Multi Screens

**ReaperGT3** · 12-07-2007, 06:18 PM

Hi ppl, Yes another newbie to the in-car pc forums. I've been bulding pcs for the last 7 years and i read a small article in a UK magazine 2 week ago about computers in the car.

I searched the internet for ages reading up on the subject and ended up here, where all the knowledge is by the looks of things so far. Scouring the forums i was looking for info on Multi screens, or more to the point, being able to run 3 different apps on three different screens e.g dash and rear headrests! Is this possible? I have read somewhere that if the motherboard allows it you can extend the desktop to the other screen, meaning, gps running at the dash and films etc running on the headrests. To me that solution would mean that the 2 rear headrests whould be showing the same thing!

There is a company in the UK, Bristol that has managed to do this although i cannot work out how (see pic).

I've not even started my project yet all im doing at the mo is researching my stuff before i jump in with both feet.

Cheers ppl

Andy, UK

**pokki** · 12-08-2007, 12:09 AM

You have three options.

PC with onboard video + 2x USB video cards.
PC with onboard video + dual head video card.
PC with no onboard video + tripple head video card.

Most touch screen software allows you to allocate which screen to apply the touch unit to.

And fianlly if you want full screen video playback on all screens you'll want to make sure you can run multiple video overlays at once. Many old multihead cards only support a single video overlay.

**ReaperGT3** · 12-08-2007, 05:19 PM

Cheers for the responce pokki.

**ReaperGT3** · 12-08-2007, 05:28 PM

Looks like matrox is one ofthe main triple head graphics card suppliers. While searching about i also found this but i'm sceptical about these types of solution

http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/gxm/products/th2go/

**newbie_07** · 12-27-2007, 05:30 PM

hae you found any solution other than this one?i watn to run similar like this one but the head2go is just to expensive

**mmcvicker** · 12-28-2007, 12:22 AM

I think it really depends on what capability you want. If you want to be able to surf the net on any of the displays, that would be a different solution then if you just wanted to watch movies/play video games on certain screens.

I am a noob and am in the early planning stages. I have 2003 Expedition with a complete factory system which the head unit went out so I am thinking about replacing it with a carpc/carputer and trying to integrate as much as I can with the factory system (overhead dvd, headrest screens, sub, etc). That being said, I was thinking about using an external dvd player and external aux input and using something like the following:

A/V Selector Switch
(http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1076628516373)

This would give each of my kids the ability to choose what they want to see with a switch of the button and plug-in headphones. That is, one could play PS3, another watch a movie controlled from the back seat, and we can still watch the same, or different movie, as well as switch to navigation without affecting the kids.

Limits the capability for them to watch TV from a tv tuner card in the computer, as well as surf the internet from the back seat.

Just depends on what capabilities you are looking for for each screen. If you really are feeling froggy you could put touchscreens in for each display and run multiple desktops from your PC but do you really need to do this?

**newbie_07** · 12-28-2007, 08:29 AM

(This would give each of my kids the ability to choose what they want to see with a switch of the button and plug-in headphones. That is, one could play PS3, another watch a movie controlled from the back seat, and we can still watch the same, or different movie, as well as switch to navigation without affecting the kids.)

that is basicly what i wanted to do the dont have to use the internet at all. tv channel would be a plus!i heard/read about mythTVis good for streaming your tv channels to you carputer but i have to do more research about this.

**HiJackZX1** · 01-17-2008, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by newbie_07

(This would give each of my kids the ability to choose what they want to see with a switch of the button and plug-in headphones. That is, one could play PS3, another watch a movie controlled from the back seat, and we can still watch the same, or different movie, as well as switch to navigation without affecting the kids.)

that is basicly what i wanted to do the dont have to use the internet at all. tv channel would be a plus!i heard/read about mythTVis good for streaming your tv channels to you carputer but i have to do more research about this.

The best thing to do is use slingbox for the tv streaming. I actually have it connected to my media center PC, so I am able to control my satellite system with the media center and then the media center with the slingbox, plus my extensive DVR collection. I tried all the PC stuff like ORB, etc, sling box is easier, just connect to source, connect to internet and you then do a few setup screens and your done.....