Dual core question wrt games.

[Fluff]

If we have a Dual core processor and dual head graphics card, and a multi channel sound card.

Would it be possible have a 2 players playing a game on one pc? With each player looking at one monitor each and each having their own controller? E.g. Doom 3 etc.

Just like split screen but split monitor.

Each player would get their own sound through headphones (front -> player 1) (rear-. player 2), each have their own controller.

Could be a bit more sociable than watching your friend play.

2 people playing a multiplayer combat flight sim, pilot and copilot.

Just an idea.

Same goes for office / internet browsing.

[Enak]

Not unless the game specifically supported it.

[Fluff]

It would be really good for laptops (maybe not for games but office etc). You pay a little extra to Microsoft, and you get the option of plugging an external screen and keyboard into the laptop and get another user session. Surely it's just programming.

Can this already be done?

[lowlifecat]

i think it should be possible using virtualization with some minor tweaking and a major performance hit.

[Umfriend]

I seem to remember a MB specifically designed to have the PC be shared by two people simultaneously. Gigabyte? Had a special BIOS. I think the issue is that you need a way to ensure both get as close to half of the resources as possible and support for two mice and KB to work in seperate apps .

[schmosef]

what llc said.

[Fluff]

http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.html?i=2025

Umf, is that what you remember?

Would have thought with the architecture of the 4x4 systems. With each CPU having it's own memory. And each northbridge having its own PCiex16 bus. Should almost be identical to running two pc's of half spec side by side with regards to gaming.

[TnT]

I would think it possible in any OS that supports multiple sessions with a server-based multiplayer game. This is how'd I'd attempt it in Linux.

1) I log in as me
2) Open up another login (in Linux I get a windowed session, remote desktop on Windows?)
3) Move the new login to the other monitor
4) I run game server and use controller 1
5) Other person logs in on second session
a. Person 2 runs game using controller 2
b. Person 2 connects to localhost server

[Gurm]

I would think it possible in any OS that supports multiple sessions with a server-based multiplayer game. This is how'd I'd attempt it in Linux.

1) I log in as me
2) Open up another login (in Linux I get a windowed session, remote desktop on Windows?)
3) Move the new login to the other monitor
4) I run game server and use controller 1
5) Other person logs in on second session
a. Person 2 runs game using controller 2
b. Person 2 connects to localhost server

Interesting workaround for the video card not really supporting multiplayer.

But again, the problem is making sure that both people get roughly half the CPU time, and I doubt it would happen in this scenario.

[TnT]

Yeah I was wondering how it'd handle the load. One game would probably be much slower than the other, although maybe with 'nice' it would balance better, but that's a Unix thing.

[Nowhere]

I also remember some PCI card that had VGA, sound, mouse and keyboard connectors. With some software it allowed the same thing.