View Full Version : Dual Monitor Setup
I have some questions regarding dual monitor setups and could use all the info I can get.
I'm currently looking to buy a wide screen LCD (20''-22'') to replace my current 17'' LCD as my main monitor. The thing is, I don't want to get rid of my current one but rather create a dual monitor setup. Considering the size difference, I don't want to extend my desktop but rather use it as a second desktop and put it on the wall above the primary monitor.
How exactly would that work? Will I be able to switch between monitors with the stroke of a key or something like that? Will I be able to game on my main monitor and surf on the web or run an application on the other at the same time?
And one last thing: Which of the following two monitors you think is the best, the Samsung 206BW (http://www.samsung.com/Products/Monitor/LCD_Digital/LS20MEWSFVXAA.asp?page=Specifications) or the Samsung 225BW (http://www.samsung.com/Products/Monitor/LCD_Digital/LS22DPWCBQXAA.asp?page=Specifications)?
Thanks. :)
Quest_7F
02-16-2007, 11:31 AM
They will both be active desktops and you can drag windows to the secondary monitor. You dont have to extend the same backround either.
As for games I have guild wars open at the same time as the trade forums. Its a nice feature to have. But it wil depend on the game you are playing if it can go into windowed mode. And you will have to ask someone smarter if it messes with the fps, im sure it does.
Thanks for the reply!
So, the games need to be on windowed mode in such a setup? What if I run games as usual, will they display on both monitors?
CookieFactory
02-16-2007, 12:09 PM
Negatron
Negatron
Care to elaborate a bit more? :)
mr.tie
02-16-2007, 12:33 PM
I'm currently running a 22" and my old 15", my 22 is main desktop in which full size games run, in my 15 I keep ventrillo open so i can see who is talking, and my messengers to see who signs on and off, though if i wanted to click on the 15" I would need to minimize my game, it's not that useful but it's fun and worth nerd points.
CookieFactory
02-16-2007, 12:45 PM
Care to elaborate a bit more? :)
In my experience most older full screen games will kinda "distort" the unused screen so it's a bit difficult to say, play a game on one screen, and watch a video on the other. Newer games will leave the second screen's perfect as-is though.
Altered
02-16-2007, 03:53 PM
I know Americas Army works fine with dual monitors. But just as said already you have to window out to get the cursor over to the other screen to actually do anything. I use the second monitor for setting up my temperature displays and team speak as well so that I can monitor temps fans and who comes in on ts or is talking etc. Works good also when benching watching temps, fans etc.while running 3d mark but yes it does effect fps some. Not a major hit on mine but definitely noticeable in the 3d mark scores.
njkid32
02-16-2007, 03:58 PM
I have always run dual monitors and couldnt go back if I tried. I use a program call ultramon and it allows you to control both monitors separately. When I used to game it would always display on your main default monitor but if you move your mouse to the other monitor it will crash the game or at least minimize it. You'll love using it cuz it allows you to have soo much more room on your 2 desktops.
jimmyz
02-16-2007, 04:04 PM
i run benchmarks and games on one monitor while my monitoring stuff is on in the other screen all the time. some games will drop second monitor unless windowed but most won't. and alot depends on driver fixes. if you read the release notes there is usually info about issues.
@Altered, i,ve never seen and drop in scores ? i tried it both ways on several benches just to make sure. maybe it depends whether it's a single or dual core cpu?
Altered
02-16-2007, 05:09 PM
@Altered, i,ve never seen and drop in scores ? i tried it both ways on several benches just to make sure. maybe it depends whether it's a single or dual core cpu?
I thought it was funny me and my Brother were having bench mark competitions and hes running same class video and exact same processor and a better mb than me and I was whooping him. He had the dual monitors up running showing temps and all. I had every thing off. He shut it all down and caught me instantly. We went back and just turned monitor on no temp programs etc. and he lost a couple a hundred. Maybe i should have said it might lose some fps. But on ours after further testing its a fact you will lose.
Hes running a Fatal1ty AA8XE mb I think. I know its a Fatal1ty something close to that. I don't have any dual cores so I cant say for sure on that one.
Thanks for your input.
What do you think about the 2 monitors I posted though?
there good but these are made fore it,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824185003
jimmyz
02-18-2007, 05:04 AM
there good but these are made fore it,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824185003
ouch $829 you could get 4 19" monitors for that much money.
there good but these are made fore it,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824185003
Waaaay out of my price range.
Edit: Just found out about the Samsung 226BW. Haven't seen any reviews for it yet but from what I read it's a pretty good monitor. It isn't out in Europe yet though.
I'd just take a dell, they look nice when there put next to eachother.
251 dollars a screen 20" widescreen
http://accessories.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-5123
Altered
02-18-2007, 09:02 AM
What do you think about the 2 monitors I posted though?
Out of the 2 you posted looking at the specs I guess I would go for the Samsung 206BW. I am old school and still haven't bought into the LCD thing yet. Since I don't own one its kind of hard to give a hands on account of how well I like it. The two things I noticed was the response time was better and the contrast ratio on this particular one. Hope that helps but thats about all I can say.
I did notice in this (http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1030631770) forum a fella had done a small personal review comparing a few others LCDs.
Also PC World has a Top 10 19-Inch LCD Monitors Chart (http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,123858;page,1/article.html) you might look at some of these to see how the one you like compares as far as features. I know its not widescreens but someone might use it. :p:
yes but you want it to look good to...
Out of the 2 you posted looking at the specs I guess I would go for the Samsung 206BW. I am old school and still haven't bought into the LCD thing yet. Since I don't own one its kind of hard to give a hands on account of how well I like it. The two things I noticed was the response time was better and the contrast ratio on this particular one. Hope that helps but thats about all I can say.
I did notice in this (http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1030631770) forum a fella had done a small personal review comparing a few others LCDs.
Also PC World has a Top 10 19-Inch LCD Monitors Chart (http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,123858;page,1/article.html) you might look at some of these to see how the one you like compares as far as features. I know its not widescreens but someone might use it. :p:
Yeah, the 206BW seems to be the best of the two. I guess I'll wait for the larger 22'' to come out and get that if it turns out to be as good as people say is.
Thanks for your suggestions everyone. :)
I'm currently running a 22" and my old 15", my 22 is main desktop in which full size games run, in my 15 I keep ventrillo open so i can see who is talking, and my messengers to see who signs on and off, though if i wanted to click on the 15" I would need to minimize my game, it's not that useful but it's fun and worth nerd points.
are you using ultramon or something else?
DTU_XaVier
02-20-2007, 05:45 AM
I've just bought an LG L204WT-SF 20" widescreen LCD to replace my aging Samsung SyncMaster 753s CRT, and since I can't get the CRT off my hands, I'm currently running dual monitors, using UltraMon... I've played Rainbow Six Vegas while watching movies on the other monitor, and it works great... If you have an NVIDIA card, though, you'll have to make sure the screens are identified individually (at first, I couldn't split the desktop, which was absolutely useless with two such different screens), which also makes sure Ultramon works properly...
IF you get it to work properly (isn't much of a hassle), you can have the two screens showing different resolutions, having different backgrounds, etc...
Best Regards :toast: