Who uses Dual Monitors???

[Ask The Geezer]

I had a setup on my laptop and a CRT using old ME, just as a trial, and it worked. Now I really want to try again, but with my tower PC using Win XP Pro, without SP2, so far. Right now, I use the onboard video card and the board has a single AGP slot that I'm not using right now.

I guess the question is, after reading some down side articles recently, I want to know is it worth the trouble, and are there a lot of problems? For instance, I've now read that the onboard card won't work, the AGP card would take over and you end up back with one monitor. I've also read that some programs won't work at all with duals. Sounds weird to me, but I don't know. What do I need, and what do I need to know about using them with Win XP Pro?

[mpir]

Hi, I am using two monitors in a Windows XP Pro environment with two video cards, one AGP and one PCI.
The only problem I had while setting it up, where only one monitor would work was because Adobe Cue was installed.
Could only figure it out because I read that the two monitors would not worked together if Adobe Type Manager was installed, so I tried with Cue and solved the problem.
All of the other Adobe software works just fine, like the Macromedia stuff, also have tried 3D Studio and it works without any troubles at all.
Hope it helps, and good luck setting it up.

[Ask The Geezer]

Appreciate it. Adobe products was one of the problems, but I've lost the link. That sounds familiar though.

I've heard there are cards with two outlets on them. And read that 1 AGP and 1 PCI card worked OK too.

Thanks. I'm still shopping around.

[MiLo_Anderson]

I have an integrated card that came with my computer, and i threw my old card in aswell and it works fine. The only problem i had was i had to turn off the hibranate thing but that wasn't all that important anyways. It wooks great for me. Only other problem is my desk is too small.

[jahasloth]

I prefer 2 monitors. It really helps with development--graphics, code, flash, et. al.--when you can put your workspace on one monitor and the zillions of other toolbars on the other monitor. It gives you a lot more space to work with.

I've used both the AGP/PCI and the dual port card options. Right now I am using the latter. I'm using a ATI Radeon 9000 Pro; it's a great 3d card for playing games on it, and it has a VGA and DVI port on the back that you can use for dual monitors. If both of your monitors use VGA plugs, like a CRT monitor, than you can get converters for a few bucks to convert the DVI port to a VGA port.

The only apps I've ever had trouble with are ones that confine the toolbars to the window. Old Director did this before DirectorMX. The window would maximize to one monitor, and the toolbars would be constrained to that window. I could still place the window on either monitor, though.

Never had any problems with Adobe TypeManager, either.

[Ask The Geezer]

I just ordered these two cards, mostly because the specs said they both work in dual monitor configurations. I'm not too worried about gaming or 3D. I primarily want it for the space onscreen and using Photoshop and Flash.

Connect3D Radeon 7000 / 64MB DDR / AGP / VGA / DVI /TV Out / Video Card (C261-6005)

PowerColor Radeon 7000 / 64MB DDR / PCI / VGA / DVI / TV Out / Video Card (P262-1002)

[WannaBe_80z]

i use dual monitors i have a 17" on my radeon 9800 pro AIW, and a 15" crappy secondary monitor on a voodoo 3 2000

and with my radeon if i want i can hook it up to a TV as well and use 3 monitors..

[Ask The Geezer]

How does it look on a TV screen? I would imagine it's pixelated?

[SpockBert]

I started using dual monitors about a year back, probably the single best thing I've ever done to this machine.

I don't have anything special, primary monitor is a 19" crt and the secondary placed to its left is an old 17" crt using a PCI slot.

It really is fantastic though, in Flash I have all my actions, alignment, color mixer, swatches, transform info panels on the left screen keeping plenty of room on the primary just for the stage and timeline.

The only downside is sometimes a game won't like the dual monitors but I hardly play pc games anyway so no biggie for me.

I would actually hate to go back to one screem now, think I'd cry!

[WannaBe_80z]

yeah it is pretty pixely, but i only used it to watch videos and such on it and had my music playing on it with a visualizer, was kinda cool.

[ihoss.com]

I have a Geforce FX 5200 and it comes with 3slots, one normal, one DVI and one for TV. Then I also got a DVI to Normal plug that I use to run 2 screens. works perfectly

[atRax]

Photoshop on 1 screen After Effect on the other.

Photoshop / Dreamweaver

Premiere / Photoshop / Tv-output


more screens = more space to see

[Ask The Geezer]

Hey guys, I appreciate all the responses. I just checked my order, and it already shipped. with any luck, it will be here tomorrow or Monday at the latest.

Now, what do I need to know to set it up? What kind of paces is windows going to put me through, and what do I need to watch for? After putting in the cards, I assume I will have to drop by the BIOS and reset something. Is there some settings in XP I need to make?

[SpockBert]

I didn't have to do anything like that, stuck the PCI card in, installed the drivers then when it was done, right click on desktop/settings and voila..a new monitor to enable.

took 5 mins, you shouldn't have to mess around under the hood too much.

[Ask The Geezer]

I think I will have to go into BIOS at least, cause I use an Intel board, and I'm using the on-board monitor outlet, the built in Video card. I think I will at least have to take it off that. I'm more worried about ending up with none of the slots working and no monitor to go back in and set it right. LOL. I ordered two cards, because I heard a lot about on-board video just not working when converting to duals. Something about the card in the AGP slot taking over. Anyway, they are already paid for and on the way. Can't wait. I'll get a pic and post it when I'm done.

[ihoss.com]

just make sure you download the latest driver from the vendors website.

[Ask The Geezer]

Good point, although, I got in the habit of doing that anyway. I know the docs on one of them says it comes with drivers.

Man, I am stoked. I keep peeking out the window hoping to see a truck outside.

[darkstar]

I use 2 monitors with agp and pci on xp.
after installing both graphic cards, boot up and go into the bios;
on one of the pages there should be a "init display" or similar, set this to pci first.
then boot to windows, go to display properties, settings, click
on either of the monitors and one or the other should say "extend my windows desktop onto this monitor", tick the box and that should be that .

hope that helps.

[weilerino]

i use dual monitors... but i have avid, so i need to.

[Ask The Geezer]

Got a question. After installing both cards, should I leave one monitor on the onboard video outlet when I restart? It just seems logical that I would, since until I get into BIOS, to change the setting, one monitor would have to work off something. Now my brain is in a knot trying to visualize that.

I still have hopes the truck will get here today yet.