Dual monitor questions.

[Caxis]

I have a spare monitor that's unused, and I'd like to set up dual monitors with my PC. My video card has two DVI outputs, so I can plug in two monitors, but I'm unsure of a few things.

 

 

 

1) My current monitor uses a DVI cable, but the second monitor is VGA only. I have a DVI-VGA converter thing, so I'm wondering if I can have one monitor use DVI, and the other VGA?

 

 

 

2) The second monitor is widescreen (VGA), while my main monitor is a regular 4:3 monitor. Would the difference in aspect ratio cause any problems?

 

 

 

Thanks.

[Sbrideau]

The answer to your first question is Yes, you can use them both one using DVI and the other using the VGA adaptor.

 

 

 

You shouldn't have much problems running both screen even if one is widescreen and the other is 4:3. The only thing puzzling me is that the 4:3 one is DVI and the other VGA, unless you mixed yourself up in the names of the plugs (blue = VGA, white = DVI).

[Caxis]

The answer to your first question is Yes, you can use them both one using DVI and the other using the VGA adaptor.

 

 

 

You shouldn't have much problems running both screen even if one is widescreen and the other is 4:3. The only thing puzzling me is that the 4:3 one is DVI and the other VGA, unless you mixed yourself up in the names of the plugs (blue = VGA, white = DVI).

 

 

 

The 4:3 monitor is an LG, and it has both a VGA and DVI input, I'm using DVI with it. The widescreen monitor is an Acer that only has VGA input.

 

 

 

And thanks for the help, I'll set it up when I get my new desk.

[Laura]

I had a similar problem. It just messed up the resolution, which can be changed based on monitor.

[pryomancer]

Won't it put a lot more strain on your graphics card and processor, since it has to render roughly twice the screen space it normally would?

[Laura]

Won't it put a lot more strain on your graphics card and processor, since it has to render roughly twice the screen space it normally would?

 

You'd think so, but it doesn't really. For example, I have an integrated graphics card, and it works fine. Although I'm not sure, I don't think 3D effects works on multiple monitors with one graphics card, however.

[InkofDeath]

For gaming on the dual monitors it might put more strain on it, but unless you're using both monitors for the one game, and not just having the one game on one monitor, and keeping the other for basic stuff like browsing, than it shouldn't do anything strenuous...

 

 

 

Or so I've been told.

[Nadril]

Dual monitors doesn't strain your computer unless you have an app spread across both monitors, because then it would be a larger resolution. Other than that it doesn't slow down anything and there is no reason for it to.

[D. V. Devnull]

Although I'm not sure, I don't think 3D effects works on multiple monitors with one graphics card, however.

As a note to your thought, that is exactly what my mileage has been with an 'NVidia GeForce 7300 GT' so far... Except for RuneScape, anyway... But the true full-screen games (and browser-based full-screen'ers... again not including RuneScape) force me to completely shut down the secondary monitor while I play them. :anxious:

 

 

 

~D. V. "Just thought the info might be of use..." Devnull

[Nadril]

Although I'm not sure, I don't think 3D effects works on multiple monitors with one graphics card, however.

As a note to your thought, that is exactly what my mileage has been with an 'NVidia GeForce 7300 GT' so far... Except for RuneScape, anyway... But the true full-screen games (and browser-based full-screen'ers... again not including RuneScape) force me to completely shut down the secondary monitor while I play them. :anxious:

 

 

 

~D. V. "Just thought the info might be of use..." Devnull

 

 

 

Again, what kind of outlandish games are you playing that force you to turn off your second monitor just to play them full screen? The only game I ever encounted a problem with was Anarchy Online (an 8+ year old game) and even then they hada simple fix for it.

 

 

 

 

 

And if you really have such a problem with it switch your Nvidia settings to "single monitor optimization" (I forget the correct working) instead of dual monitor.

[pryomancer]

I thought when you have a fullscreen application like a game running on one screen, you can't use the other one, it's just black?

