Wanting a 2 Monitor Config

jdiesel33 · 06-20-2005, 08:31 AM

Hello,
I was wondering if someone could help me achieve this. I was in our IT dept a while back and this guy had 2 monitors up and running on his desk. Both had different things up on them, for example Excel on one, OUtlook on the other. Anyway, he had 2 screens, but could use his mouse on both. In other words, when his mouse pointer reached the right side of the leftmost monitor, it would then pop up on the left side of his rightmost monitor. By just moving his mouse over he could use it on both screens, I'm assuming he was only using 1 PC, but I guess Im not sure. This would be very handy for me as I have duties that would benefit greatly from being able to have multiple apps going at once from the same PC. Does anyone know how to do this? He isnt working here now, so I cant ask him. Thanks for the help

JDiesel

v-six · 06-20-2005, 08:50 AM

Its actually not that hard of a task. With a few exceptions, the first prerequisite is a video card with two video outputs. (Usually a decent card will come with an analog D-sub output, an s-video output, and a dvi output). If you have two monitors that both have a standard analog input, you can get a converter to change the dvi plug on your video card to analog, or vice-versa if both of your monitors have a dvi input.
At this point, just plug in the monitors, and set up a dual-view in your video card software. There are several options, you can have them display the same image (usually called clone), or a dual-view which is what you want. In my personal experiences, I've found that nVidia cards have better software for dual monitor support, but thats just one goon's opinion.
If you want more info, or recommendations for a card, let us know!
Question for other members: is there a way to do this with 2 video cards, or does it have to be 1 with dual outputs?

v-six · 06-20-2005, 09:02 AM

Another thought, is make sure you have an AGP or PCI Express slot on your motherboard. If not, you're not out of luck, you just have to purchase a PCI card. Its just better to find out now before you come to find that your brand spankin new card wont fit in your computer without the use of a staple gun and a hammer.
If you don't know if you have an AGP slot (or PCI Express if you've got a new system), run Everest. Its a decent system information program.
Lavalys Everest
Also, here's link to a PCI, AGP, and PCI express card, just to give you an idea of what you're looking at. Unless you're a serious gamer, I'm thinking your price range should be $40-$100 in US dollars for a new video card (if you don't already have one with dual outputs. A good 40 dollar card will get the job done, and a 100 dollar card will get it done with a little more muscle. Probably somewhere inbetween would fit your needs just fine. I'm running a Radeon 9600 w/ 256 mb memory; it cost me about $70, and it gets the job done for games, web design, image editing, and dual support
AGP 4x/8x card
PCI Card
PCI Express card

**JamesO** · 06-20-2005, 09:24 AM

Some laptops with the proper video card will allow a second display to be added on the VCA connection and operate while the primary laptop screen is also functioning.

Here is a link that may be helpful as well:

http://www.9xmedia.com/Video_cards/4...o%20cards.html

I was in a situation where we used 3 to 4 montiors and sometimes switched outputs onto a video wall. Typically 1 monitor per application, we had to run many seperate applications at the same time. I think we had the ColorGraphic cards as I recall??

We found a track ball worked best for this configuration, moving the cursor across multiple screens would have been painful with a standard mouse!

JamesO

**Terrister** · 06-20-2005, 11:08 AM

You can also do this with 2 video cards. I have a pci and agp card in this computer. Each runs one monitor. If you are just using it for surfing, email and stuff like that, it does not need to be a $200 card.

Also, not all video cards that have dvi and vga outputs will let you use both at the same time. Check the specs on the card before you purchase it.

This is easier if you are running Windows XP. I forget if you can run dual monitors on 98, but I don't think so. Think Win 2k can.

v-six · 06-20-2005, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terrister

You can also do this with 2 video cards. I have a pci and agp card in this computer. Each runs one monitor. If you are just using it for surfing, email and stuff like that, it does not need to be a $200 card.

Also, not all video cards that have dvi and vga outputs will let you use both at the same time. Check the specs on the card before you purchase it.

This is easier if you are running Windows XP. I forget if you can run dual monitors on 98, but I don't think so. Think Win 2k can.

