Dual monitors

[The Ferryman]

I have just discovered (thanks Microsoft) the joy of having two monitors, which I have wanted to try for a long time. I had intended to upgrade to a dual output system next time I changed my computer, but with Windows 7 at least, possibly Vista and maybe other systems, it is possible to use the digital and the analogue outputs of a standard digital graphics card seperately.

Just plug your digital monitor into the digital (white) output as usual, and plug an old analogue monitor in the analogue (blue) output of the same card. Set up your dual monitor settings, in my case the Nvidia control panel options and you have dual monitors.

You can choose duplicate output or to extend your desktop to the second monitor, which is as easy as moving your mouse to the right margin of the main monitor to get to the secondary one, so you can drag browser windows, etc between screens.

Now you can have an email client always visible in one monitor while you work in the other, or whatever suits your way of working. It doesn't seem to have any effect on performance. It would probably also work with a TV screen as the second monitor, if the screen has a computer input.

Try it and enjoy!

Best wishes.

Bruce

 

[monaghan]

It all depends on your graphics card capability whether you can do this, however, most decent cards in the last few years will support this. My 1st dual monitor system was on XP.

I've been running 2 monitors for many years for development (I'm on my 3rd set!), it makes life so much easier to have the editor open on 1 window and the operational system on the other. The kids did find it amusing watching my mouse cursor jumping between screens, now they want 2 monitors on their PC

Different resolution monitors is fun as you can go across then down and you can't get back until you move the mouse up again, but I only get this occasionally when I run the laptop on a spare monitor.

 

[AssetDomains]

I've been using dual montior setup to watch movies from my pc for many years now.
I was tempted to get a set up like this.

Dont realy have the time for gaming theses days though

 

[jimm]

2 screens are so 2005. On my desktop I have 4 screens now and hankerings for more!
But yeah its so much nicer having multiple displays.

 

[Edwin]

Quick tip: if you NEVER game, most current graphics cards are overkill, so you could consider buying one with passive cooling ie a heatsink rather than a fan, as it will be totally silent! For example, many Radeon 5450 cards are passively cooled, and most if not all can support 2+ monitors.

 

[chrisduggan]

I had 4 24" LED screens in my office last year. Dedicated E-mail, development, domain names and one for TV/movies, was fun while it lasted.
Certainly saves time and energy. Well worth the small investment assuming your hardware can support it.

Since moving away i use a 13" notebook / iPad and wirelessly connect to our TVs, i dunno whats more geeky..

 

[monaghan]

2 screens are so 2005. On my desktop I have 4 screens now and hankerings for more!

I remember seeing a documentary program (I think it was Terry Pratchet) when he was asked why he had 6 monitors and the reply was that there wasn't room for 8 - that's my kind of reply

 

[foz]

I remember Chris of Caught posting an awesome monitor(s) set-up.

 

[bensd]

I remember Chris of Caught posting an awesome monitor(s) set-up.

It was from this thread: http://www.acorndomains.co.uk/general-board/46530-what-computer-you-running.html

 

[aquanuke]

It was from this thread: http://www.acorndomains.co.uk/general-board/46530-what-computer-you-running.html

Could never live with two

 

[liam]

Best setup i have seen im only on 3 +tv but one day i wanna setup like this!

 

[Edwin]

Actually the best I saw was through the control room window at one of the large underground stations (Kings Cross? I forget) A complete 360 of monitors (maybe a dozen?) with just a narrow gap for the operator to slide into place.

 

[rjs_essex]

I quite fancy something like this:

Rich

 

[chrisduggan]

http://www.novelquest.com/emperor_200.html
http://www.mwelab.com

 

[retired_member34]

I'd been running two monitors + laptop for a few years but when last moved office (back home) I went the other way and stripped the desks back to the bare minimum.

Single monitor, small usb speakers, wireless keyboard and mouse, poe phone. All wires are cabled through the desks and combined in a single snake at the back (the desks are electric sit stand). Some decent Miller chairs, a work lamp and I was finished. Now I love the simplicity of it, no clutter to distract me. Must be an age thing

My inspiration, and how it turned out:

 

[Aegean]

I use two monitors at work, its fine to have one on digital and one on analogue as most "normal" cards have these outputs, theres no need to invest in something rediculous unless you're a gamer (as Edwin says).

However, the company bought me two new 24" monitors 2 months ago, then last month a new pc (which I didnt really need), and I had to take the new-fangled fancy card out of the new pc and fit my older graphics card as the monitors didn't support the two hdmi ports on the new card!

Anyway, now that I have used two for around 6 years, I find it plain awkward with just one.

 

[KarlM]

Well i feel like i am missing out now, i only have one monitor

 

[retired_member32]

this is a stupid question and please excuse my ignorance....how do you work 2/3 screens ? what about mouse and keyboard do you have two sets or something...technically minded i'm certainly not

 

[bedazzledaz]

You only need one set of keyboard and mice

I have dual monitors, only had them for about 8 months and it makes things so much easier, I only use one monitor at work though but I don't notice the difference too much strangely.

Here's my setup:

 

[Edwin]

this is a stupid question and please excuse my ignorance....how do you work 2/3 screens ? what about mouse and keyboard do you have two sets or something...technically minded i'm certainly not

Usually the display driver software will take care of managing both screens. Typically, you can either have them set up as 2 "desktops" or as 1 massive "virtual desktop".

In the first case, if you move your cursor off the right edge of the left-hand monitor, it skips across to the left edge of the right-hand monitor. And vice-versa. Applications will open in one or other monitor, and you can drag them across just like you currently move them around on a single monitor. The task bar will appear on one of the two monitors only.

If you have it as one gigantic desktop (split across 2 physical monitors) then it's more like using a single screen with a horizontal resolution of 4,000 pixels (or whatever it works out to be). The desktop icons can spread across both monitors, and (I think) the taskbar will extend across the bottom of both monitors.

There's never a need to have more than one keyboard/mouse, though!