Setting up two monitors

[Wing Nut]

Well, I came by a free monitor today and got the idea of hooking up a second one.  The only thing is, I have no idea how.  Anyone care to point me in the right direction?  

[GeForce]

You could either get a video card that has dual VGA output, or get two video cards. If you choose the latter option, one of the card will be PCI.

Choosing a card

To get dual monitors working on a PC (a feature Macs have long had), you need Windows 98, Me, 2000, or XP and a video card that is capable of supporting dual monitors. Consult Microsoft's list of video card chips that support dual monitors.

1) The single card

You need at least one card that is capable of supporting dual monitors because the resources normally taken by a single video card need to be shared across two; one card needs to share its resources with the other card. This card needs to be the master card, the card that initializes first during the boot-up process.

How do you determine which card is the master? If you're using two PCI video cards, the one nearest the CPU will boot first. If you're using one AGP and one PCI, the PCI will always boot first. In your BIOS settings you might be able to manually determine whether an AGP or PCI video card is the master. You'll have to poke around in your BIOS to find out. If you don't know anything about a PC's BIOS, then grab a friend who does and see if they can help you out.

2) Dual cards

Consider Matrox's G450 series ($135). These cards feature two-monitor support on a single card, with 32MB of double data-rate (DDR) memory. The cards also support TV output, with an adapter.

Another dual monitor compatible card is ATI's Radeon 7500 ($129). This card supports combinations of CRT monitors, flat-panel displays, and televisions. It comes with 64MB DDR memory, a DVI-to-VGA adapter to connect a traditional VGA monitor to the DVI port, and DVD decoding software.

The hardest part about setting up dual monitors is deciding which card to purchase.

After that, the software config...

When you've found a suitable card, it's time to begin the installation. Remember to touch a metallic part of your computer before you touch any of expansion cards inside. This reduces the risk of static electricity, which could permanently damage your hardware.

Follow these directions to install a second video card on your PC.

Start by turning your PC off and disconnecting its power supply.
Find an open PCI slot (or AGP if it's not already in use) and insert the new card.
Connect your second monitor to the new card.
Connect your power supply to your PC and restart your machine.
Install all the software that came with your new card.
Reboot your PC if necessary.

Now it's time to configure Windows for dual monitor support.

Left-click your Start Menu.
Scroll over Settings and left-click the Control Panel.
When the Control Panel opens, double-click the Display Properties icon.
When the Display Properties dialog box appears, click the Settings tab.
On the Settings tab, change the Display pull-down menu to the new card you just installed.
Now, check the box marked "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor."
Hit the Apply button when you've finished making the changes.
Presto! You now have an extended desktop that spans two monitors.

There ya go Pippin!

Jonathan

---

PS. As a sidenote, the ATI Radeon 7500:

Dual monitor and video output support
64MB DDR memory accelerates the latest 3D and 2D games and applications
HYPERZ

[Wing Nut]

I have my video card, and I have the monitor plug that's attached to my motherboard.  Will that work?

[congo]

Hmmm.

Two AGP devices configured at once.......

Now there is an interesting question. I never tried it.

(congo waits with baited breath - [my breath doesn't always smell that way!] )

It probably will, as the bios asks which display device you want as the primary device.

[GeForce]

Pippin:

What graphics card do you have currently? It has to be one that supports dual monitors. Some cards (like the Radeon 7500) let you connect multiple monitors to the VGA output (via a switchbox in some cases). I doubt you have two cards installed?

Congo:

2 AGP devices work fine, you just set the better one to primary. The primary card boots as soon as the computer is turned on, the 'slave' card boots with Windows.

Jon

[Wing Nut]

I have a GeForce FX 5600 256 Mb (Wal Mart Variety).  I'm not sure how to tell if it supports multiple monitors though...  ???

[GeForce]

Hmm that's a tricky one. Without knowing more about the card I can't help. Some of the FX5600s support dual monitors, some don't. And I have no idea which one yours is

Jon

[Scottler]

Pip, what I did is attached the second monitor to my TV Out on the card.  Looking at the back of the computer, where your monitor plugs in, you'll see it or you won't.  But you should be able to tell whether or not there's one there.

Once that was done, it was just a matter of toying with the settings to get the display to stretch across to the second monitor.

It was cool for a while, but I ultimately ended up taking the second monitor off.

Note:  The best view I got was in the DVC with the position of the seat moved so that the support between the left and right windshields was right where the two monitors met.

[JBaymore]

Hyperion,

For the dual "out the front window" display to look good..... you usually have to have two of the exact same monitor and have the settings for both set up exactly the same... and then also color balance them with the monitor's internal controls.  That way the scale and pixel allignment and the colors look like you are looking out "windows" not at monitors  ;).

If one looks "different" from the other... it really spoils the effect fast.


Try this configuration for yucks........  I think the added realism will really surprise you and will allow you to use the dis-similar monitors to good effect.

Put the secondary monitor off to your left side and set in place like it was the left side pilot's window of the aircraft.  Set it so that when you are looking at the main "out the front" view is it slightly visible in your peripheral vision.  Then set up a full screen exterior view window on that monitor that shows the left side view.

Go fly.

I have found that when you add that periperal vision motion that matches the motion in front.... your brain gets REALLY fooled.  I want to have that kind of view on the RIGHT side of my simpit to see what that does....... but no hardware to test it (yet).

Let me know what you think.


best,

..............john

[Wing Nut]

I have the same things on my card that Jon has on his picture, except in a different arrangement.  What is the odd outlet I have circled here?  It came with an adapter to hook up a regular svga plug.

[GeForce]

Hi Pippin

Good Pippin, your card is capable of two monitors. The black circular port on the far left of the card is a TV Out, but the white plug you have circled can also be a Video Out, and it is most commonly used for projectors. Use the xVGA adapter to connect your new monitor to this plug. Then it will be a case of reading and following the intructions in my above post, titled After that, the software config...

Jon