dual monitors

[djdrew201]

I am a bit illiterate on the subject, and have a kindergarten knowledge comparable to most. I have a friend who wishes to use twin monitors (24" + windescreens) and wants to be able to select which programs appear on which monitor...

looking at around $160-$200 per card in a crossfire or Sli configuration (or can this be done with a single card) ....

what needs to be taken into consideration in building his system...

he'll be using a top line quad core and 6-8G of memory on a 64bit OS

is there separate software that needs to be purchased to run dual monitors with separate views on each one

 

[NoQuarter]

Any modern video card can handle 2 monitors alone (no need for SLI/Crossfire). For separate views on each monitor you just go into the graphics settings and select Extended desktop mode.

 

[lifeblood]

With modern OS's you have a range of choices. As the poster said above, you can run both monitors on one card (assuming it has two outputs which most vid cards do). At one time I had two different cards in my PC with two monitors on one card and a third on the second card. I also had at one time one monitor plugged into a discreet card and a second monitor plugged into the motherboards onboard video.

The onlyt trick is that you have to go into display properties, select the second monitor, and click "extend desktop...".

 

[djdrew201]

Lifeblood,

When you say "extend desktop"
what action does this perform, merely "stretching the desktop"
or giving the ability to select individual applications to open on the second monitor?

Kidergarten mind here, and "extending the desktop" seems to me to have horizontal length
mismatched to vertical tall? I know this sounds stupid, but I am good at seeming stupid...smiling and I am sure that's not how it works, but need to know before going and pricing parts, buying and then saying "whoops" (don't dig that)

if your patience holds out, teach me the basic principles if you would but not trying to go to classes and I am not trying to be longwinded about it (I'm good at that too) of the thing so I can the share the principles also,

I don't dig bein' a duh-me' - grins

 

[Lonyo]

Extend desktop means that you get an extra desktop which is just like your single main screen. You can drag things between the two screens (e.g. applications, windows, desktop icons). If you click "maximise", then an app maximises on the screen it's on (if it's on the border between two monitors, then it maximises to the one it's on most).
Each one acts like you would expect a single screen to, only there are two of them.

(Ignore the fact that there are three there).
I could have on app maximised on the left, one in the middle, and various windows on the right. You can see clearly that each monitor appears as a distinct unit.
You can have multiple monitors appear as a single 'blob' (using Eyefinity, and NV may still be able to do it, I know they could), but you do not have to. If you do choose the alternative mode, then maximising an application will make it take up the whole of both screens (if there are two). My example is with extended desktop mode where each screen is "individual" though.

This is how a desktop screen capture looks with various windows on the left, a fullscreen flash video on the middle, and another window on the right monitor.
The taskbar only appears on the middle window, (it is obscured by Flash being fullscreen in the pic), but you can download programs to "fix" that and make the taskbar appear across any or all monitors.

In my example, the resolutions aren't matched, so if the mouse cursor was at the bottom of the middle screen, and i tried to move it right or left to the side monitors, it would get "stuck" and not move onto them because there is no part of that screen to move on to (hence the black section in the screencap), moving the mouse up slightly so it's level with the bottom of the side monitor then allows you to move the cursor onto it, but if you buy equal resolution monitors it won't be a problem and you don't need to even think about it.

 

[LokutusofBorg]

If you're running Windows you don't need any other software. You can move most any program onto the second monitor by simply dragging it. Once you see how easy it is you'll see that your concern about it not working (or how to make it work) isn't really a concern at all. Some programs even remember to open over on the second monitor next time you launch them if that's where they were when you closed them. This doesn't work for all programs, but it does work for many.

If you want lots of functionality (features like a separate taskbar for each monitor, as Lonyo mentioned), you'll need a program like UltraMon ($).

If you just want easy window-management, then use Windows 7 plus WinSplit Revolution (free), which is what I use. Windows 7 has nice features for docking programs easily, and WinSplit has very handy keyboard shortcuts to move programs around however and wherever you want. I use it constantly, all day, every day.

The main thing I'd say is to make sure your friend's monitors have DVI inputs, and then get a video card with dual-DVI output. As examples:

This one has dual-DVI

This one doesn't, don't buy one like this

You can run both monitors off the single video card.

 

[Petey!]

Download Ultramon. Best program ever. If your using more then 1 screen anyway.

 

[lifeblood]

Download Ultramon. Best program ever. If your using more then 1 screen anyway.

djdrew201, you don't have to have any software to run multiple monitors, Ultramon or otherwise. However, as Petey! says, Ultramon does give you some really nice tools that Windows doesn't provide. I like running different wallpapers on each of my monitors which Ultramon and another free program called DisplayFusion allow.

Soory it took to long to reply to your question but I see Lonyo has replied far better than I could have.

 

[djdrew201]

I could not have asked for more input, support and help to a fashion and design as I have received! I am much more satisfied with this computer forum than they one I use to frequent and will continue to support and frequent the site.

NoQuarter, LifeBlood, LokutusofBorg and Petey ... thanks! Every bit of advice was of great help....

and not to lessen the degree of thanks for everyone else's help...a special thanks to Lonyo for the time and effort to make this so much more "eye candy" understandable! I know it took a bit to compile that, pictures and graphics included. With that and the extra tips and links from everyone, it all arranges well and helps much more than I can say, in deciding what to buy and shop for.

