ATI - Second Monitor how to?

Ohm wrote on 12/6/2003, 12:11 PM

Using ATI all-in-wonder and WinXP home edition.

Would like to use the 2 monitor feature to extend my desk top. I already use the firewire connection to monitor on a TV through a DV camera.

Where, how do I connect the second monitor? Do I use the onboard video card that came with my PC as the second monitor? Do I install another Video card in a PCI slot?

ATI's response to my question is in the form of software updates.

Thanks

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 12/6/2003, 12:35 PM

Depending on your motherboard, it's quite likely that installing a video card automatically disables the onboard video. You might be able to find a BIOS setting to turn it back on, but there's a good chance you can't. In that case you would have to add another video card. You wouldn't need an extravagant card, just one with enough memory to display the resolution you need. I would suggest going with another ATI card so that you don't have to worry about mixing drivers from different manufacturers.

When you get both display adapters installed, go to control panel / display / settings / advanced. There will be options there to enable the second display and to "stretch my desktop across multiple monitors".

Liam_Vegas wrote on 12/6/2003, 2:08 PM

I believe that most of us who have two-monitor setups use a card which supports two monitors outputs from the display adaptor card.

I have an ATI 7500 card which has a regular VGA port and then another digital port. With a little adaptor I convert that digital port into a regular vga port so I can use two regular monitors.

I have had no experience with working with two display adaptor cards in the one computer... but I guess that would work.

Ohm wrote on 12/7/2003, 12:10 AM

Thanks for your suggestions.

Have either of you heard of a "dual head" adapter. I have heard that term before, but not sure in what context. Is there such a hook-up for monitors?

Also, would upgrading to WinXP Pro be a solution? I've read that it is supposed to support two monitors.

I'm trying to find out what the options are so I can sort through them.

Thanks again.

Liam_Vegas wrote on 12/7/2003, 12:58 AM

The card/configuration I described is exactly that - a dual-headed adaptor. It means there are two connections for monitors. Some card have two regular (VGA style) connectors - and others have a combination of that and one of these special "digital" or DVI connectors... that some LCD panels have... or you just get one of those converter cables to go from DVI back to vga style.

I don;t think you have to get XP pro in order to have multiple monitor supprt (although I am not 100% certain that you don't). I have XP pro ... so I know it just works there.

[edited original post to correct term for DVI (I originally had DLP here... thanks to Chienworks for poijnting that out)]

Chienworks wrote on 12/7/2003, 6:18 AM

I believe it's "DVI", not "DLP". DVI is Digital Video Interface. DLP is Digital Light Processing, which is used in newer video projectors because it is more efficient than LCD panels are.

Multiple monitor support became an official part of windows with version 98SE. In fact, it supports up to 9 monitors.

bwillett wrote on 12/7/2003, 7:18 AM

When using two monitors, do they need to be the same size? Can I use my existing 19" for the workspace, but add a new 15" for the preview window?

Chienworks wrote on 12/7/2003, 8:43 AM

They don't have to be the same size. They don't even have to be the same resolution. You could set your 19" monitor to 1600x1200 and the 15" to 800x600 and Windows will handle it. The only thing to be wary of in this circumstance is that your desktop will now be 2400x1200, but you won't be able to see the bottom right 800x600 corner of it. So, if you do this and then stretch Vegas' window over both monitors you won't be able to see whatever is in that corner. What would probably be a better thing to do is to leave Vegas' main window entirely on the 19" monitor and then detatch and drag various sub windows (explorer, trimmer, mixer, preview, etc.) over to the second monitor.

Liam_Vegas wrote on 12/7/2003, 10:07 AM

Correct... my bad.

kameronj wrote on 12/7/2003, 11:07 AM

Like Chienworks says - they don't have to be the same monitors at all.

Like it was even said in the previous posts - you just need two video cards in you PC. Or three - if you want three monitors.

The only reason I"m not working with three monitors yet is because I don't have the room at the moment. But two is fine for me now.

Steve672 wrote on 12/7/2003, 2:25 PM

I am using Win XP Pro, ATI Radeon 9700 video card with a digital out for my Viewsonic 181P monitor and the VGA out for my NEC 17" LCD monitor. I have it set up just like Chienworks explained and it works like a charm.

Steve

Rogueone wrote on 12/7/2003, 3:11 PM

Almost the same setup I've got, Steve. The last project I did I used my regular Viewsonic 19" and and older generic 15". Dual-head video cards do work great; just because you can focus the 'main' workspace on whichever monitor you want, and easily place the other programs on the other one.

XP Pro does a good job of easily working with multiple monitors, but the older Windows versions handle it too. I installed a dual-head video card for a customer at the PC shop I work at, and he had Windows ME. The second display came up fine.

Rogue One

Ohm wrote on 12/7/2003, 7:14 PM

I'm going to get a video card for a PCI slot for the second monitor, as my DVI-I has an adapter to drive the VGA monitor.

Thanks to everyone for helping me out.