Dual Monitors

[nerdgeek]

Hey all,

I'm currently using a Samsung 20inch Sycnmaster and have just had delivered a Elo 12inch touch screen.

I do a lot of gaming and have a 8800GTS.

I'd like to be able to game on my 20inch at high res and then have a seperate desktop on the 12inch for email, X-fire and Ventrillo.

I have the NVIDIA control panel that can run two monitors (I haven't tried it yet, not turned on the 12inch).

So is there a way to run two seperate desktops that are independant of each other, is it a software thing I need to download or does this already sit within XP?

Thanks all.

[Will404]

XP automatically does that ( afank) 98 defo does, as does Vista. One has the taskbar, icons and everything else, and if you fullscreen something then it goes full screen one monitor, but does not touch the other.

You can have the games on one monitor (the 20"one) and the desktop icons on the other. However they start in the last monitor they were used in, and games do not often like being swiched out of

[Mossy]

In the NVIDIA panel you can choose to clone or span you screens pretty easy to setup.

[Webby]

As far as I know you will still need to switch out (ALT+TAB) of the game to do anything on the other screen so that the game releases control of the mouse and keyboard.

If all you want to be able to do is see whats going on the small screen with no input you should be fine.

[G4Z]

As far as I know you will still need to switch out (ALT+TAB) of the game to do anything on the other screen so that the game releases control of the mouse and keyboard.

If all you want to be able to do is see whats going on the small screen with no input you should be fine.

Yeah, but it's a touch screen... to be honest I have no idea if you would be able to use it while gaming, I think the only way to find out is to try!

[Webby]

Yeah I realise its a touch screen and like you say only way to find out for sure is to try. But I think that when the game is running it will take control off all input devices and so you will push on the touch screen and the game will go huh what does that mean? Might be wrong OP try it and see

[Will404]

I thought that a touching a touch screen was like moving the mouse to that area of the screen, and tapping it was effectivaly clicking (like the active boards at school). In which case, it would effectiavly switch out of the game.

[nerdgeek]

Thanks for the input. Its not really what I wanted to hear but nevermind !!!

I would of liked to be able to control both at the same time independantly, I'm waiting to get a european adapter for it so once I get that I'll come back and let you know how I get on.

Of if anyone else has anything to add I will keep checking.

[strike-down]

ditto what will said, a touch screen is effectively a different type of mouse (almost identical to a trackpad on a laptop) so the game would have to be switched out of to be able to use the touchscreen (afaik).

[NeedMoarFarms]

I think there is someway that you can control 2 different screens, with 2 different inputs, but at the same time. You need 2 graphics card though. And in all honesty I've probably misread the information somewhere, or it was just a mod someone created themselves and not something comercially available.

[nerdgeek]

I have plugged it in and the NVIDIA control panel sees it OK, there is a problem...

I have to have the same resolution on both screens, either 1680 1050 and the little 12 inch scrolls everywhere or 800 X 600 and the 20ichn looks rubbish !

In the NVIDIA control panel there is an option, 'change resolution', I can select both monitors from theor picture however the Syncmaster is the only one I can change the res, the res for the 12inch is greyed out and wont move !





Anyone got any ideas?

[Webby]

The resolutions should not need ot be the same, is it set to clone rather than extended desktop?

Easy way to check is the second screen displaying the same image as the original or is it just background? If it has icons etc then its cloning.

I would tell you where to go to change it but I have an ATi card so no way of checking for you

[nerdgeek]

I tried clone and extended and the same happens for both options. Interestingly when I go into >Right Click Desktop> Properties> Settings> I only have one display onption shown and thats my Syncmaster !

Shouldn't there be two and I then get an option to identify???

Thanks