Thats a bummer that some won't let you use both at the same time, I've never seen a problem with that. Is it the hardware or software that won't allow it?

ebackhus · 06-20-2005, 02:37 PM

The Matrox cards were among the first to be designed to support multiple monitors and actually sported dual GPUs. Just about any card with dual output (VGA+VGA, VGA+DVI, DVI+DVI, VGA+S-Video) will independently drive two monitors. Even my laptop's lackluster S3 video can support two independent displays and actually playback different videos on both screens.

Volt-Schwibe · 06-21-2005, 05:08 PM

my s3 virge video is the exact same way, little 8 meg thing, and it supports dual monitors just fine.

jdiesel33 · 06-27-2005, 08:08 AM

Hi,
Thanks for the input and suggestions.

Anyway, if I have just a simple, bottom of the line PCI video card with just the VGA output, if I hook up a monitor to that along with the other monitor connected to the AGP card, will this work for what I want? I want to have 2 monitors so I can run and see different things at the same time. And then when the mouse goes off of one screen it pops up on the other. I guess, if possible, I would want to be able to drag and drop from one to the other. Would that be possible? I am running XP. What would I need to do to make this work?

Thanks Again

**Terrister** · 06-27-2005, 09:46 AM

1st thing to do after installing the PCI card is to go into CMOS. Some have an option as to which video card to start as the main card. Make sure it is set to AGP in your case.

Now when you get into Windows go to the display control panel and settings. You should see two monitors in the box. 1 and 2. If you want to have monitor 2 (pci) to the right of your main monitor, drag monitor 2 to the right of monitor 1. Apply and ok. Now when your mouse gets to the right of monitor 1 it should show up on the left side of monitor 2.

It takes some getting used to.

jdiesel33 · 06-27-2005, 11:12 AM

Hmmm...I tried doing this yesterday but couldnt get it to work. I installed 2 different PCI cards(both from the latter 1990's and with just a VGA output) and couldnt get either to work. IT recognized them properly in the hardware device manager, but had a little yellow exclamation icon on the name and when I went into the properties it said that it could not be started. Any idea why it would do that? I didnt change anything in the CMOS. Could that be th reason?

Jimmy

06-20-2005, 08:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
jdiesel33 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 24 OS: XP	Wanting a 2 Monitor Config Hello, I was wondering if someone could help me achieve this. I was in our IT dept a while back and this guy had 2 monitors up and running on his desk. Both had different things up on them, for example Excel on one, OUtlook on the other. Anyway, he had 2 screens, but could use his mouse on both. In other words, when his mouse pointer reached the right side of the leftmost monitor, it would then pop up on the left side of his rightmost monitor. By just moving his mouse over he could use it on both screens, I'm assuming he was only using 1 PC, but I guess Im not sure. This would be very handy for me as I have duties that would benefit greatly from being able to have multiple apps going at once from the same PC. Does anyone know how to do this? He isnt working here now, so I cant ask him. Thanks for the help JDiesel

06-20-2005, 08:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
v-six Manager Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Gardiner, NY Posts: 2,076 OS: OS X for mac, XP Pro for PC	Its actually not that hard of a task. With a few exceptions, the first prerequisite is a video card with two video outputs. (Usually a decent card will come with an analog D-sub output, an s-video output, and a dvi output). If you have two monitors that both have a standard analog input, you can get a converter to change the dvi plug on your video card to analog, or vice-versa if both of your monitors have a dvi input. At this point, just plug in the monitors, and set up a dual-view in your video card software. There are several options, you can have them display the same image (usually called clone), or a dual-view which is what you want. In my personal experiences, I've found that nVidia cards have better software for dual monitor support, but thats just one goon's opinion. If you want more info, or recommendations for a card, let us know! Question for other members: is there a way to do this with 2 video cards, or does it have to be 1 with dual outputs? __________________ mysql> --i-am-a-dummy

06-20-2005, 09:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
v-six Manager Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Gardiner, NY Posts: 2,076 OS: OS X for mac, XP Pro for PC	Another thought, is make sure you have an AGP or PCI Express slot on your motherboard. If not, you're not out of luck, you just have to purchase a PCI card. Its just better to find out now before you come to find that your brand spankin new card wont fit in your computer without the use of a staple gun and a hammer. If you don't know if you have an AGP slot (or PCI Express if you've got a new system), run Everest. Its a decent system information program. Lavalys Everest Also, here's link to a PCI, AGP, and PCI express card, just to give you an idea of what you're looking at. Unless you're a serious gamer, I'm thinking your price range should be $40-$100 in US dollars for a new video card (if you don't already have one with dual outputs. A good 40 dollar card will get the job done, and a 100 dollar card will get it done with a little more muscle. Probably somewhere inbetween would fit your needs just fine. I'm running a Radeon 9600 w/ 256 mb memory; it cost me about $70, and it gets the job done for games, web design, image editing, and dual support AGP 4x/8x card PCI Card PCI Express card __________________ mysql> --i-am-a-dummy Last edited by v-six; 06-20-2005 at 09:07 AM.

