virtual displays for 2560x1440 monitor?

[birthdaymonkey]

I'm awaiting the arrival of a GTX 670, and once it arrives I should finally have enough GPU horsepower to game at 2560 resolution.

Currently I use a dual display setup with a 1920x1200 main display and a portrait-rotated 1280x1024 on the side.

I'd like to get rid of the dual display setup for a nice 27" monitor. The only thing stopping me from doing this is that I depend on the convenience of having two displays for both work and entertainment. It's really helpful to be able to quickly and easily throw documents onto the second display while I work in the first, or watch a Youtube video fullscreen on one monitor while reading forums on the other.

I realize that with a larger resolution, I'd have more room to arrange windows, but this wouldn't work for the fullscreen Youtube videos, and it makes working with multiple documents a bit cumbersome. What I'd really like is a way to create two virtual displays out of one monitor. Does anyone know of reliable software that would allow me to do this?

 

[KingFatty]

There is a thing "hydravision" but I think it's for AMD-only, perhaps you could use that as a starting point for a google search for hydravision for Nvidia or something.

But, why don't you keep all 3 displays for windows use, then when gaming just use the big monitor?

 

[vshah]

nvidia drivers used to have something called "NView" that let you partition your desktop into logical screens. no idea if it is still included or available (or if it would even work in windows 7)

 

[lopri]

Interesting.. I'm on a 2560x1600 screen and have been looking to replace it (like forever) with 3 x 1080p/1200p screens for the exact reasons you've stated.

 

[SickBeast]

Ubuntu and most Linux distributions will allow you to do this easily.

One trick in Windows 7 is you can push the "Start" key and either the left or right arrow key and it will make an app fill exactly half of the screen vertically. You can also use the up and down arrow keys.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

Ubuntu and most Linux distributions will allow you to do this easily.

One trick in Windows 7 is you can push the "Start" key and either the left or right arrow key and it will make an app fill exactly half of the screen vertically. You can also use the up and down arrow keys.

Thanks for that tip. I didn't know about that one.

I've tried to get Hydravision to do what I want (still have an ATI card installed at the moment), but while it supports virtual desktops, it doesn't actually seem to allow you to have more than one on screen at a time.

I did stumble on this application (Virtual Display Manager), which sounds like it's supposed to do exactly what I want:

http://www.ishadow.com/?tabid=115

Might try the evaluation version and see how well it works before I start saving up the $800+ to buy a new monitor. Looks like Samsung's coming out with a new revision of their 27" PLS screen that has a lot of potential:

http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/news_archive/26.htm#samsung_sb970

EDIT: Actually, it seems Hydragrid *almost* does what I want, but when I tell a Youtube video to go full screen, it still goes fullscreen instead of just fullscreening to my grid.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

But, why don't you keep all 3 displays for windows use, then when gaming just use the big monitor?

Trying to cut down on the amount of clutter on my desk for practical and aesthetic reasons.

 

[arkcom]

Thanks for that tip. I didn't know about that one.

I've tried to get Hydravision to do what I want (still have an ATI card installed at the moment), but while it supports virtual desktops, it doesn't actually seem to allow you to have more than one on screen at a time.

You're looking for the section called HydraGrid, rather than desktop manager.

edit: Just saw your edit. I noticed the same thing with full screen vids also.