help: multiple monitor set up

[deeder7001]

I want to know how to set up multiple monitors on my computer. I want to know what equipment I need and any programs I might need.

[anubis2003]

You need a video card capable of multiple monitors. I recommend an N-Vidia GeForce card. Very easy to do with these cards.

[deeder7001]

Is there any way to set it up with the video card it has installed and another video card.

[Timzone8]

Buy a monitor cable that splits off into 2, then connect two monitors, probably won't split the screen in halves, but you'd have 2 monitors with the same thing and with a weaker signal...

[dylman]

Bear in mind that the Geforce3 does not support multiple monitors off the one card, although the Geforce2 and 4 both do.

You can use a second video card in a PCI slot, yes. Any newer version of Windows natively supports multiple monitors.

[mark]

xp supports up to 10....

you'd need a minimum of 4 dual head pci cards and a dualhead agp one...

[mrharhar]

Imagine that with a matrix screensaver...

[deeder7001]

I have a Compaq Presario and the video is onboard. I was wondering if its possible to just install another video card and use that to set up the multiple monitors.

[dylman]

In principle, yes. It should be that easy. It's unlikely that your motherboard has an AGP slot, if not you'll need to find a PCI video card.

[Rellik]

here's a website I found with google
http://www.realtimesoft.com/multimon/


matrix screen saver eh?

oh and here's multiple montors (and pc's) taken to the extreme

[Atmo]

I run 3 monitors off my main rig, and it really isnt difficult to set up at all. My primary and secondary monitors are hooked up to my ti4400, with the tertiary monitor connected to a pci voodoo banshee.

The easiest way to go about it is to use a dual head agp card (all but the cheapest models allow you to run dual monitors nowdays). Most will have one vga and one dvi output (dual vga cards are harder to find), so you'll need a dvi > vga adapter to run two CRT's. Some dual head cards in that configuration will come with an adapter.

Another option is to add a pci video card (or two).

Once you've got your multiple vga outputs, then it's a simple matter of connecting monitors to them, enabling them in display properties and adjusting their placement to the primary monitor.

If you're using windows, suggest using 2000/XP as 9x can have some problems with dual monitors (although it's not impossible). I also reccomend using something like ultramon. It's not free, but if you've used multiple monitors without it, you'll find it's well worth the price.

[deeder7001]

What is an AGP slot?

[Atmo]

This gives you pretty much all the info you need on agp: http://www.sysopt.com/agp.html

[k_rock923]

my video card does not have two outputs. is there a way to do this with just my one card? or would it be better to just get some el cheapo card and not use that screen for anything serious?

[Smeggle]

For the Matrix Screensaver-- use this one...I just did a search in google...homepages.com asks you to change your homepage, another has broken links...then found this..I'd trust it more as it seems to come from warner bros them selves...

Linky

~

[Atmo]

Originally posted by k_rock923
my video card does not have two outputs. is there a way to do this with just my one card? or would it be better to just get some el cheapo card and not use that screen for anything serious?

No, unless you have a dual head card you'll need to either upgrade to one, or install a second card.

If you add a second card and will only be running 2d stuff on it, then pretty much anything with enough ram to run your selected resolution/color depth will do.

It's not a bad idea to use the same brand of chipset though, as these days most chipset manufacturers make a universal driver that works with all their later model cards. For example, you could be running a geforce3/4/FX agp card, and install a pci tnt2/geforce2mx/geforce4mx to run the second monitor and not need to install a seperate driver for it. It's certainly not necessary, but it does make configuring everything much easier.

[Russ]

You can only use your primary card for anything 3D-related anyway, so you might as well just get a decent 2D PCI card as a secondary.

If a card only has one output, you can only use one monitor with it .

[Atmo]

Originally posted by Russ
You can only use your primary card for anything 3D-related anyway, so you might as well just get a decent 2D PCI card as a secondary.

Actually, you can if the software supports multiple monitors or if you set the display as primary.

Milkdrop for example allows you to select which card/display is used, and i often run it fullscreen on my second monitor or tv while still having my main monitor as the primary display.

For a while i was using a 3dfx voodoo banshee to run my tertiary display, and was able to run games etc on it by making it the primary.

Whether or not it's wothwhile running 3d apps on a different card is another thing entirely though....

[k_rock923]

Originally posted by Smeggle
For the Matrix Screensaver-- use this one...I just did a search in google...homepages.com asks you to change your homepage, another has broken links...then found this..I'd trust it more as it seems to come from warner bros them selves...

Linky

~

my matrix screensaver does the whole number trace and says "wake up matt" and the whole follow the white rabbit thing before it does matrix code. you can specify what phone number to trace and what name it displays. ill see if i can find the link for it.


thanks for the help anyone. so i'll buy a nice cheap vid card to go with my crap 15 inch monitor in the attic while i watch DVDs and play games on my big ass 21"
got it for free too. from my dads office. they were just gonna chuck it. i was happy to take it off their hands