Dual monitor acceleration with one video card

dalewb · Jul 12, 2004, 11:05 PM

I did serach the forums and found nothing, but gauging on what I assume is a very popular option, I'm afraid I'm running the risk of typing a much-issued question. But I digress. I found nothing in my forum searches.

I also tried to find out information as to whether the second monitor could be accelerated or not and found zilch on the net - so I came here! I hope someone here can clear this up for good. What does it take to get two monitors on one computer - both directx/opengl accelerated? Two graphics cards (like those beautiful voodoo dual PCI express vid card setups) or can this be done somehow on a Radeon card? I have a Radeon 9700 pro running at stock speeds, which seems to do just about anything just great - except any video or games running on that darn second monitor.

Also, I was wondering, in games like Unreal Tourn 2004, or Serious Sam (either one), etc, if it is possible to expand the game screen across two monitors? I tried to stretch the screen in UT2004 in windows mode onto the second monitor and as soon as the thinest sliver of the window got onto it, the whole shebang just slowed way WAY down. Probably 10 fps tops. As long as any part of UT2004 was on that second monitor, my whole computer was almost unusable.

I don't think this is the way to go, even if it could be done with acceleration, because the crosshair floats in between both monitors.
And even though the game was working stretched out like that - albeit very slowly - it was quite disorienting having have my crosshairs on one screen and half on the other. I kept running into obstacles with whatever vehicle I was in and having a horrible time aiming - I couldn't have hit the broad side of a barn at ten paces. I couldn't drive straight to save my life either. It was ridiculous. Has anyone else had these kinds of difficulties in-game with a dual-screen setup? I am thinking that with enough time, my eyes and hands would adjust to the two screen setup, but I don't know if I'd have the patience to try

. That's assuming I could find some way to get both displays accellerated. Full screen across both monitors would be nice too. I keep thinking that there's gotta be a way INSIDE the game's engine for it to handle this. Some developer's console command or some such thing. Or a command-line option. Even if the second monitor couldn't be accelerated, if the game could somehow go full screen across both monitors, it might be do-able.

Well, thanks for any input.
Dale
PS - I like blue, but all of the smilies being blue?! Wierd...

Judas · Jul 12, 2004, 11:42 PM

well.... i do beleive i've asked this question and have said stuff about slowdowns with the 2nd display..... However.. setting up a game for dual monitor or multimonitor all depends on a few things... we could say in UT2004 ... setup the primary for normal viewing and the secondary for reverse view... this would be killer! (probably considered cheating though).... another is say Strategy games were the 2nd monitor could display either commands or building options... a whole list of em.... OR another viewing window so you could have one centered on your town or area.... and the other one say your offensive strike force so you can easily moving around and be able to to wtf is going on at all time... PURE god mode there..... what else.... Racing could be the same as UT i mentioned.... one for forward.... and one for the reverse view.... Sports... well... now that's anything goes there kind of thing... as you could have say a overhead view with one.. and an action cam for another or what ever combination your wanted....RPG's can work neatly with dual... i'm actually serprised no single game company has really seen dual monitor gaming as something they could take advantage off... i mean they shouldn't go out and produce a game solely for dual monitor... but they should provide Single/Dual/Multi monitor support and costum settups.... so you can select which monitor will be prime.... what HUD it will be available on it.... then the second dary being able to provide anotherset of options.... and 3rd.. (i think so.. very soon.. we could be expecting triple monitor display support provided on a single card...)

Jul 12, 2004, 11:05 PM	#1
dalewb DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	Dual monitor acceleration with one video card I did serach the forums and found nothing, but gauging on what I assume is a very popular option, I'm afraid I'm running the risk of typing a much-issued question. But I digress. I found nothing in my forum searches. I also tried to find out information as to whether the second monitor could be accelerated or not and found zilch on the net - so I came here! I hope someone here can clear this up for good. What does it take to get two monitors on one computer - both directx/opengl accelerated? Two graphics cards (like those beautiful voodoo dual PCI express vid card setups) or can this be done somehow on a Radeon card? I have a Radeon 9700 pro running at stock speeds, which seems to do just about anything just great - except any video or games running on that darn second monitor. Also, I was wondering, in games like Unreal Tourn 2004, or Serious Sam (either one), etc, if it is possible to expand the game screen across two monitors? I tried to stretch the screen in UT2004 in windows mode onto the second monitor and as soon as the thinest sliver of the window got onto it, the whole shebang just slowed way WAY down. Probably 10 fps tops. As long as any part of UT2004 was on that second monitor, my whole computer was almost unusable. I don't think this is the way to go, even if it could be done with acceleration, because the crosshair floats in between both monitors. And even though the game was working stretched out like that - albeit very slowly - it was quite disorienting having have my crosshairs on one screen and half on the other. I kept running into obstacles with whatever vehicle I was in and having a horrible time aiming - I couldn't have hit the broad side of a barn at ten paces. I couldn't drive straight to save my life either. It was ridiculous. Has anyone else had these kinds of difficulties in-game with a dual-screen setup? I am thinking that with enough time, my eyes and hands would adjust to the two screen setup, but I don't know if I'd have the patience to try . That's assuming I could find some way to get both displays accellerated. Full screen across both monitors would be nice too. I keep thinking that there's gotta be a way INSIDE the game's engine for it to handle this. Some developer's console command or some such thing. Or a command-line option. Even if the second monitor couldn't be accelerated, if the game could somehow go full screen across both monitors, it might be do-able. Well, thanks for any input. Dale PS - I like blue, but all of the smilies being blue?! Wierd...