies!

Captain Krenn · « **Reply #19 on:** January 19, 2004, 04:28:52 pm »

Both my laptop and my home computer have dual monitor plugs on their only graphic cards and can
run two desktops pretty easily.

The video cards are both dual monitor support and run two monitors.

Or am I missing something here and am shooting my mouth off in the wrong direction?

<wouldn't be the first time>

Sirgod · « **Reply #20 on:** January 19, 2004, 04:43:28 pm »

Hehe, No your with us. I was wondering about the topic, Buecause I have both an AGP card an A PCI card. Unfortunatly, I don't have a Dual Monitor Card.

I'll play around with IT later on this week though, se what I can come up with.

stephen

Towelie · « **Reply #22 on:** January 17, 2004, 09:03:42 pm »

I am a few years out of date on this one, but the last I heard on most standard systems, dual monitors was only possible if one was monocrome. But back then, it was because monocrome and VGA used different areas of base memory.

I would assume nowdays it is possible. Don't most games and other programs have option to change what video adapter to use?

Good luck and let me know what you are up to.

Sirgod · « **Reply #23 on:** January 17, 2004, 09:08:57 pm »

I'll keep you and everyone informed, Towlie My friend. I actually got the idea From reading a forum at pcclub.com, apparently one guy had made a system able to Watch TV, while playing a game at the same time, But I kinda suspect, He was running 2 MB's, in one case.

Stephen

Towelie · « **Reply #24 on:** January 17, 2004, 09:19:06 pm »

I would just use a television or HDTV for that.

Bonk · « **Reply #25 on:** January 17, 2004, 09:41:11 pm »

My card, the Matrox Millenium G450 dualhead handles two monitors no problem (though there are few good dualhead games), the ATI radon series can handle dual display through it's TV or video output as well (but not in the same way).
I highly recommend a visit to http://www.matrox.com as things have evolved considerabley since I purchased my G450, the new Parhelia series looks nice... To make the most of multiple monitors is a rather expensive proposition however - it is best to use identical monitors - but not necessary.

Mind you, some around here might appreciate these shots from some of the games enabled for the Parhelia multimonitor:

NWN:

IL-2 Sturmovik: Forgotten Battles :

Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force

Edit: but ah, I see you already have two video adapters... theoretically you should be able to install both, I'd use the AGP adapter as the main one and set each application to use the appropriate adapter as Towelie suggests. I've never tried that myself though. I'm not sure your system would be able to handle playing a game and decoding video at the same time... Perhaps a hardware DVD decoder card like the HollywoodMagic is in order, which I have used sucessfully in such applications (though now it has no drivers for XP...)

jualdeaux · « **Reply #26 on:** January 17, 2004, 11:55:37 pm »

I was just looking at the new parhelia line myself Bonk. They do look rather interesting.

Towelie · « **Reply #27 on:** January 18, 2004, 02:08:51 am »

Multiple monitors for games, I just want good VR and I'm happy!

TOCXOBearslayer · « **Reply #28 on:** January 18, 2004, 08:32:14 am »

Oh I wish I could remember where I saw it..... but there is a pic on the web somewhere that has a guy's set up for MS's flight simulator.... amazing... he has like 12 monitors covering every view angle.....

It was impressive

jualdeaux · « **Reply #32 on:** January 18, 2004, 11:14:21 am »

To continue the hijack, I wasn't really considering the use of a parhelia for games. Actually, I haven't played a pc game in a very long time. I really wanted it because it is rather akward to flip back and forth between apps with only one monitor. Plus, if I want to monitor something, I have to have it buried underneath other windows which is really inconvenient. Having multiple monitors would make life much easier.

Bonk · « **Reply #34 on:** January 18, 2004, 11:43:06 am »

Its funny, when I first got my G450 I put the monitor from my server on it too (only 800x600) and played with dragging windows from one to the other for a while just because I could, neat stuff! But it really does call for identical monitors or at least the same resolution. My G450 only has 32MB RAM and it splits it for dual display and I need the other monitor for the server (remote all the time is a pain) anyway so it didn't work out very practical for me, but I do use the TV adapter for the second output sometimes. But with monitor prices now and the parhelia I think it is a lot more practical.

