Multi Monitors

**Arby** · 03-21-2004, 06:40 PM

I use a cool little program called Synergy

http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/

You can use the mouse and keyboard from one computer on another one through a network. It works just like multi-monitor setups, but each monitor is hooked up to a seperate computer.

I have one computer that has my music, email, and chat always running, and another that I use for web browsing and gaming and stuffs.

**lazarus** · 04-17-2004, 06:00 AM

I've tidied up a bit since this pic was taken, but you get an idea of whats running

the 4 TFTs are driven from a quad head matrox g200, the 21" and occasionaly the 4" are driven from an ATI 9200 vivo.

in the world of large multi monnitor cards, matrox are god. they aren't gaming cards though so don't expect amazing 3d performance.

oh forgot to mention, i use an old app called ninja switcher to control the PCs to the left and right. basicly the same as synergy

**Dr Jeckyl** · 04-17-2004, 06:30 AM

is that an 8-track I see?

**lazarus** · 04-17-2004, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by Dr Jeckyl

is that an 8-track I see?

where do you see an 8 track?

there isn't one there

**SjLucky** · 04-17-2004, 10:37 AM

the ****ty thing about the dual head thing is you can only have 8
windows limits you to 8

DAMN YOU BILL GATES!!!!!!!!!!!!

**deadweasel** · 04-17-2004, 04:22 PM

There are ways around that too. For example, if you need MORE than 8 (and who wouldn't) you can always spring a few g's for a videowall array. They are independently hardware-driven, but the downside is that in order to have like, say, 16 monitors in the array, you will have to double them up, so that you could have 8 widescreen displays for example. In the end, the problem is that MS wasn't trying to limit the users, which would make sense if they had another product that COULD drive more than 8 (which they don't), rather, they were faced with processor overhead issues when attempting to drive that many displays at once. Don't believe me? Get a trio of 19" monitors, and connect them to three individual video cards, then ramp them all up to 1280x1024 resolution. I guarantee you will get frustrated with the mouse hitching everywhere it goes on the secondary and tertiary screens. Been there, done that (see my post in "What's your desktop look like?" thread). It's simply a problem that stems from the fact that Windows is not a true multi-thread environment. It can only pay attention to one process at a time, and therefore only simulates true multitasking. For this reason, it takes too much time redrawing screens to be of any use.

Of course, you could always switch over the Debian on an Athlon64 processor, so that you could have true multitasking and support for as many monitors as you can cram cards in your case, all running in 64 bit mode, making the whole thing damned quick. Personally, I tried Debian, looking for a way to get all the screens connected at once without problems, but Linux makes me tinker under the hood more than actually running what I want to run easily, so I just deal with Windows.

/end rant

**deadweasel** · 04-17-2004, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by lazarus

I've tidied up a bit since this pic was taken, but you get an idea of whats running

the 4 TFTs are driven from a quad head matrox g200, the 21" and occasionaly the 4" are driven from an ATI 9200 vivo.

in the world of large multi monnitor cards, matrox are god. they aren't gaming cards though so don't expect amazing 3d performance.

oh forgot to mention, i use an old app called ninja switcher to control the PCs to the left and right. basicly the same as synergy

There is also an app called Radmin that does some nice remote desktop control, if that's what Ninja Switcher does, that is.

I noticed that bad-*** rat's nest you got going on under that desk, and brother, can I ever relate to that!

One heck of a sweet rig you got going there!

**Magnezium** · 04-17-2004, 04:50 PM

Can I be the first to say... WHY?

Mg

**deadweasel** · 04-17-2004, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by Magnezium

Can I be the first to say... WHY?

Mg

Why NOT? Personally, I use multi monitors for more desktop realestate. The idea is that let's say Im running Photoshop while chatting with friends in an IM prog, while listening to mp3s. On my tri-monitor setup, PS gets the main monitor, with the tools and pallettes moved over to the left screen. IM windows and Winamp take the right screen. The basic concept is that I don't have to click on an icon to bring up a window just to see what someone is typing at me, or to see what song's playing currently. All of this while my main monitor is allowed to be dedicated to provide the largest workspace possible for image/web/program development.

Other folks that want to use 8+ monitors are just on crack or generally have way too much money to burn.

/mmmm.... money.....

**eCar™** · 04-17-2004, 09:39 PM

Here's my new entry. It's a bit ghetto. OK, it's all ghetto.

1 PC with an nVidea 5900SE and a MX440 (PCI) running 4 of those monitors.

1 PC with a GF2 MX and one monitor.

Then the crappy 13" TV.

With a cable box, a VCR, a scan converter, and 2 two tuner cards. I can't even begin to list all the possible display options.

Recently, I was watching TV on the 12" LCD, playing Xbox on the 19" CRT, had Nascar on 13" TV, was capturing movie on 10.4" LCD (cardboard case), keeping an eye out for email on the 15" portrait LCD, and had Task Manager going on Datalux (because I can't think of anything else to put on it).