06-20-2005, 11:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	You can also do this with 2 video cards. I have a pci and agp card in this computer. Each runs one monitor. If you are just using it for surfing, email and stuff like that, it does not need to be a $200 card. Also, not all video cards that have dvi and vga outputs will let you use both at the same time. Check the specs on the card before you purchase it. This is easier if you are running Windows XP. I forget if you can run dual monitors on 98, but I don't think so. Think Win 2k can. __________________

06-20-2005, 02:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,271 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	The Matrox cards were among the first to be designed to support multiple monitors and actually sported dual GPUs. Just about any card with dual output (VGA+VGA, VGA+DVI, DVI+DVI, VGA+S-Video) will independently drive two monitors. Even my laptop's lackluster S3 video can support two independent displays and actually playback different videos on both screens. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

06-20-2005, 09:24 AM	#4 (permalink)
JamesO Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Fairfax, VA USA Posts: 2,289 OS: 98SE, W2k Pro, XP Pro	Some laptops with the proper video card will allow a second display to be added on the VCA connection and operate while the primary laptop screen is also functioning. Here is a link that may be helpful as well: http://www.9xmedia.com/Video_cards/4...o%20cards.html I was in a situation where we used 3 to 4 montiors and sometimes switched outputs onto a video wall. Typically 1 monitor per application, we had to run many seperate applications at the same time. I think we had the ColorGraphic cards as I recall?? We found a track ball worked best for this configuration, moving the cursor across multiple screens would have been painful with a standard mouse! JamesO

06-21-2005, 05:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
Volt-Schwibe Asst. Manager, Automotive Forums; HJT Trainee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Behind you, watching you as you type. Posts: 7,372 OS: Click "My System" to view details My System	my s3 virge video is the exact same way, little 8 meg thing, and it supports dual monitors just fine. __________________ <signature> TSF is funded by our Admin's pocket, care to help? Power Tip: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. New Members: Creating a single new thread in the correct section is the best way to assure your thread will receive a reply. </signature>

06-27-2005, 08:08 AM	#9 (permalink)
jdiesel33 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 24 OS: XP	Hi, Thanks for the input and suggestions. Anyway, if I have just a simple, bottom of the line PCI video card with just the VGA output, if I hook up a monitor to that along with the other monitor connected to the AGP card, will this work for what I want? I want to have 2 monitors so I can run and see different things at the same time. And then when the mouse goes off of one screen it pops up on the other. I guess, if possible, I would want to be able to drag and drop from one to the other. Would that be possible? I am running XP. What would I need to do to make this work? Thanks Again

06-27-2005, 09:46 AM	#10 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	1st thing to do after installing the PCI card is to go into CMOS. Some have an option as to which video card to start as the main card. Make sure it is set to AGP in your case. Now when you get into Windows go to the display control panel and settings. You should see two monitors in the box. 1 and 2. If you want to have monitor 2 (pci) to the right of your main monitor, drag monitor 2 to the right of monitor 1. Apply and ok. Now when your mouse gets to the right of monitor 1 it should show up on the left side of monitor 2. It takes some getting used to. __________________ Last edited by Terrister; 06-27-2005 at 09:47 AM. Reason: spelling

06-27-2005, 11:12 AM	#11 (permalink)
jdiesel33 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 24 OS: XP	Hmmm...I tried doing this yesterday but couldnt get it to work. I installed 2 different PCI cards(both from the latter 1990's and with just a VGA output) and couldnt get either to work. IT recognized them properly in the hardware device manager, but had a little yellow exclamation icon on the name and when I went into the properties it said that it could not be started. Any idea why it would do that? I didnt change anything in the CMOS. Could that be th reason? Jimmy