Windows XP/2000: Setting up a Multiple Monitor Desktop Setup

Contributed by Jimmy Selix  
Tagged: Windows  

This is a recipe for true geekdom or max efficiency. Setting up your pc to run with a mulitple monitor configuration.

Prerequisites:
-Dual output video card (ie has vga and dvi out or vga and s-video, most new ati and nvidia cards come with more than one output) OR
two video cards (similar setups)

my workbench.. hehe..

Dual monitor setups have been around for ages. Most people really haven’t ever used such setups, but those us of who have can’t live with out it. Dual monitor setups let you have two seperate desktops and also let you ‘throw’ windows between the monitors (i use a thirdparty program to do this, ultramon HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!). This kind of setup makes web dev so much easier and photo editing the same; and it adds to the geek look of your desk with two monitors!

Onto the recipe:

Step 1. Install video card(s)
Most likely its already in your pc so this is easy or done already.

Step 2. Hook up your monitors to the video card.
Note: most ati and nvidia video cards have a rgb output and dvi output. If both of your monitors use rgb (standard monitor cable), you’ll need a dvi-to-rgb adapter.

Step 3. Setting Up Windows for Multiple monitors
Usually when you hook up two monitors, they go into Clone Mode, meaning they both show the same thing.

However, you can change that in your Display Properties > Settings part
It should show two monitors after you’ve hooked them up.

Click on the Greyed monitor (prob number 2), and click the box
Extend my Windows Desktop onto this Monitor and click apply.

Hopefully the second monitor will come alive with its own desktop.

You will want to adjust the resolution and all to fit that monitors settings.

Once you do your good to go!

some hints:
-in the Display Properties > Setttings menu
you can move the monitors to how they are aligned (ie if you have at the same level or if one is higher up than the other) When you do this, hopefully when you move your mouse to the other screen it will show up where you think it would

-Most 3D games will only be played on the Primary monitor.
Dvds and videos however can be viewed on either monitor (this depends more on your video card and if the secondary monitors/outputs can handle 3d overlays or not)

-NoTE about TRIPLE OUTPUT direct from ATI Support
Regarding three outputs:

You are absolutely correct, you can connect CRT display (VGA) + DFP display (DVI) + TV via S-video output. The TV display will “clone” the image of one of the other two display.

Regards,

Saul Kagzi
Customer Care
ATI Technologies, Inc.

http://www.ati.com

Enjoy!