Dual monitor question?

[berya]

I have a 20 inch Dell and 18 inch Dell (both flat screens). I'm only using the 20 right now. I'm thinking of buying a dual monitor card and use both monitors but I'm not sure how it's going to work out resolution wise since the 18 does not support 1200-1600 resolution. Does anybody know if this set up will work?

thank you

[elitegimp]

windows can handle two monitors with different resolutions, though it might take you some time to get used to it. It's a little quirky - any background image you might have is scaled to fit the smaller resolution.

* note: this is in the case of two separate video cards, but I can't imagine it being different for a dual head (I have one AGP video card and one PCI video card in my computer)

[Warik]

Some video cards support dual monitor displays with different resolutions on each, so yes, it is possible. As for which card(s) support that, you've got me. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Nanook]

I've used dual monitors (19 inch and 17 inch) with my win2k OS for the past 4 years. No problem at all, except as already posted, the downsizing of the image to fit the 17" screen.

[Tosh]

While we're on this can I ask how the hell it works ?

Does it just divide your screen into 2 so you can fit more on or will it be 2 independant displays? E.g. would I have to keep switching between ?

[Nanook]

In win2k, you can set it up several ways. I use the 2 monitors simply to increase my screen space so I can see several windows at the same time. For example, I am now typing on 2+2 and watching the stock market at the same time. You can also set the monitors up so they disply the same information. Great for teaching someone else what you are talking about.

[illunious]

[ QUOTE ]
While we're on this can I ask how the hell it works ?

[/ QUOTE ]

It combines the two displays into one. Two 1600x1200 resolution displays would become one 3200x1200 display. Here's a screenshot (http://free.one.picturehost.co.uk/illscreenshot.gif) of my 1600x1200 and 1920x1200 (pink line represents the space between the monitors).

[Piers]

Yes. My regular set up is a 20" flat screen running at 1600x1200 and a 21"CR running at 1280x1024.

You need to have either two graphic cards in your PC or a graphic card that supports multiple monitors. You will need a spare PCI slot to add an extra graphic card, be careful to get a PCI graphic card not an AGP card, which will probably just replace your existing one.

If you have the required graphic card(s) you can then configure the multiple monitor set up from the Display Properties/Settings dialog reached either by right clicking on the desktop or the control panel.

[Tosh]

[ QUOTE ]

It combines the two displays into one. Two 1600x1200 resolution displays would become one 3200x1200 display. Here's a screenshot (http://free.one.picturehost.co.uk/illscreenshot.gif) of my 1600x1200 and 1920x1200 (pink line represents the space between the monitors).

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the screen, 1 thing I don't get is why the windows toolbar isn't the whole way along ?

[CLC]

I purchased the nVidia 3DForce MX4000 TWIN video card from the link below. Took my old card out plugged this one in and PRESTO.

http://www.newegg.com/app/searchProductResult.asp?DEPA=1&bop=and&submit=Go&d escription=video+card&Range=1&srchFor=dual

I use a 19" monitor at 1600x1200 and a 17" monitor at 1024x768. They work together wonderfully. There is even room for future monitor upgrades.

[illunious]

[ QUOTE ]
1 thing I don't get is why the windows toolbar isn't the whole way along ?

[/ QUOTE ]

Not sure why. The buttons would be odd to use when one side is on the left and one side on the right.

It can be moved to the other screen, but I don't know of a way to have it span both.

[OrangeCat]

Any of the ATI monitors that support Hydravision and have two outputs can do that. I have 9800 XT where one is monitor is LCD and the other is CRT running at different rerfresh rates. Pretty good game card too.

http://www.ati.com/companyinfo/glossary/hydravision/features.html

[Tosh]

[ QUOTE ]
Not sure why. The buttons would be odd to use when one side is on the left and one side on the right.

It can be moved to the other screen, but I don't know of a way to have it span both.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is it possible that my current card supports dual monitors? It came in the computer and I never really checked any specifics. I'm guessing its more something I'd have to buy individually.

[illunious]

[ QUOTE ]
Is it possible that my current card supports dual monitors?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's unlikely, but easy to check. Just look for an additional VGA or DVI port on the the card. Mine has one of each and looks like this (http://tech-report.com/reviews/2002q4/radeon-9500pro/r9500-ports.jpg).

[Richard Berg]

Ultramon (http://www.realtimesoft.com/ultramon/) is an essential tool for multi-monitor folks, providing a smart extended taskbar among other things.

[Nanook]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
1 thing I don't get is why the windows toolbar isn't the whole way along ?

[/ QUOTE ]

Not sure why. The buttons would be odd to use when one side is on the left and one side on the right.

It can be moved to the other screen, but I don't know of a way to have it span both.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think it depends upon the video card. Mine is a Matrox 350 and the task bar on my monitors extends across both screens as a contiuous bar.

[MicroBob]

that's interesting that they actually have set-ups so that the bar goes the whole way across....i think that would be kind of weird but i guess i'm just used to the one-screen task-bar.

i was going to buy a video-card for my laptop....then i discovered it already had duel-monitor capability.

it completely rocks. it is very very easy to move the cursor from one monitor to the other.


i have my 15.4" laptop screen set at 1400x1000 and my cheap used 17" monitor-screen at 1200x900 (or whatever it is).

4 tables on the laptop screen......
2+2 and p-tracker and other miscellaneous stuff on the big screen.
playing 8 tables is fairly routine when i want to go that route.
or i'll have 4 table on one screen....and maybe a cheap or freeroll MTT or two on the other.



awesome stuff....and i dont even have a decent monitor. it will really rock when i splurge for a bigger flat-screen 1900x1400 res monster