multiple monitors

[Weekend_Flyer]

After seeing some of the cool stuff you guys are doing with your cockpits, its kinda got me wanting to try something. Maybee yall can point me in the right direction. Ive got about 5 or 6 monitors laying around my house collecting dust. what I would like to do is get 3 set up. The main in front, then 2 on the sides for side views. Im not sure how this would work, or if its even possible, but im hopeing its possible to set all 3 in VC mode so I can still pan down to view my guages. Could someone tell me what I would need as far as video cards and programs, or if its even possible to set FS up in this way? Thanks

[Tdcdcr]

Hi,
there are different ways of getting multiple monitors. One way is to buy a graphics card with 2 SVGA ports to connect to the monitors. The other way is to buy seperate video cards, one for each additional monitor. If you want three, then I'd go for seperate cards. No additional software is needed, other than the drivers for the cards. Once its set up, make sure you have the monitors set to the correct position in display propeties. Then start up FS and press ALT+ENTER to enter windowed mode (if you aren't all ready). Then create a 2 new views for whatever you want, right click and select "undock" and you are free to move it to another monitor and resize it. Hey presto! Hope this helps.

[Weekend_Flyer]

Yes that helps alot! Its raised a few more questions though. If im running more that one graphics card do they need to match or would it hurt to have different kinds? If you can mixmatch the cards then ive already got everything I need. Im curently running a radeon 9500 128mb,  but I also have a 9500 256mb, and 2 other 64 mb cards. (Im a packrat) Also, any idea on how this will effect my processor, xp2700 2.1 i believe. Thanks alot!

[Tdcdcr]

Hi,
No, you can mix and match all the cards possible. However, you have to go careful with what slots you have available. Most motherboards only have 1 AGP slot available. So, as I'm guessing both ATI 9500s are AGP, you'll have to have 2 AGP slots to fit them both. The 64MB ones are probably PCI and you should have some extra slots for those. As for the processor, I'm afraid I have no experience with AMDs. However, my Pentium 4 2.6GHz has no problem coping, just my poor graphics card that does (running two monitors off of one card, need to get another one sometime...). However, going by what I know, your processor should be fine, so lonng as you have a decent amount of RAM. Hope this helps.

[JBaymore]

Weekend Flyer,

Welcome to the "Homebuild Cockpits" forum.

Just to give you a "heads up"......

There are some possible issues with multiple views.

[Weekend_Flyer]

Thanks for the input. I like the idea of networking several computers together, but since im on a limited buget I will have to get by with what I got for now. I may start out adding one card and monitor and see how that goes, then if that works out ok add the third. Ill let yall know how it goes!