2 Monitor (different resolutions) same desktop on each

Big-Gaz · 26-04-2012, 13:24

Hi,

I currently have a 23" Dell at 1920x1080 resolution running on a XFX ATI HD6870 1GB graphic card.

Now, what I would like to do is setup another screen, which I think has a max resolution on 1280 x 1024, to display the same as my main monitor.

Reason being is I game on my 23" and would like to us the PC at the same time.
Is it possible, and how would I go about doing it?

I am running Windows 7 Home Premium.
Thanks

BenMcr · 26-04-2012, 13:31

Windows is more than capable of extending a desktop across two different resolutions - you can even tell it where the screens are in relation to one another so the mouse goes off the correct edge of the screen

As long as your graphics card has dual output it should be no more difficult than plugging it in and telling Windows what you want to do. For monitors with two different resolutions it's probably better to extend the desktop rather than replicate it.

However, I don't think it's workable to run a game on the computer and use the desktop at the same time.

**Kymmy** · 26-04-2012, 13:34

Ben hasn't seen the point that you want the same on both monitors..

You won't be able to do that and show all on both monitors unelss they match resolution.. Sometimes you can display part of one monitor on another problem though comes when both monitors are mismatched (16:9/4:3 and one side on each monitor smaller than the same side on the other monitor.

BenMcr · 26-04-2012, 13:35

I did notice, but only after I posted my original comment, so I've edited it

If the smaller monitor is the 'main' one then the full desktop will display on both, but it won't be at the default resolution on the higher resolution one

**Rob** · 26-04-2012, 13:42

I regularly use a dual screen setup with windows 7. Main monitor is 22" and second 19" with different autodetected resolutions. If I'm gaming the main monitor will be full screen for the battle, but the second screen will be displaying all sorts of other applications, including things like Teamspeak consoles, internet browsers showing the remote control functions for the game server and so on. Makes it very easy to simply switch from the game to the secondary programmes if something needs attention.

Windows, even XP has had dual monitor support for a long time. It's something that has frequently been used with laptops when making presentations so the presenter is watching the laptop and a bigger screen or projector displays to the audience. All it depends on is your graphics card. Most dedicated cards have dual ports. Simply plug in your second monitor as well. If the card isn't autodetected then you may need to check the GPU display driver software, such as ATI's catalyst, for configurations, often simply right clicking on the desktop will give you access to that. You'll get a choice to duplicate the display, or extend it, extension works best for different apps on the different screens.

qasdfdsaq · 26-04-2012, 13:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kymmy

Ben hasn't seen the point that you want the same on both monitors..

You won't be able to do that and show all on both monitors unelss they match resolution.. Sometimes you can display part of one monitor on another problem though comes when both monitors are mismatched (16:9/4:3 and one side on each monitor smaller than the same side on the other monitor.

You *can* have the same on both monitors and Windows and/or your monitor or graphics drivers will happily scale up for you. However you are limited to scaling up; the resolution on both will be limited to that of the lowest monitor. You can't have a scaled down clone of the larger monitor on the smaller one.

---------- Post added at 14:46 ---------- Previous post was at 14:45 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr

If the smaller monitor is the 'main' one then the full desktop will display on both, but it won't be at the default resolution on the higher resolution one

What he sad ^^

Big-Gaz · 26-04-2012, 13:59

Going to go with extended, so when I play on xbox or pc, I can run something on the other screen

**Kymmy** · 26-04-2012, 14:00

Issue here is that you've got a 16:9 and 4:3 monitor, as Qasi says you can scale up but scaling down isn;t practical.. Also it would stretch one screen..

Big-Gaz · 26-04-2012, 14:01

Is there a button I can press when PC gaming to use the mouse on the other screen, then another button to turn it off?

BenMcr · 26-04-2012, 14:01

Doesn't matter for an extended desktop, each monitor will be at it's default resolution

**Kymmy** · 26-04-2012, 14:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big-Gaz

Going to go with extended, so when I play on xbox or pc, I can run something on the other screen

Yep, that would work.. Extended is a lot easier as each screen is at it's native resolution than trying to run idetical/simultaneous

BenMcr · 26-04-2012, 14:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big-Gaz

Is there a button I can press when PC gaming to use the mouse on the other screen, then another button to turn it off?

No because windows doesn't see it as an 'other' screen, it's an extention of the same screen across two monitors or a duplication of the same screen on both

**Rob** · 26-04-2012, 14:24

If you are playing a game in full desktop mode on one screen to get to the apps on the other screen you can use the windows logo key to drop back to the desktops where you mouse can then take control of any other app window as normal. To get back in game simply click the game's app window.

Beware, if you have dropped back to desktop this way your game is still running. In multiplayer mode that means your character could be standing defenceless waiting to meet an unpleasant end

tizmeinnit · 01-05-2012, 06:47

not all games allow that. You could ctrl alt delete but this might kill the game also. Some games allow alt and enter to go to windowed mode. Its all down to the game really