If this fellow wishes to go the route, although he doesn't have to necessarily do so, is he better off considering a system that is Crossfire or SLi compatible, or should he stay with a high end to middle range "single" video card ( $200 - $350) understanding he might run three monitors for the system to keep up with ? I realize an extra video card would up the heat a bit on the system but he plans it well ventilated.

thanks to one and all once again

 

[NoQuarter]

It depends a lot on exactly what he's planning on doing with this system. The number of monitors has no effect on performance if it's just for desktop use so any cheap video card setup works.

3 monitors is a little more complicated than 2 but you have a few options:

• Use a single Radeon 5xxx card and a DisplayPort monitor/adapter.
• Use any 2 video cards on any motherboard with 2x PCI-e slots with the primary card being used for gaming and secondary for extra video outputs (doesn't have to be SLI or Crossfire compatible because you won't be running them in SLI/Crossfire mode)
• Use a pair of like video cards in SLI/Crossfire for gaming, or 3+ monitor output when not gaming
• Use any single video card with a motherboard that has on board graphics with the ability to remain enabled with a discrete graphics card present (called SurroundView on AMD mobos, not sure for Intel)

If he's planning on gaming across 3 monitors the graphics card *does* need to be badass, anything from a single 5850 to dual GTX 470's in SLI would be good.


Personally I would use a single 5850 with a DisplayPort monitor, a single 5850 with a GT 240 for extra video outputs and PhysX processing, or a single 5850 and onboard graphics for the 3rd monitor.

 

[djdrew201]

Like I said, I'll most likely draw on your patience, however, if you appreciate an accomplishment in tutoring and mentoring a person into the field of display graphics, we should be alright...

if my build owner goes the high end route, I am going to fashion his system in this direction...

(wants and wants too, differs from "he has the bucks in his pocket" but he should be able to go this route with a $1200 to $1600 price tag on a built desktop)

http://www.amazon.com/AMD-Phenom-Thu...7955480&sr=8-2

AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition Thuban 3.2 GHz 6x512 KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Processor - Retail HDT90ZFBGRBOX

I will need a link for a good motherboard (I am an ASUS nut, even if their RMA dept takes 8 to 12 weeks to wake up) but will take any tips and IMO's you wish to offer...price range? not much over or around $250 on the motherboard...

I doubt with the budget he will be going solid state drives, but a Raptor or two might fit into the $'s to be spent...

so a couple of SLi or Crossfire will fit if they don't go over around $425 for both...

or would he be better in the three monitor setup with a $400 high end single card and running one monitor for normal activity off a secondary or "discreet card" (this is a new word for me and you might wish to define it for my lower learning level...I'm not hip for normal class and need to be in special education if you know what I mean)...

with the setup being in the $1600 bracket, I will have to find him the best available (for the price) memory in what? MHz range? going towards at least 4G and maybe hopefully at least 6G but not sure if he will be able to fit 8G in there for the money limit...running a 64 bit WIndows7 OS

If the price on the X6 core AMD is to high end, then he will be happy with a black edition quad AMD...

if you run across some links...send 'em on if its not too much trouble...send some links on the video card options too ad I will save everything and I will sure appreciate and associate the help as a great assistance on the build...

we'll be starting it this month...

he's a bit wishy dreamy on this stuff so I had to tell him to behave..his functions as far as programs won't demand the water cooling system he daydreams of nor his budget...a Ferrari is nice but he needs a good hi-performance TRUCK more or less...that can still go 4 wheelin for sport in the way of a build

but I would like to see him take architecture for graphics and display as he goes through college..gonna be tuff with a wife and kid and working his way through...but figured to go high end so quite a bit down the road he can handle the 3D manipulative CAD programs and design.....

not leave him wanting for good guts on his unit is all...

thx in advance

 

[lifeblood]

A discreet card is a card separate from the motherboard. You can have onboard video which is an IGP and has graphics integrated on the motherboard. You can also have a separate or discreet video card that you plug into a PCIe slot.

For the CPU and motherboard info your best bet is to ask in the Motherboard and CPU forums. The thing I’ll mention is that unless you plan on overclocking your not going to need an expensive motherboard. I have a “budget” motherboard which works perfectly for me but I don’t overclock.

If he really gets into CAD then he may end up getting a nVidia Quadro card which is designed for CAD (ATI also has an equivalent). However, those cards are very expensive so I would wait until he needs one before I shelled out the money. If he does not game, or is fine with gaming on a single monitor, then get a three display Eyefinity setup with 5850. If he needs a CAD rig later (and the 5850 can’t handle it) then he already has the displays, he just needs to replace the video card.

 

[imaheadcase]

I don't use any other settings besides default ones. You can drag windows to and back with win7 between monitors. The only problem is if you run any full screen apps, it takes control of one monitor over other. So mouse won't naturally move to 2nd screen.

Like others said though, if you want more functions software to do that as well. I like the fact i can websurf on one, while watching a movie or whatever on other.

 

[imaheadcase]

double post again..wtf forum is messing up.

 

[imaheadcase]

nevermind doublepost

 

[ASTOCADDIDS]

Yep, tried dif drivers. Still makes no dif. Installed ATI manager of dual monitors also, still the same

Wierd...