multi-screen setup questions

[R3MF]

these questions are regarding dual-view not horizontal-span

Q1 - can i game with dual-view without having to run in windowed mode which many games cannot do, and looks ugly to boot?

i have a 2005FPW and wish to get a 1704FP to sit along side it, the vertical resolution is not the same for both monitors so i cannot use horizonal span, but i am a gamer so using two screens cannot impede the PC's central function.

Q2 - if i had a 2405FPW and decided to get a 2001FP could i run them in horizontal-span as the vertical resolution is the same?

Q3 - if the new 6150 chipset allows triple screen output like ATI's express200 chipset, will i be able to run three screens in dual-view mode (as opposed to horizontal-span)?

it would be ace to have a setup with a 20" 16:10 widescreen flanked on either side by 17" 5:4 screens. the centre screen for gaming (if this is possible) while the flanking screens have your web-browser, file manager, AIM clients etc.

Q4 - if nVidia's nView untility fully fucntional in linux? i.e. it would be a bitch to buy two 17" screens only to find that they weren't used when i am in SUSE!

cheers

R3MF

 

[R3MF]

*bump from page 4 obscurity*

 

[Ig]

Originally posted by: R3MF
these questions are regarding dual-view not horizontal-span

Q1 - can i game with dual-view without having to run in windowed mode which many games cannot do, and looks ugly to boot?

i have a 2005FPW and wish to get a 1704FP to sit along side it, the vertical resolution is not the same for both monitors so i cannot use horizonal span, but i am a gamer so using two screens cannot impede the PC's central function.

A1 - Yes, but you can't move mouse from the primary monitor to do stuff on the secondary when a game is fullscreen. If the game allows you to move the mouse to the secondary display, any clicking will likely minimize the game and move whatever app you clicked on to the foreground.

Q2 - if i had a 2405FPW and decided to get a 2001FP could i run them in horizontal-span as the vertical resolution is the same?

A2 - Sorta, but not really. Horizontal-span is limited to the same resolution, so no 1920x1200 + 1600x1200. Only 1600x1200 + 1600x1200.

Q3 - if the new 6150 chipset allows triple screen output like ATI's express200 chipset, will i be able to run three screens in dual-view mode (as opposed to horizontal-span)?

it would be ace to have a setup with a 20" 16:10 widescreen flanked on either side by 17" 5:4 screens. the centre screen for gaming (if this is possible) while the flanking screens have your web-browser, file manager, AIM clients etc.

A3 Dual-view treats each output as a seperate desktop extention. So you could 1280x1024 + 1680x1050 + 1280x1024, but same restrictions as A1 apply. Useful for looking at maps or reading chat/aim but you'll have to tab out to reply or browse.

A little tip, if you plan on this. Have the extend desktops directly above or left of the primary if you don't want it to shift when you play a game in a resolution that is different from the primary's desktop resolution.

Q4 - if nVidia's nView untility fully fucntional in linux? i.e. it would be a bitch to buy two 17" screens only to find that they weren't used when i am in SUSE!

A4 - From the quick search I did, dual-view seems to work. Don't know about an nVidia utility to help you to set it up.

 

[R3MF]

thank you for the response.

A1 - as long as the game will be in fullscreen mode on the primary screen (2005FPW) i am happy.

A2 - shame about that, no good reason for that really.

A3 - "A little tip, if you plan on this. Have the extend desktops directly above or left of the primary if you don't want it to shift when you play a game in a resolution that is different from the primary's desktop resolution. "
i didn't understand this.......?

A4 - i wonder if Triple View works, (provided the nVidia chipset supports this feature)?

many thanks

 

[Ig]

Originally posted by: R3MF
A3 - "A little tip, if you plan on this. Have the extend desktops directly above or left of the primary if you don't want it to shift when you play a game in a resolution that is different from the primary's desktop resolution. "
i didn't understand this.......?

Let's say you have a desktop resolution of 1600x1200 on your primary monitor and 1280x1024 on your secondary monitor. With the secondary on the right of the primary monitor in the display properties, the secondary monitor starts at desktop coordinates of 1600,0 (0,0 is the upperleft corner of the primary monitor).

When you play a game in fullscreen at 1024x768, the secondary monitor will now start at 1024,0. So the desktop viewed on the secondary monitor will shift but leave the opened windows where there were. Possibly moving them off screen.

If you 'virtually' place the secondary monitor above or to the left of the primary monitor (in the display properties), it's place in relation to 0,0 will never change. So no shifting.

A4 - i wonder if Triple View works, (provided the nVidia chipset supports this feature)?

Might work. Since you can do dual monitors with seperate cards and dual monitors with a dual-head card, you might be able to use them together.

 

[R3MF]

cheers.

the situation with co-ordinates seems unecessarily complicated. surely a game being played in the primary screen should only display in the primary screen.........?