Dual Monitor Set Up For PC and Mac

[MACHINE]

Can you guys tell me how its done ? My PC has a VGA and DVI output and my monitor has a DVI and VGA input so Im planning on just connecting one monitor through DVI and another through VGA and do the dual monitor set - up although I didn't buy a second monitor just yet thats why Im making this thread, what do you guys think ? How do you guys have your Dual monitor set up ?

[G-Dawg]

Originally Posted by MACHINE

Can you guys tell me how its done ? My PC has a VGA and DVI output and my monitor has a DVI and VGA input so Im planning on just connecting one monitor through DVI and another through VGA and do the dual monitor set - up although I didn't buy a second monitor just yet thats why Im making this thread, what do you guys think ? How do you guys have your Dual monitor set up ?

one monitor connected thru dvi and the other thru vga. and depending on the manufavturer of your video card (on the pc end atleast) you may need additional software. ati has hydravision which allows you to expand your program (nuendo in my case) across both displays

but it'll definitely work using one monitor on vga and the other on dvi. you could aslo add a kvm switch (or even two) to switch between mac and pc displays.

[KevWest]

using different connections will slow down ur computer performance tho be warned. I made this mistake a year ago and I wish I would have spent more on the card with 2 VGA inputs

[MACHINE]

so you're telling me to install a 2 VGA output into my computer ? I guess I can do that and then install a 2 DVI into the other computer right. Do alot of KVM switches support dual monitors ?

[KevWest]

there are cards that have 2 vgas tho the vga dvi combo will work its annoying to have to restart constantly to maek it work right id rather have it work right from jump and from what i understand its kuz ur computer has to translate the dvi to the vga signal so it takes away from processing power vs if u just had 2 vgas which it wouldnt have to translate which means less power useage and less computer conflicts

[aussie_techie]

this thread got covered in BS quickly
you dont need extra software and using both DVI and RGB doesnt matter just make sure you get a decent card with a good driver.

[KevWest]

in my experience that made all the difference

[aussie_techie]

Originally Posted by xabiton

in my experience that made all the difference

which card were you using?
now ive thought about it, i think it will depend on how the card is designed

despite what the issie is the video card in a system can make a real difference on performance and you should always still with a tested card

[KevWest]

its a ati i forget the exact model id have to look it up it cost me $40 with both the VGA and DVI outputs

[aussie_techie]

well for $40 you cant expect to much
did you try using a DVI to RGB plug prob would of done the job if it was a DVI/RGB issue, could of also been an issue with different refresh rates or something else.
makes no difference on my Raedon 9600XT, there was a slight inprovment moving to the ati from a nvidia FX5200 aswell as drivers that played nicely with my system and pro tools

[KevWest]

yea i got one of those plugs too it didnt really make a difference for me it could be a setting on my end ur very right if i can find my load disk ill find some updated drivers

[KevWest]

raedon 7000

[KevWest]

dammit no updated drivers those bastards

[The Beatsmith]

having two different outputs makes no difference

what makes the difference is the amount of ram and speed of the card

upgrading to a radeon 7000 means whatever you had that was real garbage. no offense but the 7000 itself is crap, let alone what you would upgrade to it from

translating from vga to dvi is done is a simple adapter, it doesn't take up any power. you're making stuff up

[aussie_techie]

if you use an adapter then the D/A is happening on the card and you are back to 2 RGB plugs while there could of been an issue running to different monitors it cant of been a combination DVI/RGB issue. spending more on your newer card aswell as the advances in the technology over the last 18 months is whats given you a better card no the plugs on it.

[KevWest]

im not making things up this is what a tech told me when I asked what was goin on

[The Beatsmith]

the tech was wrong. aussie techie is correct

[KevWest]

Originally Posted by aussie_techie

if you use an adapter then the D/A is happening on the card and you are back to 2 RGB plugs while there could of been an issue running to different monitors it cant of been a combination DVI/RGB issue. spending more on your newer card aswell as the advances in the technology over the last 18 months is whats given you a better card no the plugs on it.

i plan to spend more next time yea i was goin from stock and now i know not to ask a sales guy lol. im not seeing what difference a video card would make other than more detailed graphics tho and Im not lookin for details so much as I am performance

[aussie_techie]

Originally Posted by The Beatsmith

translating from vga to dvi is done is a simple adapter, it doesn't take up any power. you're making stuff up

using DVI is less work for the card as there is no D/A conversion required.

[aussie_techie]

Originally Posted by The Beatsmith

the tech was wrong. aussie techie is correct

prob just a sales guys answering a different phone that day

Originally Posted by xabiton

now i know not to ask a sales guy lol.

haha a sales guy that knows what they are talking about one in a million and you want find them at any major chains.

Originally Posted by xabiton

im not seeing what difference a video card would make other than more detailed graphics tho and Im not lookin for details so much as I am performance

for a better picture use all DVI and quality monitors, IMO it makes a big difference when your stearing at it all day.
performance and compatability usualy go hand in hand with video cards on DAWs and can change with a different driver release. in windows the video driver is put into the kernel and thus it directly effects system performance.
while i was running a FX5200 there was a driver revision that caused audio dropouts ever few seconds when using low buffers. and how few people would suspect the video card to such a problem
while usualy performance will just be degraded without these sorts of effects it shows how much the video card and driver does effect a system.

[KevWest]

interesting

[MACHINE]

So is my way going to cut ? can I put one screen through with a DVI connection and the other with a VGA connection ?

[aussie_techie]

Originally Posted by MACHINE

So is my way going to cut ? can I put one screen through with a DVI connection and the other with a VGA connection ?

yes you can

[timmah]

I have used both a DVI and vga connector out of my radeon 9000 since the day i got it and had zero problems.
dual monitor setups are great, go for it!

[MACHINE]

Thanx for all the sound advice guys I really appreciate it, and also How would I set it up in windows anyway ? I know I go to the control panel and etc.... I'm not sure after that ?