Two screens - 1 PC

ChicoMendez

Hi,
I saw a graphic designer before working with two screens - so as he could have more space for all his photoshop palettes and options.

How would i go about setting up two screens off my pc?

Tnx

dahamsta

You need to be more specific with your enquries, questions like that are useless without basic information on what kind of hardware and/or operating system you're using. However to kick things off, before you go anywhere with dual-head you're going to need two video cards or one card with two outs.

adam

WhatsGoingOn

ChicoMendez wrote:

Hi,
I saw a graphic designer before working with two screens - so as he could have more space for all his photoshop palettes and options.

How would i go about setting up two screens off my pc?

Tnx

I use one of these, very handy
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=201725&pcount=&Product_Id=164030

cgarvey

What Adam says .. you need either 1 graphics card with dual head/outputs, or 2 graphics cards. You also need drivers and OS to support multiple cards (all recent drivers and OSes do, but just double check).

For example, I have a dual head nVidia AGP card, and an nVidia PCI card running 3 LCD monitors off a Windows XP Pro box, without any problems. I had driver issues when I had a ATi PCI card instead of the nVidia.. but that got sorted by a recent release of ATi drivers (but the card died a couple of months later).

.cg

evilhomer

WhatsGoingOn wrote:

I use one of these, very handy
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=201725&pcount=&Product_Id=164030

thats a KVM you are describing WhatsGoingOn. that allows you to use two pc's with one monitor, keyboard, mouse.

you need something like this Matrox card

they make lots of different cards. they aren't the cheapest cards but they are pro cards and are designed for what you want to do.

the most basic will cost you about €75 plus p&p here

that will only be good for working in 2D, you won't be able to play games on that(At least not new games)

you could also go the cgarvey path and buy a PCI card to give you two outs on your box(the new card would give you the extra out you need) then if you have XP Pro, windows 2000, Me or 98SE. you should be able to use both easily.

Then of course you would have to get a second monitor

WhatsGoingOn

evilhomer wrote:

thats a KVM you are describing WhatsGoingOn. that allows you to use two pc's with one monitor, keyboard, mouse.

you need something like this Matrox card

they make lots of different cards. they aren't the cheapest cards but they are pro cards and are designed for what you want to do.

the most basic will cost you about €75 plus p&p here

that will only be good for working in 2D, you won't be able to play games on that(At least not new games)

you could also go the cgarvey path and buy a PCI card to give you two outs on your box(the new card would give you the extra out you need) then if you have XP Pro, windows 2000, Me or 98SE. you should be able to use both easily.

Then of course you would have to get a second monitor

you're right, misread the original request

garthv

hmm,slightly off topic but would it be possible to set up a tv as a second monitor?
eg: have videos playing on the tv and doing other stuff on the pc

seamus

GaRtH_V wrote:

hmm,slightly off topic but would it be possible to set up a tv as a second monitor?
eg: have videos playing on the tv and doing other stuff on the pc

Possibly. A second Video card with Tv-out, and set up your DVD player software on that adapter.
Sounds theoretically possible.

evilhomer

would have to agree. it should be possible no problem. just set it up as you would set up a second monitor. a cheap card would do the trick. PCI even. you will still only have one sound output though

impr0v

My current (very tidy) set-up.



The card is a radeon 9700 pro with a DVI and VGA output. Once you get the card it's easy to set up, just select the second monitor in display properties and click 'Extend my Windows Desktop onto this monitor'. Needless to say, it's a very handy facility to have.

LoLth

moving to the computers forum... it sort of seems a better fit.

PiE

GaRtH_V wrote:

hmm,slightly off topic but would it be possible to set up a tv as a second monitor?
eg: have videos playing on the tv and doing other stuff on the pc

Yep, I did this on my machine last week. After a few hours of shouting "WHY ISN'T THIS EASIER TO DO!" I realised it was an option in the Desktop Properties.

I'm using a Radeon 9600PRO with TV-Out. Hook up the tv and monitor, go into Desktop Properties -> Settings, the monitor should be set as "Primary Monitor". Click the big "2" above this to bring up the options for the 2nd screen (the TV) and hit "Extend my windows desktop to this monitor".

I was happily watching movies while browsing, working and even playing games

Edit: Noticed improv said the same as me, 'cept he used the DVI while I used the TV-out.