Dual Monitor Questions

bigsaucybob

New Member
I recently got this monitor from bestbuy from $400, I thought it was a good deal:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...se+22&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1142292834310

It has DVI, D-Sub, Componet Ports, S-Video, and Video ports. I can play my Xbox 360 on it and watch TV, and use it as another monitor.

It has a high resolution so the picture looks sharp and clear.

1. Is this a good deal?
2. I am not using a horizontal setup so that the taskbar extends the entire screen, I am just using it as a second desktop so i can use it for fire fox.

When i try and play fear on one screen, I cant pull the mouse over. Why is this?
 
You will probably have to look over the information at the ATI support site for this if the help files don't give you enough there. Downloading the latest driver and Catalyst version isn't the problem here. One article seen at http://www.epinions.com/content_4436697220 can help explain some things on how to get things working. A few other links could help explain the hardware as well as software side of this.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1948566,00.asp
http://www.r2d2-software.com/
http://www.realtimesoft.com/multimon/multidesk/
 
Another question, since it is a computer monitor it does not have a TV tuner. Where can I get one and how much do the go for?
 
Newegg, about $50.
Anyways, the reason you can't move the mouse outside of F.E.A.R is because direct x won't allow you to. You can run the game in window mode and it will allow you to AlT-Tab out of the game without running into problems.
 
Newegg, about $50.
Anyways, the reason you can't move the mouse outside of F.E.A.R is because direct x won't allow you to. You can run the game in window mode and it will allow you to AlT-Tab out of the game without running into problems.

Ok, thanks a lot. How do I run in Window mode?

and can you please provide a link to the tuner?

thnaks
 
During game play in most of the games out you simply press the ALT and Enter key at the same time to bring the full screen down to a window. Some games already have the option to run in windowed mode. You can find several models to look over at newegg. A personal favorite is AVerMedia. I am still running a capture card that has lasted for 4yrs. already through three builds. Here's one for $33 with an FM tuner included. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815100501
 
I probably should have specified, but I want to run a Direct TV box into my monitor. It has the simple red, yellow, and white ports but the actual monitor needs a tuner?

I dont want to watch TV through my computer, unless its significantly cheaper.

Does this make a difference?
 
The only tuner I've been running here has the builtin vcr and video cature software NEODVD. I haven't had Direct TV available to work with here. Cable on the other hand has worked quite well on the 75ohm input. The model used here is the older PCI 350. These cards mainly use a pci slot where you patch into the sound card or onboard. Like most these are input not output devices.
 
You won't any premade for sure. You would need some type of signal converter with the vga or S-Video output to connect the monitor. The pci tuners unless usb simply go through the board to the video output of the installed card if not onboard that way. Some models may have a DVI out. But most are for either tv signal or some other digital or analog input.
 
I am quite confused. All I know is that the monitor does not have a tuner, it has video ports (red,white,yellow) and I have the DirectTV box. I was told that I needed an additional piece of hardware (tuner) to watch tv on it.
 
Something like a vhs system that uses analog RCA phono plugs would have a tuner built in already. A better idea for that would be a dvd/vhs combo. With many of the newer ones out you can dvd-rws and audio cds as well as regular dvd movies. The red and white there are for left and right audio with the yellow for RCA video input.
 
"Watch TV on your Notebook or PC Full Band Antenna & Cable TV Tuner" is clearly specified for input onto your laptop or desktop on the Action Computer model. The ATI model is quite an item in itself. The one thing you are missing on however is that these are still input to pc hardwares. You would still need a vga output to a monitor from either a laptop or desk model system.

The Action model offers more inputs there for various external players while the ATI offers some high end quality. But these are still not for inline use with a monitor but rather usb type input devices. There's no way to go direct to a monitor from either while they both will accept input from digital sources. Your system acts as the monitor with this type of device.
 
I wouldn't need a VGA cable since my monitor has the yellow video and red and white audio ports.

Could you please reccomend one that you think would be best.
 
You would first need to find a model with the RCA phono output for the analog signal to the monitor(video, audio). The output from these two models are usb to usb port on either a portable or desktop. If the monitor takes analog input simply buy a vhs/dvd combo and connect the cable to that. The tuner there will convert the digital input signal from a cable box to analog for output to the monitor. The tuners you have picked out so far are for pc use only.
 
I just have a 2-4 year old VCR just lying around, would that be able to work? I guess it has to have output to the RCA ports.

I dont need the combo becuase I can use my Xbox 360 for a DVD player.


Edit: It says, one port from antenna, one port to tv. Then it has two yellow video ports and 2 audio ports.
 
Last edited:
That sounds like a mono not stereo vcr there with the input and output. A stereo model would see two yellow, two white, and two red. One set is for input while the other is for output to tv or another device with the RCA input. If you are planning on stereo or surround sound you would need a new vcr for that. You will note the text molded in the plastic shows which set of plugs is for input and output.
 
Back
Top