Help me understand Multi-Displays

KJS

New Member
So I'm buying a new computer soon, and there's going to be either a 8500GT or 8600GT in it, so that means there are going to be 'dual heads' if I'm correct. So I simply plug in both monitors and set it up. So my questions are:

1. Does a 8500GT or 8600GT have dual-heads?

2. From what I have read my computer will select or I choose one monitor as the primary screen (where full-screen aps will run), and when that happens I can for example run something like iTunes/MSN in the other screen?

Thanks
 
most 8500GT have dual heads, and afaik all 8600GT have dual heads. you can choose which monitor you want to have as your primary either in the windows display panel or nvidia's display panel. moving applications back and forth is simply a matter of clicking and dragging the window from one monitor to another. you can run any application on your secondary monitor that you choose. your secondary monitor will not have a taskbar unless you use a third party application, such as ultramon.
 
Yes, considering you are going with NVidia, just go.

1. NVidia Control Panel (right click desktop, NVidia Control Panel)
2. Set Up Multiple Displays
3. Choose "Configured independently from each other." If your second monitor does not appear on the list try restarting the computer.

It just largely depends on what you are going to be doing with the monitors. For running dual monitors I would recommend at least an 8600GT. Very good card and will allow you to utilize all functions of both screens. Maybe watch 2 movies at once or something haha.
 
i thought playing two movies at once wasn't possible also if you think you can play two games at once your wrong.

you have a choice

dual clone view (both screens show the same)
or extended desktop view (stretch desktop across two screens, not the case when playing games)
 
Oh I know you can't run two games at once. I use my TV as a secondary monitor and sometimes I can't even run one game at a time. The wide screen resolution freaks out my game. I normally just use dual monitors for basic browsing. Yeah, but the dual clone view is pointless. It's basically just copying one image on one screen to the other. All it does is take up resources. And I was just assuming you could run two movies. Maybe one QuickTime movie and one WMP movie. If you have the resources to do that that is.
 
maybe possible but i made a thread bout playing two games and even two movies but everyone thought i was stupid. its really useful if you use 3d apps to design things have all the 3d rendering on one screen and the codes and draw tools on the other, or have movies playing on the one and surf the web on the other. if you have to invest in another moniter its not worth it if you already have another moniter free then go for it.
 
Well I know you can run one game in a dual monitor setup if you set the game options to run in windowed mode. Good idea on the 3D rendering setup though.
 
Yeah for school I'm going to be using word in one, and then maybe running two internet browsers in my 24". I'm planning on having :

15" - 24" - 15"

I'm still on a 15", but it's good enough for basic viewing so whatever, and just going on craigslist and grabbing one for $40 or something. However, I need another cheap video card if I want to run another 15" right?
 
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