multiple monitors 1 box
 

Ok. I saw a request for this in the design showdown thread but never bothered to reply:

Using multiple monitors is easy and does not require dual head video cards. I currently run an old geforece agp and a shitty old ati pci card each has one monitor plugged into it.

This is very easy to do using win 2k: assuming you have 1 video card installed [like an agp], install another [like the pci] then turn the computer on let it pick up the card via pnp, install drivers from the manufacturers site or use oem drivers it wont matter much.
[the only trick at this stage is to set your bios to pick up the pci card first, or vice versa u might have to try both]

then simply right click on your desktop, active desktop>customize my desktop then the "settings" tab activate teh second monitor and set the arrangement of the monitors, done deal.

3rd and 4th screens etc same process win2k can handle up to a 12 screen array.

ok go for it!

:BangBang:

hmmm..... never tried it that way before..... I'll hafta give that a shot.

great info alias.... :thumbsup

i did that before when installing a pci ATI card, it took me a couple minutes to realize i had to setup the bios to boot from the PCI card instead of looking for the AGP.

Does this way actually mean both are different windows or part of one big desktop?

Like if you played Counter Strike on one screen, the other could be a web window...

Problem I had was it made it one big screen which is pretty useless. I run 2 pc's so I can watch dvd's on one screen and work on the other.

I use the Matrox G450, a cheap dual head card... It's got nice management features. My two 19" monitors are manageable as seperate desktops and everything works just the way I programmed it :)

Brad

Dual monitors are an ESSENTIAL if you work online :thumbsup

Thanks Alias

yeah they function as one large desktop

But for 3d games you would need a dual head card or for both of the cards you install to be 3d. If thats what you are after though I'd go with a dual head 3d card to avoid hassle.

i once installed 4pci cards and 1 dual head agp card and hooked up 6 monitors:)
21" each:)