Dual monitor dual desktop setups

[hokie64]

Are they worth it?

would it be worth it to have one nice disp for games and then another one for an office/administration/AIM type dealie?


I suppose i wouldnt be able to switch desktops while playing a game, and i'd also have to get a second video card, just for sheer lack of physical ports. You can't do SVID IN on a monitor can you? and even if you can can you set up your card to run separate desktops on the different ports?

I'm in the market for a top of the line card so that shouldnt be an exclusion or anything.

Opinions?

[Kruzin]

Once you've used a multi-display rig, you'll never want to go back.
I run a triplehead setup at home, and a dualhead at work. I hate it when I have to work on a single monitor.

You can get an additional PCI card to run your second display, or you can get a new AGP card with dual, triple or quad heads.
Matrox makes the best multihead cards around, but they're not for those who like to count framerates (although my Parhelia plays every game I've tried on it with acceptable rates).

[hokie64]

my problem is that i will definitely want to play half life 2 when it comes out (CS 2 woo) but finding a card that will run it and another monitor might be tricky or tooo expensive.

I wonder if i still have my old pci voodoo banshee lying around..... i guess the other card doesnt have to be any good at all. it just has to run word and applications and stuff. The chip and the ram are really all that would matter right?

[hokie64]

also, if i wanted to set up a second (or third) display in say another room, with a wireless keyboard and mouse, do they make 15 or 20 foot monitor cables? is this possible?

[Blazer06]

Yes, they do have extension cables that long.


Blaze

[hokie64]

i've also been looking for a switch to take an out from my monitor and switch it back and forth between the displays, one at my station and the other in the other room. I cant seem to find one that only does 2. Everything has several RCA outputs which i dont need..anyone know of one ?

[ben-the-slacker]

They may come in those lengths but I think extreme lengths like that weaken the signal so you get not so great of a picture quality. I may be wrong though.

[hokie64]

ive just been reading about this DVI stuff which apparently uses an entirely digital signal instead of analog nonsense. Is this a different type of port or what? That seems like it would address ben's (and my) concern.

Also, lol i've been looking at things that let you control multiple computers with one monitor not the other way around. Is there something this is called specifically?

[Lazywolf]

It would be SO nice to have a 2 monitor set-up. I would use it for DV editing. How does it work with games? can you have 2 different angles of the same thing, or something?

[hokie64]

no no
from my understanding the game will only project on one monitor you have 2 different desktops but the mouse just runs between them seamlessly (tho i donno what happens playing a fullsceen game)