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Dual Monitors: How do they work?

jamesbond007

jamesbond007

Diamond Member
Ok, I'm interested in getting dual monitors for my system. I'll be running it on the Radeon 8500, both monitors will be identical. (I have yet to choose them)

What I'm wondering is...can I play StarCraft or a game in one and talk/surf in the other? I'm new to this, so I'm not quite sure how this works or if it's even possible. How would the keyboard/mouse know which monitor I want to work on?

Again, I don't know if this is possible.

TIA,
JB007
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EDIT: From ATi's site-
Attaching two displays to the RADEON 8500 offers you the ability to extend your desktop. The extended desktop mode is available with the Windows® 98, Windows® 98 SE, Windows® Me operating systems. In doing so you can increase your productivity by having different applications on different displays or even span an application (i.e., spreadsheet) across both displays. In effect you receive twice the display area resulting in increased efficiency and flexibility. HYDRAVISION? Multiple Monitor Management Software makes using multiple displays easy and further increases your productivity by adding features such as hot keys, multiple desktops and a Desktop Management pop-up menu. For more information on HYDRAVISION?, please see our interactive demonstration.

This just talks about extending the desktop. I'd like to have a game in one and a movie/internet/chat in another. This is what I'm looking to do.

Thanks
 
Depends on the mode

Clone: Same image on both screens, so no issue with mouse. Usefull for TV out etc, DVD playback.

Horizantal Span: The desktop exands to the left onto the second monitor. Good for Applications, playing movies on the second, etc...

Vertical Span: Simular to above, but up/down. I spose you could use it for publishing if you put the monitors in a stack.
 
So there's no way I can have two desktops that would be controllable dependant by using maybe hotkeys? Sounds like a second computer is what I'm looking for to do this with.
 


<< Attaching two displays to the RADEON 8500 offers you the ability to extend your desktop. The extended desktop mode is available with the Windows® 98, Windows® 98 SE, Windows® Me operating systems. In doing so you can increase your productivity by having different applications on different displays or even span an application (i.e., spreadsheet) across both displays. In effect you receive twice the display area resulting in increased efficiency and flexibility. HYDRAVISION? Multiple Monitor Management Software makes using multiple displays easy and further increases your productivity by adding features such as hot keys, multiple desktops and a Desktop Management pop-up menu. For more information on HYDRAVISION?, please see our interactive demonstration. >>



Just to let you know, this doesn't work in Win2k. Or at least I've heard of no one that has this working.
 
Just to let you know, this doesn't work in Win2k. Or at least I've heard of no one that has this working.

How about Windows XP? That's the primary OS I'll be using on this particular rig.

Thanks for the replies!
 
You are looking for something simular to virtual screens? Nvidia has a utility included in their newer driver called desktop manager which might help, it can control how apps appear on the screen. It may only work on Twinhead cards though (geforce 2 MX) as they have the best twin monitor/tv support.
 
Nope, can't do that :-( Bummer huh?

I would get a second cheapy computer for talk/surf on the second monitor. Also just to add to that, the original HydraVision for the Radeon VE SUCKED SERIOUS ARSE! And I've heard that it only got worse for the Radeon 8500. :-(
 
Also just to add to that, the original HydraVision for the Radeon VE SUCKED SERIOUS ARSE! And I've heard that it only got worse for the Radeon 8500. :-(

I'll pretend I didn't hear that. 😉

If Dell doesn't ship by the end of this week, Dell said the 7th, but I'll give them till the end of this week, I'm cancelling. The driver issue alone is making me have butterflies in my stomach.

I really think this card has potential...maybe ATi should just build the hardware and send it over to nVidia and let them make drivers. 😀
 
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