 

I remember someone said that before.

[Nadril]

I thought when you have a fullscreen application like a game running on one screen, you can't use the other one, it's just black?

 

I remember someone said that before.

 

 

 

No, the other screen will still show what is on it. The only thing is if you go to click and use something on the otherscreen (like firefox) it will minimize your game if it isn't in windowed mode. I used my second screen all the time to show ventrilo.

[Laura]

I thought when you have a fullscreen application like a game running on one screen, you can't use the other one, it's just black?

 

I remember someone said that before.

 

 

 

No, the other screen will still show what is on it. The only thing is if you go to click and use something on the otherscreen (like firefox) it will minimize your game if it isn't in windowed mode. I used my second screen all the time to show ventrilo.

 

When I use to play Runescape HD Fullscreen, the other one went black. Likewise when using Windows Media Player. Does it depend on the application then? As some of the time it does do as you described.

[Nadril]

I never had the problem with WMP full screen, and I never played RSHD. It would depend on the application though, but most applications should be fine.

[urbestfreind]

I never had the problem with WMP full screen, and I never played RSHD. It would depend on the application though, but most applications should be fine.

 

 

 

Maybe you have some otherworldly computer setup then. When I run two monitors, be it on my desktop, or attach a second one to my laptop, if I open up RS or WoW or anything else full screen, the other screen goes black, same with seemingly everyone else. Maybe we're all just doing something wrong.

[Nadril]

You have it set up to dual monitor optimization right? Not that I think it'd matter, mine always worked that way out of the box -- with numerous video cards as well. (6600GT, 7900GS, 9600GT)

[D. V. Devnull]

Alright, he asked... might as well answer. :-s

 

<<<Quote Snip>>>

 

 

 

Again, what kind of outlandish games are you playing that force you to turn off your second monitor just to play them full screen? The only game I ever encounted a problem with was Anarchy Online (an 8+ year old game) and even then they hada simple fix for it.

Just for starters, these few... Footnotes included...

 

 

 

1. [*:qbvlgkt0]MechWarrior 3
    
   (Tried everything in the card's settings... Only way it works is with a really custom app profile for 3D stuff, and no second monitor enabled... Even then, it has hit a 'jam point' due to it not understanding the 1GB of RAM in the computer that I play it on, so I can't complete the game. Chock it up to bad design by the programmer, because they were targeting Win98...)
    
   [*:qbvlgkt0]MW3: Pirate's Moon Expansion
    
   (Again, tried everything in the card's settings... Only way it works is with a really custom app profile for 3D stuff, and no second monitor enabled... Only reason I haven't completed this one is because it keeps kicking my [bleep] in... Plus, it will crash on me if I try to go more than a few rounds at a time without rebooting the computer... Yeah, that bad... Again, chock it up to bad design by the programmer, because they were targeting Win98...)
    
   [*:qbvlgkt0]Rasterwerks.com "Phosphor" Beta, a browser-based FPS
    
   (

http://www.rasterwerks.com/game/phosphor/beta1_800x600.asp ... Make sure you allow the shockwave xtra from Andrade Arts, the "Enhancer Xtra", which I know to be clean... It provides many functions that the item needs to function properly, including full-screen support and mouse capture... Also, OpenGL is not available unless the second monitor is turned off, due to how Shockwave itself is designed... I've tried everything to work around it, to no avail... At least this one doesn't crash on me, or have trouble with not understanding amounts of RAM...)

 

 

 

Just to re-iterate one last time, I've been through all the settings on the NVidia controls... These programs/applets will not work properly without the second monitor disabled. :(

 

 

 

And if you really have such a problem with it switch your Nvidia settings to "single monitor optimization" (I forget the correct working) instead of dual monitor.

As noted above, I've already tried this. No luck at all. :|

 

 

 

~D. V. "Yes, I run outlandish stuff." Devnull