Dual monitor setup

[Mo Heekan]

Hi chaps,

I'd like to buy two Samsung 19" LCD monitors for my computer as I do quite a bit of graphics intensive stuff and wondered what I need to do to set things up properly. I'd like to have one screen with, for example, Photoshop on and the other with the file being edited.

Do i need 2 x video cards, or one with two outputs or one video and buy a splitter type device?

Also, if you could recommend any such cards or even monitors I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance

Mo

[Sharjah Night Shift]

My work PC is a dual screen set up.
It has a single dual port video card, however due to size constraints the video card has one large socket and then a splitter cable to connect the two monitors via standard plugs.
Unfortunately I'm on leave next week so can't look to see what make the card is.

[FunkyMunky]

Most modern cards nowadays come with 1x VGA output (CRT and some TFT cables) and 1x DVI output. You can plug most TFTs straight into the DVI and get an adaptor to plug them into the VGA (or vice versa, should your new monitors use vga connectors). A "splitter" device would just clone the signal giving you an identical picture on each screen.

Ideally you will want to use DVI with your TFT screens; this allows the screen to automatically configure itself for "perfect geometry" ie a perfect 4:3 image. For this to happen on both monitors, both "heads" on the graphics card will need to be DVI. You didn't specify AGP or PCI-Express so I'll assume AGP. In this case, a card such as this one (http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?sku=304638&cks=PRL) will be sufficient. Note that you can purchase 256mb versions of this card (at a price) which may be helpful for graphics intensive apps.

As for monitors, none of the samsung 19" LCD's below £400 appear to have DVI. I'm no expert on LCD screens however, since you mention you do graphics intensive stuff (photoshop) it would be worth noting that the colour reproduction on LCDs does not compare to a traditional CRT at the moment. If you do a lot of design for print, expect the colours you see on an LCD/TFT to differ from the hard copy.
For the most accurate colour reproduction, at the expense of time setting up geometry, look for a CRT. You'll be able to get a much larger working area with a CRT than an equivelantly priced LCD. I'm not sure of any CRTs using DVI as a connection, possibly some of the high end Sony models will.

Setup within windows couldn't be easier; for increased desktop space just activate the second monitor in the display properties section. Specialised modes can be found in the graphics cards advanced driver settings, depending on the chipset (nvidia or ati).

The triple-head system I have set up at the moment consists of one CRT connected to the VGA, one CRT connected to the DVI via an adaptor, and one TV connected to the S-Video out socket on the back of the card. In Windows this will allow you to have the taskbar on one screen and reposition application windows onto other monitors as required. In a linux setup, this will allow you to have a seperate X-Server running on each monitor, almost like having seperate PCs.

[amanoffewwords]

I have installed such a system for a client using a Matrox dual head Graphics card - the one I used has been superseded by this one: http://www.matrox.com/mga/products/mill_pseries/p650.cfm

You can also get one with triple head, for future proofing: http://www.matrox.com/mga/products/mill_pseries/p750.cfm

If you haven't got DVI they come with converters to the standard format.

Not good for gaming though only 64Mb on board + you need an AGP 3 compliant system. If you need more memory on board they are other products from Matrox - see the first few here: http://www.matrox.com/mga/products/home.cfm

hth
Charles

[Mo Heekan]

Wow, and I thought I knew a bit about computers :(

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply. I need to do a bit more research now.......

Your efforts are much appreciated

Regards

Mo

[Fat Dog]

With regards to the monitor, if you do decide to go for an LCD, have a look at the Hyundai L90D+ on http://www.hyundaiq.com/, which is a 19" job. Note the + on the end, not the regular L90D. It actually uses a Samsung panel and has DVI.

Regards
FD

[goates]

Not sure which Samsung monitors you are looking at, but the Dell 1905FP uses the same panel as the Samsung 193P, but is cheaper. Here's one review for it:

http://www.anandtech.com/displays/showdoc.aspx?i=2332

And here's a another review of 7 more 19" LCDs:
http://www.anandtech.com/displays/showdoc.aspx?i=2289

For the video card many of the nVidia Quadro and ATi FireGL cards now have dual DVI ports on them. There are other now as well.

goates

[Mac the Knife]

I've been using a dual-monitor setup for ages - once used you'll never go back to a single!

Matrox make LOVELY dual and triple (and more!) cards. I have a P650 and G450. As amanoffewwords says, they're not suitable for really high-end gaming but are perfect otherwise. Very very accurate colour and the secondary screen is as sharp as the primary (not always true).

Alas, both cards are now languishing since Matrox can't be bothered to produce proper Linux drivers. I replaced the P650 with a Chaintech nVidia 6600GT which performs very well all round and feeds the secondary monitor thru a DVI socket and adapter.

PS: Why are you going for LCDs? If you don't mind the extra space and power consumption CRTs still have a much better picture and are considerably better value for money.

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