Dual monitors

I have two monitor outputs on my video card. One is SVGA and one is digital. Can I use two monitors to view different images or will both display the same image? I read that one monitor can display a page and the second monitor can display the next page.

 

If their off the same card then they will have the same image. Just different types. You can add a second monitor if your MOBO has onboard video, it just has to be designated the 2nd monitor.

 

you can do cool stuff like extend your desktop across both monitors.
Also watch a dvd on one and surf on the other, back when I had my dual moniitor setup ( I used ATI then )
I would virtually place one monitor on top of each other, then I could veiw entire web pages at once while I surfed.

there are countless ways to play with dual monitors.

 

How can I tell if my MOBO has built in video. It has built in sound. I have the Video card in the AGP slot. So I want to put a second card in a PCI slot. What will happen?

 

If your operating system supports it and the card's drivers do not conflict, you will be able to use dual monitors.

 

"If their off the same card then they will have the same image. Just different types. You can add a second monitor if your MOBO has onboard video, it just has to be designated the 2nd monitor."

BZZZZZT Wrong. You can extend your desktop, like mellowman said. You do NOT need onboard video or a PCI video card unless you want to hookup more than 2 monitors. If your video card has two ports on it, you can use two monitors and have more desktop space.

 

I have two outputs on my GForce 5200. If I use a second monitor how would I get true extended capability, not just the same image?

 

Right click on your Windows desktop. Select Properties, go to the Settings tab. Then there are 2 checkboxes below the resolution slider. One of them says "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor." That should do it.

 

Didn't think about the Extension Option.

 

I'll have to get a convertor for the second output. It's digital and my second monitor is analog. By an extended desktop do you mean that I will see the previous page displayed on the new monitor? I am trying to imagine how the same PC could do two things at once.

 

Theoretically, your PC can do an infinite number of things at once. You are only limited by processing power. On the second monitor you can put whatever you want. You can have a Word document open on one and a web page on the other. It is just extra desktop space.

Most video cards with 2 DVI ports come with one analog-digital converter. You may want to look around and see if you can find it. That is, of course, if you aren't already using it.

 

This is my dual monitor set-up with extended desktop, one 17" LCD and one 32" widescreen LCD TV as an example. With the extended desktop enabled, Windows treats the two monitors as one giant desktop. I can drag and even open windows on either monitor. I have a browser open on one monitor and a folder open in the other as a demonstration.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/VladimirPukin/screenLarge.jpg
A useful utility for multiple desktops are the free MultiMon Taskbar or if you got some cash to spare, UltraMon.

Open up your task manager and look in the bottom left corner at the number next to Processes. That is how many different things your computer is doing right now.

 

Simple. I just open a new window and drag it over to the second monitor. Now if I want three screens I should add another video card. Would that give my a superdesktop I could still control with one mouse?

 

Yes, it would work just like 2 monitors. You would have a 3rd monitor for extra desktop space.

Windows can support up to 9 monitors natively. Which is more than most people need, or can afford.

 

I would recommend a nVidia PCI card, since you have the GeForce FX 5200. I*t will eliminate driver conflicts that might result with using a different brand that uses different drivers

 

I checked the extended desktop box and discovered that the pointer moves off the right of the screen, so that is where the rest of the desktop would be. When I install a second card will the current driver control the new card? Will I see 4 screens in my Nvidea control center under settings?

 

WOW! 9 monitors, huh?

So this moth that's buzzin' my CRT monitor with his 10,000 lens compound eyes is wastin' his multi-taskin' optics???

 

If the second card is a nVidia card, it will. nVidia uses a common driver for all it's cards.
If you have four monitors connected to the computer, then yes it will. If you only have 3 monitors, that's all there will be in the control center settings.