2+ monitor setups.....How?

[John Gutmann]

I was wondering how you get to have the hook up for more then 2 monitors on a desktop computer. I was hoping to do at least 3. I have heard that all you need is PCI video cards, and my desktop has 3 PCI slots so I was thinking of just buying some cheap video cards. My question is, Is this true? If so what are some inexpensive video cards that will still get the job done. They don't have to be 128mb memory each but I also don't want 3 2mb cards. Also I was wondering how to do simple things like have 2 different desktop backgrounds and etc. I already know about ultramon for the task bar but if there is a better program then go ahead and share.

-John

[dlavery]

You mean like this?
Just drop a PCI-compatible video card in an open slot for each monitor, plug in the monitor, and away you go (that is, assuming that your video card will only drive one monitor; my current set up uses multiple ATI Radeon X1900 XT cards, each of which can drive two 30-inch displays from one card if you want to, although I dedicate one card per monitor for the increased performance).

-dave

[mtaman02]

Ok Dave you officially have creaped me out - Mind if I ask why you would need more then 2 monitors on one computer anyway? I mean yeay you could do stuff on one and do something else on the other but doesn't it confuse you at all? And which monitor do you look at the most - Left / Right or Center?

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Two monitor setups are quite common for CAD applications and video editing. Many power operators like the multi monitor setup for the ability to have several apps open and cut and paste operations between apps. It works best when the estucheon around the display is not too wide so that the screens can be closer together. In video editing, the trick is to get the monitors to match color.

[Greg Marra]

Pft, wimps.



Now that's a multi monitor setup!

But in all seriousness, I have a tri-headed setup for video editing. Two 15" screens flanking a 22" widescreen. Timeline and preview in the middle, source clips on the right, and clip properties on the left. It's so much better than having to deal with everything all scrunched up on one screen.

[Kyle Fenton]

My company has a four monitor setup from Digital Tigers

[AV_guy007]

I Had dual monitors before, but now i have a single 22 inch lcd widescreen connected to a computer, and then my laptop with a 21 inch crt and its 15.4 inch screen, I then used synergy to connect both computers and all 3 monitors to one keyboard and mouse, I works great and i can copy and paste between computers.

[jtdowney]

[DonRotolo]

We regularly use 2 monitor setups at work, to avoid switching from one application to another while using both to process some information.

Dual-monitor cards are used (because neither app is terribly graphics-intensive).
Don

[chris31]

I frequently use a 17inch with my laptop just so I have more room because my 15in IBM just doesnt have enough because the highest resolution the screen supports is 1024 by 768 but I can you that and the 17in with a much higher res and get enough screen space to work. What OS are you running so I can think of some programs that add some nice features for multi-screen setups.

[texasranger]

Al gore has 3 huge apple 30 inch displays connected to his mac pro.

With mac os 10.5 leopard coming out in october, you'll have spaces on top of exposé, which will make your screen a lot more organized.

[John Gutmann]

Well since Dave answered my question so simply I guess i should ask what some peoples opinions are on things. The first thing I can thinkof right now is what people feel about a 4:3 vs widescreen (9:16 or 10:16 or whatever) I cannot justify buying a 4:3 except for the fact that you can get one on newegg for just about 100$ compared to me paying 250$ for a nice Westinghouse widescreen. What do you guys think?

-John

IMHO, whatever monitor setup you pick should be based on what you do. I CAD, so I run 2 24" LCD's. I use both extensively when designing. If you just forum and AIM hop, a single widescreen is plenty.

[Gamer930]

Getting back on subject with software I believe the best and what most use at college is UltraMon.

You can do the different Background Images, Resolutions, and task bars with UltraMon.

Full list of features are at: http://www.realtimesoft.com/ultramon/overview/

I have my UltraMon setup with 4 different profiles to fit my 19" wide screen and 19" LCD.
1. Single 19" Wide screen Monitor (For regular internet surfing)
2. Single 19" Square Monitor (almost never used)
3. Dual Display (Used for programming, video editing, office work)
4. Stretch (cool for movies and some games)

[Schnabel]

You know, I could have thought that not just any graphics card will work unless it has a special feature on it (crossfire or something like that). I'm thinking that if you don't have that, then all you can do is have the same image on every screen instead of multiple desktops. You may want to google that however.