Thinking of going dual monitor if it meets my expectations...

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jEct2

Golden Member
Mar 1, 2005
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I thought I'd post it here since I have multiple questions about TV tuners & going dual monitors, all current dual monitor users are welcome to provide information.

I currently have this (received editor's choice @ Tom's)

I'll be moving out soon to live on my own. I'm thinking of buying another one. The number one reason why I want to go dualie is I'd rather spend another $400 for a dual monitor + TV tuner setup than having a separate TV. But I don't know a thing about how everything will connect to each other... I'll just start with questions:

Connectivity
1. Is this even feasible? My videocard (Geforce Ti200) has only one plug which is obviously occupied by the current monitor. If I buy another LCD, where does that one go? Do I have to spend more $$ on a new or additional videocard?

2. Do I need an extra cable outlet from the wall for my TV tuner?

3. Just how does everything connect to each other? Two monitors, one video card & TV tuner card!??!?

Fuctionality
4. With the dual setup, I'm still limited to playing full screen video games & watching DVDs in single monitor correct?

5. Can I watch TV with one monitor fullscreen while I use my PC on the other monitor?

6. Can I watch TV with one monitor full screen while I watch DVD/WMP movies on another?

7. How much does DVI make a diff? (on either single or dualie setup) I'm currently using analog. I hear it's more placebo and analog is perfectly fine...

TV Tuner
8. What do you recommend? What do I need to take advantage of High Def screen? I hear Hauppauge is good.

9. How much should I spend? Diff between hardware/software recording is just CPU usage and not quality of the video right?

Overall
10. Do you think it's wise to spend another $400 for a dualie? Wouldn't it be just that expensive to upgrade my monitors in the future since I have to replace two? (I'd hate mismatching monitors...)

11. Anything else?

Thanks!
 
dug777

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
4
0
firstly u need a new gfx card, and secondly, duallies>j00 ;)

they are awesome, once you use a dual monitor setup for any length of time, you can't go back ;)
 
J

JustAnAverageGuy

Diamond Member
Aug 1, 2003
9,057
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76
Originally posted by: jEct2Connectivity
1. Is this even feasible? My videocard (Geforce Ti200) has only one plug which is obviously occupied by the current monitor. If I buy another LCD, where does that one go? Do I have to spend more $$ on a new or additional videocard?
Click to expand...

Yes

2. Do I need an extra cable outlet from the wall for my TV tuner?

You need to plug your tuner into SOMETHING ;)

4. With the dual setup, I'm still limited to playing full screen video games & watching DVDs in single monitor correct?

Yes, you may be able to get around the DVD part with some tweaking though.

5. Can I watch TV with one monitor fullscreen while I use my PC on the other monitor?

Yes

6. Can I watch TV with one monitor full screen while I watch DVD/WMP movies on another?

With some tweaking, yes

7. How much does DVI make a diff? (on either single or dualie setup) I'm currently using analog. I hear it's more placebo and analog is perfectly fine...

Depends on the monitor. DVI almost ALWAYS looks better though.

10. Do you think it's wise to spend another $400 for a dualie? Wouldn't it be just that expensive to upgrade my monitors in the future since I have to replace two? (I'd hate mismatching monitors...)

Then make your first choice a good one.

11. Anything else?

Yeah, wrong forum :p

 
N

notfred

Lifer
Feb 12, 2001
38,241
4
0

1. Is this even feasible? My videocard (Geforce Ti200) has only one plug which is obviously occupied by the current monitor. If I buy another LCD, where does that one go? Do I have to spend more $$ on a new or additional videocard?
Yes, you need a new or second card

2. Do I need an extra cable outlet from the wall for my TV tuner?
Assuming the TV tuner is a PCI card or USB accesory, then no, it should work fine the way it is

3. Just how does everything connect to each other? Two monitors, one video card & TV tuner card!??!?
I don't have a TV tuner, but my setup is two monitors on a desk, each with a cable running to a video card (one video card with two connections). It's not very complicated

Fuctionality
4. With the dual setup, I'm still limited to playing full screen video games & watching DVDs in one monitor correct?
I've seen it done on two, but DVDs with a big bar in the middle from the monitor bezel looks really crappy.

5. Can I watch TV with one monitor fullscreen while I use my PC on the other monitor?
Yes, same with DVDs.

6. Can I watch TV with one monitor full screen while I watch DVD/WMP movies on another?
Assuming your video card can handle it, probably.

7. How much does DVI make a diff? (on either single or dualie setup) I'm currently using analog. I hear it's more placebo and analog is perfectly fine...
I can't tell a difference by looking at the two

TV Tuner
8. What do you recommend? What do I need to take advantage of High Def screen? I hear Hauppauge is good.
No idea about TV tuners

9. How much should I spend? Diff between hardware/software recording is just CPU usage and not quality of the video right?
see last comment

Overall
10. Do you think it's wise to spend another $400 for a dualie? Wouldn't it be just that expensive to upgrade my monitors in the future since I have to replace two? (I'd hate mismatching monitors...)
Not if your primary reason is for multimedia stuff

11. Anything else?
I use dual monitors for development and graphics work. I can have photoshop open with one monitor dedicated to a workspace, and all my tools on another monitor. Or, I can have visual studio open on one monitor, and a web browser open on the other, so I can test the site I'm building as I work on it.

It's kinda pointless to do it for multimedia reasons. You can't watch two movies at once, and you can't read ATOT while watching a movie. You simply can't pay attention to both at the same time. If that's what you want to do, you'll quickly realize that while it looks cool to have al lthat stuff going on at once, you don't actually get any benefit from it.
 
RossMAN

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
78,927
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Now I'm tempted to hookup my Dell 1900FP using analog for some dual action.
 
J

jEct2

Golden Member
Mar 1, 2005
1,726
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What's a good dual monitor video card for about similar performance to GF3 Ti200?
 
quakefiend420

quakefiend420

Lifer
Aug 26, 2004
14,685
1
76
Originally posted by: dug777
they are awesome, once you use a dual monitor setup for any length of time, you can't go back ;)
Click to expand...

that the truth...i feel incapacitated on any other computer with only a single lowly monitor ;)
 
J

jEct2

Golden Member
Mar 1, 2005
1,726
0
0
Originally posted by: The Boss
why go dual when you can go triple ?

:beer:
Click to expand...

Only if I had $$$....

It seems it'll be pretty expensive...

LCD monitor $400 + TV tuner $70 + NEW videocard $100-150 = :brokenheart:
 
J

jEct2

Golden Member
Mar 1, 2005
1,726
0
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Originally posted by: notfred

It's kinda pointless to do it for multimedia reasons. You can't watch two movies at once, and you can't read ATOT while watching a movie. You simply can't pay attention to both at the same time. If that's what you want to do, you'll quickly realize that while it looks cool to have al lthat stuff going on at once, you don't actually get any benefit from it.
Click to expand...

Yes but then again, even for sole multimedia purpose, I think having a dual screen that you can use for both TV AND PC usage is better than having a $400 stand-alone TV. When the TV is off, you get to use that space for PC, which you can't do with stand-alone TVs.

You also get to take advantage of the existing PC sound system that you have instead of listening to the crappy TV speakers...
 
Snapster

Snapster

Diamond Member
Oct 14, 2001
3,916
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1. Is this even feasible? My videocard (Geforce Ti200) has only one plug which is obviously occupied by the current monitor. If I buy another LCD, where does that one go? Do I have to spend more $$ on a new or additional videocard?
No, you can buy a splitter cable if you want to be cheap and run dual on the one card/one output. Performance is reduced though, so a second card is advised.

2. Do I need an extra cable outlet from the wall for my TV tuner?
No, it should be controlled via software anyway just drag the viewer onto the monitor you wish.

3. Just how does everything connect to each other? Two monitors, one video card & TV tuner card!??!?
Two monitors, either connected to the one card(dual or single + splitter), or one card each.

Fuctionality
4. With the dual setup, I'm still limited to playing full screen video games & watching DVDs in one monitor correct?
As someone has said, it's possible but it requires the software to support it and has the drawback of the inch of monitor in the middle.

5. Can I watch TV with one monitor fullscreen while I use my PC on the other monitor?
Yes

6. Can I watch TV with one monitor full screen while I watch DVD/WMP movies on another?
Yes

7. How much does DVI make a diff? (on either single or dualie setup) I'm currently using analog. I hear it's more placebo and analog is perfectly fine...
Most wont notice the difference, some monitors have a visible richness difference when using DVI compared to analog though

TV Tuner
8. What do you recommend? What do I need to take advantage of High Def screen? I hear Hauppauge is good.
I've heard that as well, but I don't currently run one so I'm not best placed.

9. How much should I spend? Diff between hardware/software recording is just CPU usage and not quality of the video right?
see last comment

Overall
10. Do you think it's wise to spend another $400 for a dualie? Wouldn't it be just that expensive to upgrade my monitors in the future since I have to replace two? (I'd hate mismatching monitors...)
Steep fee if you just want to join the 'in' crowd in having a dual setup.

11. Anything else?
Benefits are for development/graphic work imho, other than that it's bragging rights



 
Mo0o

Mo0o

Lifer
Jul 31, 2001
24,227
3
76
DVI makes a BIG difference. It's one of my regrets of not having a dual DVI video card.
 
I

imported_Phil

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2001
9,837
0
0
Originally posted by: Snapster

2. Do I need an extra cable outlet from the wall for my TV tuner?
No, it should be controlled via software anyway just drag the viewer onto the monitor you wish.
Click to expand...

No-one seems to be understanding this bit.

Yes, you will need an extra cable outlet from the wall otherwise you haven't anything to plug into your TV tuner card.
 
oogabooga

oogabooga

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2003
7,806
3
81
i have a 2005fp and have a 15in lcd that i *could* use with it : but i choose just to single display.

you will need a video card with dual inputs (2xdvi, dvi+dsub, 2xdsub, etc). Or you might be able to plug in a pci video card, but realistically, one card with two is probally a lot less work in the long run.

You can watch tv on one and browse the other : I haven't able to run a game and watch tv (though i really really wanted to :p ) I didn't really tweak too many settings so it might be possible, but i just ended up having another computer run tv video while i play games (which is the comp the lcd is connected to)

with the tv tuner department : i have a wintv-pve by hauppauge. I think a pvr250, it's nice : works well.

dual display is nice : But really probally not the most neccesary thing ever, and unless you have cash to burn, i probally wouldn't. Would i dual display 2005fp's.. probally if i could : but i wouldn't drop extra cash.
 
Mo0o

Mo0o

Lifer
Jul 31, 2001
24,227
3
76
You can get quite a large tv for 400 bucks and you would be able to hook it up to any video card to play movies. That's another option.
 
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