Multiple Monitors: Operating on a different plane

By Ben Rodgers -

Being an avid gamer and someone who uses Photoshop quite a bit, I have always been interested in multiple monitors. A few months back, I decided I would explore this uncharted world (at least to myself) and indulge in having three 22-inch widescreen monitors. Read on to get answers the the ol’ 6-W’s…

Who -

Who needs three monitors?! Well nobody essentially NEEDS them but I will say they made various tasks much easier, and in the long run, saved me quite a bit of time. The first thing I noticed when I started my journey to pixel heaven: “My desktop is huge!” This makes for the perfect multi-tasking environment. Using multiple monitors allows the user to open an internet browser, Photoshop, and anything else your heart may desire. Zero alt-tabbing through different windows is a pretty awe-inspiring experience to those of us who essentially live on our computers. On the flip-side of the coin, if you play any kind of PC game, and have the will, it is possible to play a game with a 66″ view spanned across all monitors.

What -

What do I need to achieve such great heights in optical stimuli? Well, there’s a few things… First, obviously – the monitors. I had two 22″ Hyundai monitors (forgot the exact models, sorry), and a Samsung SyncMaster 226BW. There are limitations and specifics that I will outline later for those interested. Something else you may or may not need, depending on what operating system you are running on your computer, is something called TripleHead2Go. Triplehead2Go is a hardware module created by Matrox that, in a nutshell, is an adapter for multiple monitor outputs which inputs into your computer’s VGA/DVI port. It tricks the operating system into thinking you have one large monitor rather than seeing the monitors individually. Now, the reason I say you may or may not need the Matrox TripleHead2Go is because if you are running windows XP and have all the slots to plug in two or three monitors, you should be able to just plug them in and go. However, if using Windows Vista, you can still run an extended desktop, but Vista currently does not support horizontal spanning (stretching the desktop across multiple monitors) of display across monitors from within applications and games. Lastly, for the TH2G (TripleHead2Go) module to reach higher resolutions (for example: 5040 x 1050), it is required that your video card be Dual-Link DVI enabled. Dual-Link DVI provides the needed capacity for such data transfer. Contact your manufacturer if you are unsure of your video card’s capacity.

Where -

Where can I get this stuff? In no way do I mean to sound like a commercial, but I absolutely love two websites. TigerDirect and NewEgg. Both have very competitive prices and incomparable customer service. When either has a sale I start to drool a little! Sure, there’s the off complaint from site users of both companies, but take it from someone that has ordered over five thousand dollars worth of PC components from each site… If you’re unhappy with the purchase or the service – you’re probably doing something wrong.

When -

When is it necessary to have multiple monitors? Well, they are great for multi-tasking, gamers, and most office setups. If you do any of this, having more than one monitor CAN benefit you. I hear you protest: “But, Ben, I know you did this and you’re nerdy enough to appreciate sixty-six inches of desktop space, but seriously, why do I need this?” Simple answer: You don’t. Very few people really NEED multiple monitors. However, in a recent study by Computer Weekley, multiple monitor usage increased productivity by 35.5%.

How -

How does this really work? Basically, there are a handful of setups you could use to set up multiple monitors.

Two monitors (no Matrox Triplehead2Go module): