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Second 19" screen - questions

Discussion in 'Techno-Magic' started by Ragusa, Sep 9, 2009.

  1. Ragusa

    Ragusa Eternal Halfling Paladin Veteran

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    Remove all ads!
    A friend has offered me his old 19" VGA screen (4:3) at a rock bottom price. Now, getting myself a second screen is an idea I've been flirting with for quite a while.

    My real problem is whether I can use it.

    I have a Sapphire ATI 4870 card, with two DVI plugs. My screen has DVI.

    I have no idea whether it is possible to use them together, and how to. Any instructions, recommendations?
     
    Ragusa, Sep 9, 2009
    #1
  2. Blackthorne TA

    Blackthorne TA Master in his Own Mind Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    Hook it up, go into Display Properties (from Control Panel), click in the Settings tab, you should now have options for how you want to use your second screen.
     
    Blackthorne TA, Sep 10, 2009
    #2
  3. Taluntain

    Taluntain Resident Alpha and Omega Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

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    Yea, it's quite easy and straightforward. You'll just need a small VGA to DVI adapter for the old one. I got two with every Samsung LCD I bought (possibly some with the graphics card as well), but you can probably get them for a euro or two if you need to buy them.
     
    Taluntain, Sep 10, 2009
    #3
  4. Ziad

    Ziad I speak in rebuses Veteran

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    The Sapphire 4870 comes with a couple of DVI/VGA adapters. I've not tried dual-screen with it but it's really very straightforward, as BTA has described. The Catalyst Control Center also has some extra options that may not be in the regular Control Panel, so you may want to have a look there once you've set the second screen.
     
    Ziad, Sep 10, 2009
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  5. Ragusa

    Ragusa Eternal Halfling Paladin Veteran

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    Cool, thanks folks :)
     
    Ragusa, Sep 10, 2009
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  6. Ragusa

    Ragusa Eternal Halfling Paladin Veteran

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    I'm getting my second screen tomorrow! Yay!
     
    Ragusa, Sep 13, 2009
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  7. The Great Snook Gems: 31/31
    Latest gem: Rogue Stone

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    Just as a heads up. Once you go to two monitors there is no going back. Enjoy.
     
    The Great Snook, Sep 13, 2009
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  8. Ragusa

    Ragusa Eternal Halfling Paladin Veteran

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    I have worked with two at work ... when you're using many programs simultaneously and need to check with documentations and the like, as I have to, it's great because your don't have to "alt-tab" all the time to switch programs. It's all in plain sight.

    I have thought about getting myself a 24" some time next year and then handing over the 19" VGA to my sister or mother who still use 17" 'tubes'. But for the moment it's just great. Setting it up was indeed easy - just plug and play.

    And as for not wanting to go back, you're perfectly correct :)
     
    Ragusa, Sep 13, 2009
    #8
  9. Merlanni

    Merlanni Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

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    Is there not a problem with the difference in resolution?

    Does your version of the catalyst driver still support the 4:3?

    I played for a short while with it, trying to use the hd tv (16:9) and the monitor(16:10) as a clone of each other. Not satisfied. Did not play long with it.
     
    Merlanni, Sep 13, 2009
    #9
  10. Ragusa

    Ragusa Eternal Halfling Paladin Veteran

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    Oh, both screens are 4:3 and have identical resolution. And yes, catalyst still supports 4:3.
     
    Ragusa, Sep 13, 2009
    #10
  11. Ziad

    Ziad I speak in rebuses Veteran

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    It would be very odd if ATI or Nvidia stopped supporting 4:3 resolutions when there are still quite a few people using such monitors, not to mention it would make any pre-2006 (or maybe even 2007) game unplayable as most only had options for 4:3 resolutions.
     
    Ziad, Sep 14, 2009
    #11
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