What decides primary vs extended monitor?

NTAC

Senior member
May 21, 2003
391
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I have two monitors, one is a 22" wide screen the other is a 17" regular screen.

I re-formatted my system and now system is determined to use the 17" as the primary and the 22" as extended by default.

I know I can tell it ot make the 22" primary through the Catalyst software, but even if I re-arrange my plugs in the back it always seems to pick the 17". That seems a bit odd to me... just wondering what deterimines that.

I thought if I just swapped the DVI connectors that it would swap the roles, but it does not.
 

BallaTheFeared

Diamond Member
Nov 15, 2010
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Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization\Display\Screen Resolution

Set primary?

Should be an option in CCC to set primary/focus display as well.
 

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
21,938
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main.png


What he said, in a picture!


(In response to the below, 1995 called, it wants its UI back).
 
Last edited:

KingFatty

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2010
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Are the monitors using different connections (DVI, VGA, DP, HDMI)? If so, which monitor is using what?
 

NTAC

Senior member
May 21, 2003
391
1
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I should have been more clear, my bad.

Basically I want the 22" to be the number 1 monitor and the 17" to be the number 2 monitor when I ask them to show me how they are identified.

I swap the connections and it still makes the "17 the number 1 monitor.

Both are DVI connectoins.

I'm using 2 x 6950s in crossfire. I'm connecting both monitors to the first 6950 which I believe is the way to do it.

I just don't understand why it insists on marking the 22" monitor as the #2 monitor even if I swap connections.

I understand that I can force the 22" to be the "Primary Monitor" but I'm trying to play Madden 08 and if I'm using this dual monitor setup the game is not smooth.

I've just disconnected the 17" monitor to FORCE the system to acknowledge the 22" as the #1 monitor and now Madden runs fine.

SO I'm just guessing that for some reason Madden doesn't like running on what was originally the extended monitor, but I don't know that could be a wrong conclusion.

Bottom line, I want the 22" to be the #1 when I identify monitors. HOw can I do that?
 

96Firebird

Diamond Member
Nov 8, 2010
5,719
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I've always wondered how to change this as well. I have my 22" monitor hooked up via DVI, and my 32" HDTV hooked up via HDMI. For some reason, it wants my TV to be display #1, even though I want my monitor to be display #1. It doesn't really change much, but when I use the Win+P shortcut I have to pick "Projector Only" to use my monitor, instead of "Computer Only".
 

NTAC

Senior member
May 21, 2003
391
1
0
I've always wondered how to change this as well. I have my 22" monitor hooked up via DVI, and my 32" HDTV hooked up via HDMI. For some reason, it wants my TV to be display #1, even though I want my monitor to be display #1. It doesn't really change much, but when I use the Win+P shortcut I have to pick "Projector Only" to use my monitor, instead of "Computer Only".

So I figured it out..

You have to swap the monitors in the catalyst center and then set the one you want as primary.

So right click and say swap then swap with the other one, that will swap the numbers, then set the one you want as primary. Seemed to do the trick.