Solved Dual monitor setup

Is it worth setting up two monitors. I have an opportunity to get a brand new gateway 19" monitor for $100, still in the box. How hard is it to set up and what would the main benefits of dual monitor setup? Most of all would I really like it if I did a dual set up. Any body else have a dual set up, do you like it. Thanks.
 

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Hello Bassfisher,

If your graphics card as a secondary output on it, then your good to go with just connecting the monitor to the secondary connector on the card and installing the monitor's driver (if it has one). Pretty much that simple.

It really depends on your needs, but it makes having multiple windows opened a lot easier to see and organize by dragging some of them over to the second monitor.

I like it. :)
 

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If you have the outputs for two monitors on your graphics card then get the second monitor, I would recommend using at least two screens to anybody that can.

As for setup, it's pretty much plug any play ;)
 

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I have a dual setup with my 19'' gateway LCD and my 38'' Sanyo Hi Def TV. My ATI HD card has a individual HDMI input as well as my TV. Works good.
 

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Thanks guys. Yes my card has dual input...DVI, VGA. So I'm good there. Pretty much PNP, it can't be that easy can it....lol. Now my only problem is that I''m out of outlets on my UPS...8 and there all full. Damn it, now I have to get another surge protector and do some moving of plugs on the UPS. Thanks again for the input. When I get it hooked up and set up I'll post back with my results. Maybe this time I'll take some pictures and post in the "show us your rig" forum.
 

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You're welcome Bassfisher. Enjoy your new dual monitor setup. :)
 

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Be careful with dual monitors though. Once you use them, you can never go back to one, it will spoil you quick. At least with LCD screens it is better than the dual 19" CRT I had 5 years ago.

I've tried as many as four monitors with two pci-e nvidia cards (works as long as both cards use the same driver) but went back to two. Only time I actually needed three was on a time crunched web-site recovery from a hosting change.

Two has been mandatory now for anything I do graphically. Enjoy your new desktop space!
 

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It's really weird to go back from 2 screens to 1 as nVader says. You really get used to the 2 screens. I have a 21" main, and a 15" secondary, which I use for Winamp. Though some games messes up the thing. When you're gaming and you click the secondary screen, your game is messed up sometimes.

Just wanted to warn you to turn of the 2nd screen when playing some games
 
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yea im with Uloga on that one i always turn my second 17'' off when im playing games. but when i do audio editing etc its awesome to be able to quickly mutitask with programs.
 

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One word for fixing that, Ultramon,

Realtime Soft UltraMon

In addition to all the other features/benefits of it, it also has hotkey functionality; comes in very handy with those games like you guys describe to lock the mouse to the primary monitor.

Not free, but what it offers makes it worth it in my opinion.
 

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OK, I have my 2nd monitor up and running now. My problem is how to I get some or all of my apps on to 2nd monitor. I have tried drag/drop but when I do, what ever I drop just disappears and I don't have that particular app on any computer. What do I do now?
 

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    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX Radeon HD 4770 512mb GDDR5
    Sound Card
    VIA HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual monitors: HP W1907 LCD 19" and Gateway HD Display 19" LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
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    Barracuda 7200.10 SATA 3.0Gb/s 320 x 2-GB Hard Drive
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Possible solve

Hi!

I work also with two displays, mostly because of comfort and also because Photoshop takes quite a large space for all the secondary tool-windows. I like to have 'em open all the time. Also nice for After Effects as you can get easily three displays full of controls and setting-windows. Crazy! But a pleasure to surf and work with, I don't want to miss my two 16:9's... ;)

Your problem:
Just open up the "display"-options in your system control. You can see the black boxes who represent your monitors. Drag 'n drop them until they fit your physical position of the two devices. Make also sure that the checkbox saying something like "expand desktop to this device" is checked. The rest is self-explanatory. That should solve the issue, at least I hope so.

Best regards,
Noël
 

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Moving the black boxes to any position does not do any thing and the box is is checked. So now what do I do.
 

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Hm. Alright, maybe your graphic drivers are outdated? The usual guess. I admit, I have no clue what's wrong. What exactly does happen when you put a window out of the normal desktop-space of your main monitor? and what does the new monitor show, the desktop background? Another hint: Nvidia has the "Nvidia control panel" from which you can also access a setup-wizard for multiple monitors, and tweak some options you normally can't access.

Best regards,
Noël
 
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    2x Samsung SyncMaster 943NW
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Hm. Alright, maybe your graphic drivers are outdated? The usual guess. I admit, I have no clue what's wrong. What exactly does happen when you put a window out of the normal desktop-space of your main monitor? and what does the new monitor show, the desktop background? Another hint: Nvidia has the "Nvidia control panel" from which you can also access a setup-wizard for multiple monitors, and tweak some options you normally can't access.

Best regards,
Noël

I just updated graphics driver and it lowered my WIE score. Not sure on the next question, the new monitor shows a distorted wall paper of monitor 1. I have used the Nvidia control panel that is how I got to where I am now.
 

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    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX Radeon HD 4770 512mb GDDR5
    Sound Card
    VIA HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual monitors: HP W1907 LCD 19" and Gateway HD Display 19" LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    Barracuda 7200.10 SATA 3.0Gb/s 320 x 2-GB Hard Drive
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    Antec Earthwatts 80 plus 500 watts
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Hm. Alright, maybe your graphic drivers are outdated? The usual guess. I admit, I have no clue what's wrong. What exactly does happen when you put a window out of the normal desktop-space of your main monitor? and what does the new monitor show, the desktop background? Another hint: Nvidia has the "Nvidia control panel" from which you can also access a setup-wizard for multiple monitors, and tweak some options you normally can't access.

Best regards,
Noël

I just updated graphics driver and it lowered my WIE score. Not sure on the next question, the new monitor shows a distorted wall paper of monitor 1. I have used the Nvidia control panel that is how I got to where I am now.

I played around in the Nvidia control panel and went item by item to find out it was my refresh rate. I change it from 60 hertz to 75 and bingo I have access to my second monitor. I should have checked that right from the get go...I guess I'll learn that some time.
 

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    XFX Radeon HD 4770 512mb GDDR5
    Sound Card
    VIA HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual monitors: HP W1907 LCD 19" and Gateway HD Display 19" LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    Barracuda 7200.10 SATA 3.0Gb/s 320 x 2-GB Hard Drive
    PSU
    Antec Earthwatts 80 plus 500 watts
    Case
    Ultra E-Torque ATX Mid tower clear side w/2 120mm fans
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    Thermaltake MaxOrb cpu cooler w/120 mm blue led
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I was just about to ask you if the refresh rates are calibrated. A bit too slow. ; )
Good that it works now.

Best regards,
Noël
 

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    Sound Card
    Onboard Realtek
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    2x Samsung SyncMaster 943NW
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 Pixels
    Hard Drives
    1x Samsung 40 Gib
    1x Samsung 80 Gib
    1x Samsung 500 Gib
One word for fixing that, Ultramon,

Realtime Soft UltraMon

Not free, but what it offers makes it worth it in my opinion.


UltraMon is just the best when using dual monitors as it saves so much time minimising and maximising from screen to screen.

I will say this much;Once you get used to using dual monitors you will not only never want to go back to using 1 but you will be lost when ever you do use 1 monitor as dual monitors just expands your capabilities 8 fold.

Have fun
 

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