Same video, multiple monitors?

david69leonard · 08-28-2008, 11:52 PM

I have a zenarc 8" TS in front and a MobileVU TS in back, the Zenarc is running at 800X600 and the MobileVU is running at 640X480 (MAX).

Now is it possible to have the same video playing on both screens even though the resolution is different. I was thinking when using Winamp maybe setting it up to have 2 video boxes one for each screen. Dunno?

HiJackZX1 · 08-29-2008, 12:50 AM

It all depends on your graphics card, which you didnt list. My setup has 4 screens. The middle screen runs at 800x600 at a resolution 60hz. The 15 inch and 2 side screens also run at 800x600 but at a resolution of 56hz. Thankfully my graphics card has the ability to use diffrent resolutions and also diffrent image sizes. So if I want the rear to be 640x480 and the front 800x600, I can. I am using embeded graphics, which is a ATI Radeon 1250 series. Maybe you should research what your card can do. If it cant do like stated above, try a ATI graphics card, but make sure it can support diffrent settings per port. Mine has a VGA port and a DVI-D port.

david69leonard · 08-29-2008, 11:30 AM

Actually i have an ATI 9200 PCI card, Im just stuck because the only thing i am able to do is an extended desktop to the rear screen, i want to be able to watch the same video in the front.

HiJackZX1 · 08-29-2008, 11:51 AM

are you using the latest ati catalyst software? I think its at v8.8... you should have a ton of options. do not use windows to configure the card it will not let you enable certain things

harants11 · 08-29-2008, 06:48 PM

they also make controllers that will take one vga imput to 4 vga outputs, so with that you can plug up to 4 vga monitors into the one slot and you will see the same thing on everyscreen, thats similar to what they use in department stores on their tv's so they show the same channel on every tv --- 1vga to 4 vga

The Grinch · 09-02-2008, 03:55 PM

I'm not completely sure I understand what you want to do. Are you looking to clone your desktop to both monitors, or do you just want the video to display on both from time to time?

To clone your desktop, normally you would just uncheck Extend my Windows Desktop (I think, it's been a while since I've played with dual monitors on XP). Since you need to run seperate resolutions, this will become a problem. You cannot clone the desktop without identical resolutions. So techincally you cannot do what you want using just Windows and the video driver.

All may not be lost. AMD/ATI does have a software program which offers extended capabilities. It's called HydraVision. I tried it once years ago and found it a little clunky (I'm sure it's improved now), and it "might" do what you need it to do.

Check it out: http://ati.amd.com/support/drivers/c...dravision.html

HiJackZX1 · 09-02-2008, 04:36 PM

The Grinch.... i think he wants to do both. My setup has one screen that shows driver stuff, like OBD2, GPS, and what not. The rear screens show everything else, like internet, Sat TV, and Video games , etc. The front screen goes from VGA port to the screen, but the other 3 go from my DVI-D port to a digital converter to a VGA splitter.

I highly recommend using the ATI Catalyst software. Without it your card is very very limited. Also if the card goes buggy, which it will do once in awhile, you need Catalyst because Windows can not fix it on its own. I sometimes have a issue where the front screen pops up on the rear screen and the rear image pops up on the front. Without Catalylst its nearly impossible to fix. With it though, its so simple, just right click and hit swap and your done.

The Grinch · 09-02-2008, 07:15 PM

ok... unchecking Extend Desktop wasn't right, that will shut off the monitor completely.

The Catalyst driver won't solve the problem. The MobileVU monitor requires a different resultion setting than the Zenarc. You cannot have different resolutions on both monitors when in "clone mode". I just tried it now on my desktop and the resolution is locked on the second monitor to match the first.

I still suggest taking a look at HydraVision to see if it offers additional options. If not, you can still use clone mode, but you will have to settle on running the Zenarc at a lower resolution of the two. It's not ideal, but it will work.

HiJackZX1 · 09-02-2008, 08:22 PM

With catalyst you can have diffrent resolutions I think. You have to use the FORCE mode. and FORCE each screen to a diffrent resolution. I know it works because I used clone mode for months with diffrent resolutions. Maybe it depends on the ATI card?

The Grinch · 09-03-2008, 12:39 AM

Are you sure that you weren't forcing the resolution on both monitors without realizing it? From what I can tell, there is no way to select the cloned monitor independantly to change the resolution. As soon as I try to select it, a pop-up asks me if I want to extend my desktop. Clicking No simply cancels the operation.

I'm using Catalyst 8.8 and a Radeon 4850. The OS is Vista, but that shouldn't change anything.

HiJackZX1 · 09-03-2008, 03:28 PM

Yes im sure... the way i do it is you see 2 screen icons. You then click one and the change the resolution and click force. You then go to the otehr and do the same. After done if you toggle back and fourth you will see that the screens are 2 diffrent resolutions.

The Grinch · 09-03-2008, 04:26 PM

Are you in Cloned mode? Cloned meaning that you have two identical "start buttons", and the mouse moves on both at the same time and same location? i.e. an exact duplicate of the main monitor? Also is your second monitor VGA or composite?

If it does work for you, then the second screen would look slightly fuzzy because the desktop resolution is being interpolated.