Dash Jones · « **Reply #35 on:** January 18, 2004, 06:40:05 pm »

I've used dual monitors (never triple monitors as shown above though) myself, but found I'd rather use an extra large monitor instead, or projection screen.

The only one that I thought looked pretty cool was the flight sim/airplane. Put one monitor on each side, and the primary one to the front and that seems as if it would be rather cool!

Sirgod · « **Reply #36 on:** January 18, 2004, 08:24:58 pm »

Along time ago, I had a friend who had this 2 little moniter's (maybe 9") on either side of his 15 " monitor, that I believe he was using for quake one. But man that was along time ago.
Stephen

Barabbas · « **Reply #37 on:** January 19, 2004, 12:32:41 pm »

You always want the best card to be primary, and that would be whatever you plug into the AGP slot. All your games will default to the primary, and you won't get any high-performance effects out of the secondary card.

I absolutely LOVE my dual monitor set-up, and it's a blast with a TV Tuner card. Windows XP will run two monitors all by itself, but there's a real slick piece of software called 'UltraMon' that gives you many new options for dual monitors and makes it truly awesome.

JMM · « **Reply #38 on:** January 19, 2004, 01:08:27 pm »

I just wish I was rich and could afford a plasma display tv that can be used as a monitor! I'd love to see what OP and SH2 look like on one of those babies!

Captain Krenn · « **Reply #40 on:** January 19, 2004, 04:28:52 pm »

Both my laptop and my home computer have dual monitor plugs on their only graphic cards and can
run two desktops pretty easily.

The video cards are both dual monitor support and run two monitors.

Or am I missing something here and am shooting my mouth off in the wrong direction?

<wouldn't be the first time>

Sirgod · « **Reply #41 on:** January 19, 2004, 04:43:28 pm »

Hehe, No your with us. I was wondering about the topic, Buecause I have both an AGP card an A PCI card. Unfortunatly, I don't have a Dual Monitor Card.

I'll play around with IT later on this week though, se what I can come up with.

stephen

Towelie · « **Reply #43 on:** January 17, 2004, 09:03:42 pm »

I am a few years out of date on this one, but the last I heard on most standard systems, dual monitors was only possible if one was monocrome. But back then, it was because monocrome and VGA used different areas of base memory.

I would assume nowdays it is possible. Don't most games and other programs have option to change what video adapter to use?

Good luck and let me know what you are up to.

Sirgod · « **Reply #44 on:** January 17, 2004, 09:08:57 pm »

I'll keep you and everyone informed, Towlie My friend. I actually got the idea From reading a forum at pcclub.com, apparently one guy had made a system able to Watch TV, while playing a game at the same time, But I kinda suspect, He was running 2 MB's, in one case.

Stephen

Towelie · « **Reply #45 on:** January 17, 2004, 09:19:06 pm »

I would just use a television or HDTV for that.

Bonk · « **Reply #46 on:** January 17, 2004, 09:41:11 pm »

My card, the Matrox Millenium G450 dualhead handles two monitors no problem (though there are few good dualhead games), the ATI radon series can handle dual display through it's TV or video output as well (but not in the same way).
I highly recommend a visit to http://www.matrox.com as things have evolved considerabley since I purchased my G450, the new Parhelia series looks nice... To make the most of multiple monitors is a rather expensive proposition however - it is best to use identical monitors - but not necessary.

Mind you, some around here might appreciate these shots from some of the games enabled for the Parhelia multimonitor:

NWN:

IL-2 Sturmovik: Forgotten Battles :

Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force

Edit: but ah, I see you already have two video adapters... theoretically you should be able to install both, I'd use the AGP adapter as the main one and set each application to use the appropriate adapter as Towelie suggests. I've never tried that myself though. I'm not sure your system would be able to handle playing a game and decoding video at the same time... Perhaps a hardware DVD decoder card like the HollywoodMagic is in order, which I have used sucessfully in such applications (though now it has no drivers for XP...)

jualdeaux · « **Reply #47 on:** January 17, 2004, 11:55:37 pm »

I was just looking at the new parhelia line myself Bonk. They do look rather interesting.

Towelie · « **Reply #48 on:** January 18, 2004, 02:08:51 am »

Multiple monitors for games, I just want good VR and I'm happy!

