Dual Widescreens

Sx3 · 08-24-2006, 08:17 PM

Ok. So recently I started my new job, and I work with a lot of computer with dual or quad monitor set-ups. Well, being it's my first full time job straight out of college, the money is burning a hole in my pocket.

So I was thinking I need a new monitor, then I started thinking... why not go with a dual set-up? Then I started thinking... why not a dual widescreen set-up?

So here's the monitor I was thinking about getting. MONITOR ON NEWEGG And here's my question. If I did decide to go with dual widescreens, I know my video card would support it (6800 GT), but would it hold up when playing games and such?

Or would I be looking at a massive FPS drop given the fact that it would have to constantly be refreshing a second widescreen? Now I don't know anything about dual set-ups really other than they fricken sweet. So anyone who's worked with them or has a set-up, Thanks for info.

**Fox** · 08-24-2006, 08:29 PM

I don't think that there are many games that support dual screens. That is to say, they'll still work when you have the second one installed, but it'll either be a black screen or have some of your desktop icons skewed about, depending on the resolution you run your games in.

And yes, dual monitor setups are freakin sweet, and I completely endorse them. They're great for having communications (messaging, email, small windows, etc.) on one, and web browsing or word processing in another. When I had a desktop setup, I would use one to reference documents and another to write in- it made research and paper writing so much easier.

Only thing I'd be wary of with that monitor is the latentcy- 16ms isn't terrible, but some discriminating gamers are only satisfied around 8ms.

**koala** · 08-25-2006, 03:35 AM

That 20" Viewsonic is a very nice monitor. I'm getting the 19" version soon.

If you're playing games that only support one monitor (and that's most of them) you can temporarily disable the second in display properties if the fps drops or you have any other problems like the mouse going offscreen.

**blackduck30** · 08-25-2006, 05:30 AM

I have the exact monitor running at the moment and it is great,It is a little dodgy of watching movies that are dark but other than that I recommend it. I have a 19" wide screen that I want to hook up soon as well but will have to see what the 20" looks like at 1440X900 res as that is the max of the 19" and I am sure that you have to run both monitors at the same resolution, worst case I will have a good excuse to get another 20"

**koala** · 08-25-2006, 05:44 AM

blackbuck, you can run monitors at different resolutions and colour settings. I've got a 17" CRT at 800x600 and a 19" LCD at 1280x1024...... so you can put your money away

Sx3 · 08-25-2006, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fox

I don't think that there are many games that support dual screens. That is to say, they'll still work when you have the second one installed, but it'll either be a black screen or have some of your desktop icons skewed about, depending on the resolution you run your games in.

Not really so much even looking to play games on both. I'd be happy with just one when gaming. Just would want the two for braggin purposes and it would be really cool and helpful in browsing and stuff. I'm just wondering if even just maintaining a normal desktop with a game on the other would be a problem for the 6800GT. Hard to believe that it's not that top anymore... but that's computers for ya. Either way, I'm having a tough time saying that a 2nd monitor is justifiable just for the ease of browsing. But ya never know.

T

Thanks for the replies guys.

**Fox** · 08-25-2006, 09:12 AM

Even mismatched monitors work pretty well... CRTs are a great value, maybe one of those is worth looking into :)

I can't wait till game designers work dual screen support into their games- like in a flight simuator, they could put the left and right views on monitors on either side. That would rock!

Sx3 · 08-25-2006, 11:48 AM

Yeah. I have a 19" ViewSonic CRT at the moment. Just thinking bought getting widescreen cause I'm sick of hauling that heavy bastage around when I am doing things with my computer. Oh well... maybe I'll just get one widescreen to start and see how I like the dual monitor set-up. If I like, then I'll think about selling my CRT and getting another new widescreen.

08-24-2006, 08:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sx3 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 31 OS: Windows XP	Dual Widescreens Ok. So recently I started my new job, and I work with a lot of computer with dual or quad monitor set-ups. Well, being it's my first full time job straight out of college, the money is burning a hole in my pocket. So I was thinking I need a new monitor, then I started thinking... why not go with a dual set-up? Then I started thinking... why not a dual widescreen set-up? So here's the monitor I was thinking about getting. MONITOR ON NEWEGG And here's my question. If I did decide to go with dual widescreens, I know my video card would support it (6800 GT), but would it hold up when playing games and such? Or would I be looking at a massive FPS drop given the fact that it would have to constantly be refreshing a second widescreen? Now I don't know anything about dual set-ups really other than they fricken sweet. So anyone who's worked with them or has a set-up, Thanks for info.

08-24-2006, 08:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	I don't think that there are many games that support dual screens. That is to say, they'll still work when you have the second one installed, but it'll either be a black screen or have some of your desktop icons skewed about, depending on the resolution you run your games in. And yes, dual monitor setups are freakin sweet, and I completely endorse them. They're great for having communications (messaging, email, small windows, etc.) on one, and web browsing or word processing in another. When I had a desktop setup, I would use one to reference documents and another to write in- it made research and paper writing so much easier. Only thing I'd be wary of with that monitor is the latentcy- 16ms isn't terrible, but some discriminating gamers are only satisfied around 8ms. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

08-25-2006, 03:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,454 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	That 20" Viewsonic is a very nice monitor. I'm getting the 19" version soon. If you're playing games that only support one monitor (and that's most of them) you can temporarily disable the second in display properties if the fps drops or you have any other problems like the mouse going offscreen. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

08-25-2006, 05:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
blackduck30 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wollongong/Australia Posts: 4,230 OS: XP pro SP3/Vista Ultimate My System	I have the exact monitor running at the moment and it is great,It is a little dodgy of watching movies that are dark but other than that I recommend it. I have a 19" wide screen that I want to hook up soon as well but will have to see what the 20" looks like at 1440X900 res as that is the max of the 19" and I am sure that you have to run both monitors at the same resolution, worst case I will have a good excuse to get another 20" __________________ Blackduck30 Time is like money and milk, It's always running out Any Donations Help Keep TSF Free For All

08-25-2006, 05:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,454 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	blackbuck, you can run monitors at different resolutions and colour settings. I've got a 17" CRT at 800x600 and a 19" LCD at 1280x1024...... so you can put your money away __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

08-25-2006, 09:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	Even mismatched monitors work pretty well... CRTs are a great value, maybe one of those is worth looking into :) I can't wait till game designers work dual screen support into their games- like in a flight simuator, they could put the left and right views on monitors on either side. That would rock! __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

08-25-2006, 11:48 AM	#8 (permalink)
Sx3 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 31 OS: Windows XP	Yeah. I have a 19" ViewSonic CRT at the moment. Just thinking bought getting widescreen cause I'm sick of hauling that heavy bastage around when I am doing things with my computer. Oh well... maybe I'll just get one widescreen to start and see how I like the dual monitor set-up. If I like, then I'll think about selling my CRT and getting another new widescreen.