can i add a 2nd monitor?

[mrtj1]

another quick question

i've been reading up and found some info saying that the pc will use the pci card as the main display and not the agp card (which i want). it also said that it's possible in windows to choose which is primary so you dont have to play around with the bios. how do you choose which is the primary display in win xp?

ps. should get my card thu or fri (fingers crossed)

[mrtj1]

never. mind. found 'use this device as primary...' in display properties.

[WyWyWyWy]

Originally posted by mrtj1
one question though. in display properties, i have 2 monitors apparently. i am assuming that this is the 2nd display of my 8500dv which is the svhs out or summit crappy like that. is there any way to disable that? otherwise my 19" would be a 3rd and the 15" would be a 4th monitor.

Shouldn't be a problem, should it?

Originally posted by mrtj1
i've been reading up and found some info saying that the pc will use the pci card as the main display and not the agp card (which i want). it also said that it's possible in windows to choose which is primary so you dont have to play around with the bios. how do you choose which is the primary display in win xp?

You do that in BIOS.

[mrtj1]

Shouldn't be a problem, should it?

wont it use up more resources with it on?

[WyWyWyWy]

Should not be noticable.

[mrtj1]

cool.

[Nuno]

Once you go into multimonitor, you never come back
May I sugest http://www.realtimesoft.com/ultramon/ , it´s a really nice multimonitor utility. You can manage windows positions, alternate primary and secondary displays, disable secondary, automatically strech a window across 2 monitors and it keeps desktop icons in place, that tends to get a bit messy with multimonitors. Just with hotkeys shortcuts. Very good.

[mrtj1]

yep. actually got that software already. just waiting for my card now.

had some serious comp probs today. looks like some of my ram slots are screwed so i ordered a new pc. i'll wait with the multi mon setup till i get that up and running next friday.

thanks for the link though.

[dbdg]

Check my sig, running Ati Radeon 9700Pro and G200, used to be Radeon 8500 and G200.

Not running Ultrmon or anything, haven't found the need for it yet, everything works and stays exactly where I want it. Apps stay split across the two screens etc.... works perfectly.

No noticable problem with resources running two cards although if I plan on a big gaming session I do disable the second card in display properties anyway.

Some games don't like a dual set up and some times some apps say no direct-x accel, shut down the second card and everything will be fine again.

Took me bloody ages to find a PCI card and then I had to pay through the nose for it.

Once you go into multimonitor, you never come back

Very true, got a spare 20in monitor over here, tempted to get a triplehead set up running, just need the desk space.

[WyWyWyWy]

dbdg I have never had the problems you just mentioned :eeek:

[dbdg]

Only very rare, normaly Max or certain screen savers.

Always fine when I daisble the G200.

[mrtj1]

well everything should be pretty cool with my new card. going from a 1.2 gig athlon to a 2800+ with 2x80gig HD in a raid array and 2x120 gig HD in another raid array. plus 2x30 gig drives (no raid) plus 16x dvd-rom, plus sony dru-500a writer, plus scsi hard disks, 1gig 2700 ddr ram.

and then my 21" monitor and 2x19" monitors thanks to this thread

i know it's a little to be so about a pc but i am

[dbdg]

Thats quite a rig, I assume you have one hell of a power supply.

[mrtj1]

actually it all runs off a 350 psu. (minus monitors) all the bits in the comp are in my current comp. i'll be moving them to the new one. i have no power issues at all. i think the quality of the psu is as important as the ammount of power it can give out.