Where I work, there are a few people that have two flat screen monitors attached to one PC. This effectively gives them a widescreen presentation. They can move the mouse cursor from one screen to another and have multiple applications open. How do I set up my home PC to do this?
- Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
- Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!
Using two flat screen monitors on one PC
Collapse
X
-
-
There are people that have that set up where I am working at the moment too (a fund manager). I just think that they do that to make themselves look more important than they really are - I have not been able to work out a reason why I would need the same. -
I've been doing it for years (mostly two CRTs of course). You used to have two graphics cards, i.e. one AGP and one PCI, though it can be a bit difficult to find an old style PCI card that will work as a second card (ATI ones used to be the best).
These days though there are pleanty of graphics cards that have two outputs. My ATI Radeon AGP card does. Unfortunately it's knackered, and I've had to put an old card in and so my home PC is down to 1 monitor only.
Reason why: not sure how much it's worth it for "normal" users, but for a developer being able to run the application you're developing on one screen whilst being able to run the debugger on the other makes a huge difference.Will work inside IR35. Or for food.Comment
-
Most modern graphics cards have the outputs to support two monitors - only budget models leave out such a feature... and in combination with two widescreen 19" TFT monitors (which can cost as little as £120 each), they are really useful.Vieze Oude ManComment
-
Two screens?
Only two - are you peasant permies?
I have three
Just as described above before dual head cards were widely available, get a good dual head AGP card and then a PCI one too. I got two ATI ones and they use the same drivers so peice of cake to set up. I could have four monitors using this set up but have run out of desk space!
One pain in the ass with any multiple monitor set up is that the task bar is only usually on one screen and this still leads to all the open apps having the slot in the task bar on the one monitor so you still end up searching for what progs are open. There is a lush little prog Ultramon that gives a separate task bar for each monitor you have plus allows you to save display set ups for different scenarios and have different wallpapers for each screen etc. At $40 a bit of a bargain.
Also helps with productivity, no more alt-tabbing or searching for the app you want to look at. I have email client in one screen, dev tools in the middle monitor and browsers in the third so easy to make changes to code, check changes in browser and keep an eye on incoming mail all at the same time.
Out of hours I play games or watch vids on one monitor, read news or mess about on the web on another and still keep an eye on mail in the third. Hate single screen set ups now.
Once you have a multi-monitor set up you will never go back.
I am Bill Gates and I claim my crisp, shiny fiver.Comment
-
-
Originally posted by mcquiggdStill using AGP... I think you really do need that fiver
I went to an Intel developer conference where they told us how great AGP was because it meant graphics cards no longer needed on board memory as they could use the system memory at full speed, and this was the future of graphics.Will work inside IR35. Or for food.Comment
-
Originally posted by mcquiggdStill using AGP... I think you really do need that fiverComment
-
Originally posted by chubbaOnly two - are you peasant permies?
I have three
ThreadedThrow them to the lions - WC2 5.4Comment
-
Who needs anything other than the 30" Apple studio display I'm parked in front of. It's so big, you only need one!Serving religion with the contempt it deserves...Comment
- Home
- News & Features
- First Timers
- IR35 / S660 / BN66
- Employee Benefit Trusts
- Agency Workers Regulations
- MSC Legislation
- Limited Companies
- Dividends
- Umbrella Company
- VAT / Flat Rate VAT
- Job News & Guides
- Money News & Guides
- Guide to Contracts
- Successful Contracting
- Contracting Overseas
- Contractor Calculators
- MVL
- Contractor Expenses
Advertisers
Contractor Services
CUK News
- Streamline Your Retirement with iSIPP: A Solution for Contractor Pensions Sep 1 09:13
- Making the most of pension lump sums: overview for contractors Sep 1 08:36
- Umbrella company tribunal cases are opening up; are your wages subject to unlawful deductions, too? Aug 31 08:38
- Contractors, relabelling 'labour' as 'services' to appear 'fully contracted out' won't dupe IR35 inspectors Aug 31 08:30
- How often does HMRC check tax returns? Aug 30 08:27
- Work-life balance as an IT contractor: 5 top tips from a tech recruiter Aug 30 08:20
- Autumn Statement 2023 tipped to prioritise mental health, in a boost for UK workplaces Aug 29 08:33
- Final reminder for contractors to respond to the umbrella consultation (closing today) Aug 29 08:09
- Top 5 most in demand cyber security contract roles Aug 25 08:38
- Changes to the right to request flexible working are incoming, but how will contractors be affected? Aug 24 08:25
Comment