Looking in to Dual monitors

[Rancid727]

I like the idea of dual Monitors. But what i dont know is if you have to have two of the same size Monitors or could one be bigger than the other?

I now have a 22inc Monitor and am looking to buy a new one but i would like a bigger better monitor but could i still use my 22inc as a 2nd monitor?

I want the bigger maby 26-31 depending on prices for my ingame and the 22in for the web

[Skyborn]

I like the idea of dual Monitors. But what i dont know is if you have to have two of the same size Monitors or could one be bigger than the other?

I now have a 22inc Monitor and am looking to buy a new one but i would like a bigger better monitor but could i still use my 22inc as a 2nd monitor?

I want the bigger maby 26-31 depending on prices for my ingame and the 22in for the web

All of this depends on what your VC can handle...but generally yes they can be different sizes.

[Erroneous]

They can be different sizes and different resolutions. One thing to keep in mind is the larger the screen the higher resolution you'll want for certain computerish uses.

[Rancid727]

All of this depends on what your VC can handle...but generally yes they can be different sizes.

this is my VC info

Card name: ATI Radeon HD 3600 Series
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x9598)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9598&SUBSYS_39941545&REV_00
Display Memory: 2299 MB
Dedicated Memory: 1020 MB
Shared Memory: 1278 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Dell E228WFP

[kiasta]

I like the idea of dual Monitors. But what i dont know is if you have to have two of the same size Monitors or could one be bigger than the other?

I now have a 22inc Monitor and am looking to buy a new one but i would like a bigger better monitor but could i still use my 22inc as a 2nd monitor?

I want the bigger maby 26-31 depending on prices for my ingame and the 22in for the web

They can be different sizes but you will have to use the same resolution for both monitors.

[Nevron]

They can be different sizes but you will have to use the same resolution for both monitors.

That's not true, you can use two different resolutions in a dual monitor set-up.

[Surly]

They can be different sizes but you will have to use the same resolution for both monitors.
Eh? No they don't. Well, it depends on how the GPU software handles it, but practically all modern video cards will do a dual head display with independent resolutions.

The trouble, at least in WinXP, is that it's all one desktop environment. In most distros of Linux, you can have a different environment for each monitor. This is a problem in XP (and probably Vista, not sure) if you ever switch resolutions on your primary monitor (fullscreen a game, for instance) because it will move the stuff on your secondary monitors around a lot and obscure the display setup.

It's also very handy to set them both at the same resolution, but it isn't really required. I've found that I practically never change resolutions with 2 monitors now just because of how annoying it is to fix the desktop changes later.

[biggunsar]

I like the idea of dual Monitors. But what i dont know is if you have to have two of the same size Monitors or could one be bigger than the other?

I now have a 22inc Monitor and am looking to buy a new one but i would like a bigger better monitor but could i still use my 22inc as a 2nd monitor?

I want the bigger maby 26-31 depending on prices for my ingame and the 22in for the web

If you get dual monitors, DEFINTELY get ULTRAMON! best dual monitor proggie out there.

[biggunsar]

If you get dual monitors, DEFINTELY get ULTRAMON! best dual monitor proggie out there.

to elaborate

Ultramon will stretch your task bar (blue bar at bottom) across both screens. It will put a button on your windows shells, that with one click. Will allow you to take that window/browser/whatever while maxed, and swap it instantly to the other monitor (where as if you just multi monitor, you have to minimize any window and drag it across to the other screen)

you can do a fuck of alot more, but i won't bother yapping about it. Download it and you won't ever go back to using multi monitor without ultramon

[Nevron]

Yeah, I use ultramon as well.

[Malhavok]

Ultramon ftmfw!

Even if you just have one large monitor git eet! Ability to open programs to a specific monitor at a specific location is win.

[Vermino]

I like the idea of dual Monitors. But what i dont know is if you have to have two of the same size Monitors or could one be bigger than the other?

I now have a 22inc Monitor and am looking to buy a new one but i would like a bigger better monitor but could i still use my 22inc as a 2nd monitor?

I want the bigger maby 26-31 depending on prices for my ingame and the 22in for the web

better make sure your video card can handle resolution.. Im using two 8800GT's for a 30' 2560x1600 monitor... so you might need to do SLi and i would suggest buying one monitor, dual monitor in first person shooters are horrible (the seam is in the middle) and same with this game, your cross-hair will be in the seam.

Now going tri-monitor is a nice setup, but more for real estate space (trading stocks) unless you get some nice monitors (low MS) and some powerful GPU's, it will be very choppy..

look up on nextag Samsung 305T (http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/detail/detail.do?group=computersperipherals&type=monitors&subtype=lcd&model_cd=LS30HUBCB/XAA) (it's kind-of pricey, but one of the BEST monitors out there.. it's the same as APPLE's 30' monitor but without the HDMI cables - but cheaper)

just my 2 cents man


(here is my 305T (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYqAuCo5IGo&feature=channel_page) )

[Ultimo]

Good plan. I can't even live without two monitors anymore (or an equivalent). I don't have two at home, because my monitors are so big already it is like having two, however at work I would die without two.

[Nevron]

better make sure your video card can handle resolution.. Im using two 8800GT's for a 30' 2560x1600 monitor... so you might need to do SLi and i would suggest buying one monitor, dual monitor in first person shooters are horrible (the seam is in the middle) and same with this game, your cross-hair will be in the seam.

You make a good point, but he did state that he wants one monitor for games and the other for shit like the web. That's precisely how I use my dual monitor set-up. The awesome 22" Samsung 226BW for the games on the left, and this less-than-awesome 22" Sceptre for browsing on the right.

[Ankh]

Got my 21.5" 1080p monitor hooked up to my box for games and movies and shit, and my trusty 15.4" 1680x1050 laptop right next to it. Much more practical.

[riffordy]

i play on 2 monitors.. one is a laptop one is a 24 inch one. its amazing.. i wonder if the game can handle 2... that'd be nice..

[Jinru]

Your just in luck OP, newegg has the Radeon HD4870X2 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?nm_mc=AFC-SlickDeals&cm_mmc=AFC-SlickDeals-_-NA-_-NA-_-NA&Item=N82E16814102768) on sale for $370 after rebate and using "VGA11330" coupon at checkout. Currently the hottest deal right now for a vid card and can definitely run any dual monitors you throw at it.

[Scion of amber]

One thing to keep in mind, you may find yourself losing track of your mouse while you play.

You're there swirling it around looking for it on your game screen and it's sitting over on your browser :)

Also with different resolutions you may find that the "bottom" of one screen is not the same "level" as the "bottom" of the other. There may be a small step between them which can trap your mouse.

All in all though I find it useful.

[reknown]

I use a 42inch Polaroid LCD 1080P Tv for my monitor. It runs Fallout 3 and Extreme Graphics beautifully. (My GeForce 8800M GTX does) But I would recommend just buying a TV, and an HDMI cable.