Dual monitor on car pc

blueaccord19 · 08-26-2007, 02:17 AM

Hey, I'm trying to do a dual monitor setup on two monitors. Basically i want my touchscreen monitor to control everything and i want the other monitor to be for viewing as the touchscreen on it got messed up and doesn't function for some reason anymore. I just dont know how i would go about keeping all the controls on one monitor. Prob hard to understand but if anyone understands what im sayin and can help in any way i would appreciate it, thanks. Seth

bbalazs · 08-26-2007, 10:18 AM

I did the same thing on my EPIA V10000. I have applied a secondary video card into the PCI slot. I set the original onboard video card as primary and the additional card as secondary. All the controls have on the first display, but if you want you can simply extend the prog output.

I viewed the primary (an LCD TV) and my daughter was amused with the full screen cartoons in the back seat

at the same time.

blueaccord19 · 08-26-2007, 03:17 PM

ok thanks, yeh i haven't tried it yet but i was just thinkin in my head it may not be so simple but i'll have to try it. Only prob is the pc i have doesn't have pci slots, everything is onboard. I have seen single to dual vga cables and usb devices used to add an additional monitor but i'm not sure if they will work or if they are anything of quality but i'll wait and try it and see maybe it'll work how i want it to.

dprothero · 08-28-2007, 02:47 PM

A VGA adapter "Y" cable will work, but you'll get the SAME image on both monitors. If that's what you're going for, then it's a pretty simple setup.

However, if you want different images on the two different monitors (which is the setup bbalazs was describing), you'll definitely need a second video card. For your situation, you could use a USB video adapter like the following:

http://www.usbgear.com/USB-Video-Card.html

Mind you, I just did a quick Google search for "USB video cards", so you'll probably want to shop around more.

Good luck.

FYI... I'm doing a hybrid of both... two video cards, LCD touch screen up front for primary control, two video screens in the back (both connected with a "Y" to the secondary video card) so the two back screens show the same image. Not sure what front-ends are going to support that yet, or if I'll have to roll something on my own.

David

Bizzar · 08-29-2007, 11:03 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by dprothero

A VGA adapter "Y" cable will work, but you'll get the SAME image on both monitors. If that's what you're going for, then it's a pretty simple setup.

David

That only works if you have 2 identical monitors. Trust me I tried :P

dprothero · 08-30-2007, 11:27 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Bizzar

That only works if you have 2 identical monitors. Trust me I tried :P

Thanks Bizzar. Actual field experience is always better than theorizing.

dLockers · 08-30-2007, 01:26 PM

Power the other monitor etc, plug another VGA cable into your carpc (or put another graphics card in), go on the bios of your pc and set the primary/secondary graphics (primary being your working one), then you should download 'ultramon' (or pay, iirc), and it will be like on windows, you wont however be able to do much with the second monitor unless you hook up a mouse.

Once it's hooked up just configure ultramon (pretty simple), then hopefully when you drag your finger selected on a programmes top bar it will shoot to the other monitor.

Otherwise you will definatly need a mouse.

dprothero · 08-30-2007, 02:25 PM

dLockers... dude.... thanks a ton. Didn't know about Ultramon. Just checked out their web site and this software is exactly what I need. It's even programmable via VBScript, so should be easy enough to integrate with any front end (i.e. to play videos, have it launch video player, full screen on other monitor).

Edit: It's $39.95, but not bad if you need this.