Dual monitors

[pcslookout]

Ok I decided to make use of my old 19" NEC MultiSync FE 950+ CRT monitor, it is about to go though soon sense it makes a noise sometimes when turned on and you have to move the wire around or else you get a yellowish colors on the monitor. I don't want to throw it away because I can keep it for a spare monitor if my LCD goes out again. The LCD is a 20" NEC MultiSync 20WMGX2. The main one is the lcd and a CRT is the secondary extended part of the desktop.

My problem is all the windows I have on the secondary monitor can't be used without my games minimizing on my primary monitor right after I click on them. Is there anyway prevent this from happening? I was hoping to be able to still use my program really quickly while playing games on my primary monitor. That way I don't have to constantly alt tab. I don't mind alt tabbing, I have 8 GB of ram, but for some games it takes far to long still. This is my first time trying dual monitors as well and I love the advantage of being able to surf the internet while a map downloads.

 

[aka1nas]

You'd have to run the game in window mode if it supports it.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: aka1nas
You'd have to run the game in window mode if it supports it.

Thanks but some of my games don't have that I don't think. What then? Is there a program out there that will make any game run in windowed mode please? Like for example I don't think Call For Duty would work or Bioshock.

If not is there any other way or am I out of luck?

 

[pcslookout]

Ok I figured out you just can't do it with most games and running in windowed mode is sometimes slower.

Can't be done with most games not even Windows 7 now

Found plenty of different programs and information for dual monitors nothing I read so far says it is possible. Still going to look a lot more though. Not giving up this easily.

http://www.vtbook.com/
http://www.realtimesoft.com/ultramon/overview/
http://tom.zickel.org/splitmonitor/
http://www.mediachance.com/free/multimon.htm
http://www.realtimesoft.com/multimon/products.asp

Can't be done.

http://www.tomshardware.com/fo...full-screen-game-email
http://social.technet.microsof...42bf-a297-041dace770b0
http://www.techsupportforum.co...re-moved-hardware.html
http://forums.tweaktown.com/f1...t-minimize-game-24901/
http://www.trap17.com/forums/P...l-Monitors-t48682.html
http://www.garagegames.com/com...orums/viewthread/21826
http://www.tech-forums.net/pc/...-monitor-setup-188419/
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/t215889.html
http://www.gamespot.com/pages/....php?topic_id=26982113

 

[pcslookout]

Back to a single monitor. Dual monitors suck.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: pcslookout
Back to a single monitor. Dual monitors suck.

At least with dual monitors, you can still see other programs on the second monitor while you play games. This is handy if you want to read info about the game you're playing while you're in the game (a walk-through maybe), or have a chat window open so if someone messages you, you can read it without leaving the game and decide if it's worth your time to be interrupted with it.

Seems like being able to view a second screen while gaming but not being able to interact with it is better than neither of those two.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: peritusONE

Originally posted by: pcslookout
Back to a single monitor. Dual monitors suck.

At least with dual monitors, you can still see other programs on the second monitor while you play games. This is handy if you want to read info about the game you're playing while you're in the game (a walk-through maybe), or have a chat window open so if someone messages you, you can read it without leaving the game and decide if it's worth your time to be interrupted with it.

Seems like being able to view a second screen while gaming but not being able to interact with it is better than neither of those two.

Sure but whats the point?

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: peritusONE

Originally posted by: pcslookout
Back to a single monitor. Dual monitors suck.

At least with dual monitors, you can still see other programs on the second monitor while you play games. This is handy if you want to read info about the game you're playing while you're in the game (a walk-through maybe), or have a chat window open so if someone messages you, you can read it without leaving the game and decide if it's worth your time to be interrupted with it.

Seems like being able to view a second screen while gaming but not being able to interact with it is better than neither of those two.

Sure but whats the point?

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: peritusONE

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: peritusONE

Originally posted by: pcslookout
Back to a single monitor. Dual monitors suck.

At least with dual monitors, you can still see other programs on the second monitor while you play games. This is handy if you want to read info about the game you're playing while you're in the game (a walk-through maybe), or have a chat window open so if someone messages you, you can read it without leaving the game and decide if it's worth your time to be interrupted with it.

Seems like being able to view a second screen while gaming but not being able to interact with it is better than neither of those two.

Sure but whats the point?

That is hardly a big enough advantage.

 

[BFG10K]

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Back to a single monitor. Dual monitors suck.

Yep, that's why I'd take a single 2560x1600 display over two 1920x1200 displays any day.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: BFG10K

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Back to a single monitor. Dual monitors suck.

Yep, that's why I'd take a single 2560x1600 display over two 1920x1200 displays any day.

Well well looks like I am not the only one!

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: peritusONE

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: peritusONE

Originally posted by: pcslookout
Back to a single monitor. Dual monitors suck.

At least with dual monitors, you can still see other programs on the second monitor while you play games. This is handy if you want to read info about the game you're playing while you're in the game (a walk-through maybe), or have a chat window open so if someone messages you, you can read it without leaving the game and decide if it's worth your time to be interrupted with it.

Seems like being able to view a second screen while gaming but not being able to interact with it is better than neither of those two.

Sure but whats the point?

That is hardly a big enough advantage.

Advantage for what? It's just convenient. But whatever, not like it really matters.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: peritusONE

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: peritusONE

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: peritusONE

Originally posted by: pcslookout
Back to a single monitor. Dual monitors suck.

At least with dual monitors, you can still see other programs on the second monitor while you play games. This is handy if you want to read info about the game you're playing while you're in the game (a walk-through maybe), or have a chat window open so if someone messages you, you can read it without leaving the game and decide if it's worth your time to be interrupted with it.

Seems like being able to view a second screen while gaming but not being able to interact with it is better than neither of those two.

Sure but whats the point?

That is hardly a big enough advantage.

Advantage for what? It's just convenient. But whatever, not like it really matters.

To be able to play two games at once, play a game while using a program, etc.

 

[niggles]

MS Flight Simulator has multi monitor support and I believe Star Trek Armada does as well.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: niggles
MS Flight Simulator has multi monitor support and I believe Star Trek Armada does as well.

Supreme Commander.

Some racing sims also have hooks for external monitoring programs which read telemetry data etc, quite helpful to have 2 monitors for that. One for game and one for telemetry.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Dual monitors aren't really optimized for games. However when it comes to productivity/multitasking dual 1920x1200 will be far better investment compared to a single 30inch display.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: niggles
MS Flight Simulator has multi monitor support and I believe Star Trek Armada does as well.

I don't play those games.