Duel Monitor setup....HELP (NEED COMP GEEK)

Truggy · Post by **Truggy** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 4:28 am

i got something with my radeon 9800 pro to plug into the s-video port, that converts it to a yellow video cable, That can plug into my tv and work as a 2nd monitor, How do i enable that, so both work at the same time?

U.S.Amateurfilmaker · Post by **U.S.Amateurfilmaker** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 4:54 am

I'm not a geek, but I can tell you that a TV won't work. It doesn't have the resolution of your PC monitor, so it will look like cr**, and small text will be VERY hard to make out. And I don't think you can even use a TV as a 2nd monitor with a radeon 9800. Just get a 2nd monitor, I got a $99, plugged it into mt radeon with a DVI to VGA adapter, and it works great.

Truggy · Post by **Truggy** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 4:59 am

i have that attachment from DVi to VGA, and im sure it will work, now i just gotta find one....

Truggy · Post by **Truggy** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 5:00 am

BTW, how does that work, if u plug it in, will your mouse go from one screen to the next, when u move it? or what?

U.S.Amateurfilmaker · Post by **U.S.Amateurfilmaker** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 5:02 am

yep, it just extends the width of your desktop. With mine, I can edit on 1 screen and talk to people online on the other. It's great. Just a warning though, once you try it you'll get hooked, so don't plan on going back to a single any time soon, you'll go into witdrawl. lol

Truggy · Post by **Truggy** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 1:51 pm

Damn i gotta get another monitor.....

justsomeguy · Post by **justsomeguy** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 6:24 am

yeah its awsome having another monitor, especially one 21 inch and a 19 inch! but yeah, once you have it your hooked

pan-modo_pictures · Post by **pan-modo_pictures** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 6:29 pm

Yeah I love it, but I haven't edited anything serious on it since I went duel, so that's where the real test will be.

Truggy · Post by **Truggy** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 7:23 pm

I just bought another monitor, im a hard core gamer, like i play games maybe 3-4 hours a day. I found out something interesting. (ornsack clued me in on it, did a lil research)...Ok, say i have a 128 mb video card. It can have duel monitors....It will take that 128 mb of memory and split it up between the monitors, so one monitor gets 64 mb and other get it as well...Not only was my system useage up to 10% after hookin it up, it just killed my FPS on a game known as Planetside. So i unhooked it tested it again, everything was fine again. So maybe its just my brand new computer cant take it (which i doubt), or a duel monitor really does affect system performance...

Raptor · Post by **Raptor** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 8:09 pm

Duals do affect performance, and if they are driven off the same card, then yeah they have to share the memory, and the CPU has to help control that memory allocation. Use a separate card to drive the second monitor and you should be good to go...

El Brenty · Post by **El Brenty** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 8:28 pm

That's where Matrox cards are best for this kind of work, they are built specifically to offer optimal performance for multi-monitor systems without affecting the PC.

justsomeguy · Post by **justsomeguy** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 1:05 am

hmm... thats wierd but makes sense. ive run unreall 2003 at 1158x8?? (whatever it is) and listened to windows media player and never had a problem. maybe its cuz i had it minimized on the same monitor as the game? i dunno

Truggy · Post by **Truggy** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 1:50 pm

probably, so i unhooked my other one. Right now im useing my little TV for when i wanna use dual monitors, cause i can use the S-video out right into the composite video. (special adaptor)