Dual monitor question

beef · Post by **beef** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 11:23 am

Not knowing much about dual monitor setups, and wanting to try to get one. I was wondering if you can run a dual monitor setup using a graphics card and the onboard video from the motherboard. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Adam

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 4:25 pm

Yes and no. Using 2 different card will cause nothing but grief. Been there, done that, bought the T-Shirt. It's better to have two matching cards and even better to have ONE card with dual outputs.

If this system is not a serious gaming system (and if you're using onboard video I assume it's not) then an ATI or Sapphire Radeon x300 will be more than enough (although you'll probably have to pay for the DVI to SVGA adapter for the 2nd output unless you have DVI displays - the pricier cards come with the adapter). An x700 would be better especially if you want some gaming ability.

If this is an AGP system then looks for an ATI/Sapphire 9600 or 9800.

There are equivalent dual-head cards made by NVidia.

TruckStuff · Post by **TruckStuff** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 9:21 am

Originally posted by FlyingPenguin
Yes and no. Using 2 different card will cause nothing but grief. Been there, done that, bought the T-Shirt. It's better to have two matching cards and even better to have ONE card with dual outputs.

FP. when did you last try it w/ separate video cards? We do this at work all the time w/out any problems. With XP, all you need is the correct drivers and everything should pickup right away. We *have* run into issues where the onboard video was automatically disabled when it detected another video card, but that was a simple bios tweak to get it going.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 2:43 pm

Hi truck. It's has been a while, and I'm not saying it won't work, but I had issues when one card had substantially different performance than the other card - especially in high resolutions or when playing videos on the 2nd display.

Let me say that yes, you can make it work with 2 seperate cards, and if you're not a gamer it will probably work fine, but you may find that you have problems (especially if you're a gamer).

There's also issues with color balance (assuming both monitors are identical). I found I can't stand to have different color balance between the displays. It annoys me.

Considering a good dual head card doesn't have to set you back much, an most onboard video chips on OEM systems are crummy Intel chipsets, I'd say it's less aggravation to buy a dual head card and kill the onboard, but that's my opinion.

beef · Post by **beef** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 3:11 pm

i actually am not using the onboard video card, i have a radeon x600 256 mb, and just wanted to use the other monitor of the onboard graphics just for running dual monitor for dumb little stuff.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 3:57 pm

Umm.... the x600 is dual head if I'm not mistaken? Or do you want three monitors?

Just try it - either it'll work or it won't. No loss if you already have an add-on card.

beef · Post by **beef** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 5:55 pm

showing my ignorance and not knowing much about the subject, if i get an adapter for the second port, will it allow me to run dual monitor?

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 6:01 pm

Originally posted by beef
showing my ignorance and not knowing much about the subject, if i get an adapter for the second port, will it allow me to run dual monitor?

Yup

That's the idea

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 8:50 pm

A DVI to VGA adapter? Yup. And don't waste too much money on one. They probably want a lot in the stores for one. I bet some of us with high-end cards have a spare one lying around in a drawer somewhere. I probably do - I just have to look.

Or $8.50 shipped from NewEgg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814998101

beef · Post by **beef** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:19 pm

yeah i went to radio shack, and they were 5 something, but they didnt have any in stock. then i went to office max and they wanted like $25 for it. i told them i could get it online for 8, and the guys like "what's your point?'

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:31 pm

I know, it kills me to see people spending $25 for a USB cable at an Office Depot when you can get them online for $6. Great markup.

beef · Post by **beef** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 10:15 pm

so now that i have both monitors running, is there a program that lets me put different wallpapers on both monitors or something of the such?

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 10:17 pm

Look for Ultramon

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 12:52 pm

I use Ultramon as well. It adds several very nice features to WIndows dual monitor support.