TOCXOBearslayer · « **Reply #49 on:** January 18, 2004, 08:32:14 am »

Oh I wish I could remember where I saw it..... but there is a pic on the web somewhere that has a guy's set up for MS's flight simulator.... amazing... he has like 12 monitors covering every view angle.....

It was impressive

jualdeaux · « **Reply #53 on:** January 18, 2004, 11:14:21 am »

To continue the hijack, I wasn't really considering the use of a parhelia for games. Actually, I haven't played a pc game in a very long time. I really wanted it because it is rather akward to flip back and forth between apps with only one monitor. Plus, if I want to monitor something, I have to have it buried underneath other windows which is really inconvenient. Having multiple monitors would make life much easier.

Bonk · « **Reply #55 on:** January 18, 2004, 11:43:06 am »

Its funny, when I first got my G450 I put the monitor from my server on it too (only 800x600) and played with dragging windows from one to the other for a while just because I could, neat stuff! But it really does call for identical monitors or at least the same resolution. My G450 only has 32MB RAM and it splits it for dual display and I need the other monitor for the server (remote all the time is a pain) anyway so it didn't work out very practical for me, but I do use the TV adapter for the second output sometimes. But with monitor prices now and the parhelia I think it is a lot more practical.

Dash Jones · « **Reply #56 on:** January 18, 2004, 06:40:05 pm »

I've used dual monitors (never triple monitors as shown above though) myself, but found I'd rather use an extra large monitor instead, or projection screen.

The only one that I thought looked pretty cool was the flight sim/airplane. Put one monitor on each side, and the primary one to the front and that seems as if it would be rather cool!

Sirgod · « **Reply #57 on:** January 18, 2004, 08:24:58 pm »

Along time ago, I had a friend who had this 2 little moniter's (maybe 9") on either side of his 15 " monitor, that I believe he was using for quake one. But man that was along time ago.
Stephen

Barabbas · « **Reply #58 on:** January 19, 2004, 12:32:41 pm »

You always want the best card to be primary, and that would be whatever you plug into the AGP slot. All your games will default to the primary, and you won't get any high-performance effects out of the secondary card.

I absolutely LOVE my dual monitor set-up, and it's a blast with a TV Tuner card. Windows XP will run two monitors all by itself, but there's a real slick piece of software called 'UltraMon' that gives you many new options for dual monitors and makes it truly awesome.

JMM · « **Reply #59 on:** January 19, 2004, 01:08:27 pm »

I just wish I was rich and could afford a plasma display tv that can be used as a monitor! I'd love to see what OP and SH2 look like on one of those babies!

Captain Krenn · « **Reply #61 on:** January 19, 2004, 04:28:52 pm »

Both my laptop and my home computer have dual monitor plugs on their only graphic cards and can
run two desktops pretty easily.

The video cards are both dual monitor support and run two monitors.

Or am I missing something here and am shooting my mouth off in the wrong direction?

<wouldn't be the first time>

Sirgod · « **Reply #62 on:** January 19, 2004, 04:43:28 pm »

Hehe, No your with us. I was wondering about the topic, Buecause I have both an AGP card an A PCI card. Unfortunatly, I don't have a Dual Monitor Card.

I'll play around with IT later on this week though, se what I can come up with.

stephen

News:

Topic: another Tech question Dual Monitors. (Read 12500 times) var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true};

Sirgod

Towelie

Sirgod

Towelie

Bonk

jualdeaux

Towelie

TOCXOBearslayer

Bonk

Sirgod

Bonk

jualdeaux

Sirgod

Bonk

Dash Jones

Sirgod

Barabbas

JMM

TB613

Captain Krenn

Sirgod

Sirgod

Towelie

Sirgod

Towelie

Bonk

jualdeaux

Towelie

TOCXOBearslayer

Bonk

Sirgod

Bonk

jualdeaux

Sirgod

Bonk

Dash Jones

Sirgod

Barabbas

JMM

TB613

Captain Krenn

Sirgod

Sirgod

Towelie

Sirgod

Towelie

Bonk

jualdeaux

Towelie

TOCXOBearslayer

Bonk

Sirgod

Bonk

jualdeaux

Sirgod

Bonk

Dash Jones

Sirgod

Barabbas

JMM

TB613

Captain Krenn

Sirgod

Topic: another Tech question Dual Monitors. (Read 12500 times)