Two monitors, need information

[paulcheung]

Hi all,
I have never connect two monitor to a pc yet, what I need to know is how it works? do the monitors display the same thing on the two monitors? or the expand the view area? or you can open different windows on two monitors? Where is the cursor? on one monitor or both?
Thank you.

 

[salvage-this]

what I need to know is how it works?

If you have a 2 outputs for your system you just hook up the other monitor to the extra output.

do the monitors display the same thing on the two monitors? or the expand the view area?

when you first hook them up they will most likely display the same. This is called duplicating the displays. When you go into the screen resolution configuration page. you can choose to extend the displays. That will give you 2 independent screens that can display different information.

can you open different windows on two monitors?

Yes when the displays are extended. Right not I have my chat window and music player on one monitor and chrome on the other.

Where is the cursor? on one monitor or both?
Thank you.

there is just one cursor. It can float between both monitors. When you have it configured properly (not hard at all) the mouse should just float between the monitors like it was one screen.


Just curious, what hardware and OS are you running?

 

[tremmor]

Hi all,
I have never connect two monitor to a pc yet, what I need to know is how it works? do the monitors display the same thing on the two monitors? or the expand the view area? or you can open different windows on two monitors? Where is the cursor? on one monitor or both?
Thank you.

im running dual 24". To say different it is:
No or could for displaying on two monitors. you can expand and drag across the other. Yes you can open different programs or video on the other like i do. Wallpaper, you can get and free wallpaper that will extend to the other.
The settings are stretch or software like Ultramon that works well.

One thought though.
I would not use dual if different size monitors and diff manufacture.
Just think it is hard on the eye's. Did before when playing in the beginning with
assemblers and and symbolic debugger on the other screen.

 

[paulcheung]

If you have a 2 outputs for your system you just hook up the other monitor to the extra output.

Just curious, what hardware and OS are you running?

MY desktop is an old Gateway 508GE with Pentium 4 single core 3.4GZ run on Windows XP. I am thinking upgrade it hence the reason to ask if I can run two monitors as I do FX Trading which require a lot charts and information.
Thank you, I guess I have to upgrade to 2500k or 2600k with a video card can do dual monitors.
Thank you

 

[salvage-this]

You do not need to upgrade the system just for dual monitors. If your system has 2 outputs it should have enough power to drive 2 monitors. Given that the monitors are not massive resolutions.

Even if you do not have 2 outputs you can just grab a cheap GPU (like $50 and less). that will let you run dual monitors just fine.

 

[paulcheung]

NO that old system is too old, it is a single core pentium 3.4gz and only has 2 gb ddr ram with 180gb hard drive. When I do trading I have to open about 4 programs and IE with about 8-10 different windows.
any time I switch windows and programs the harddrive light up and take good few seconds to change. It is time for a new desktop with 2 20inches or larger monitors. Thank you.
Cheers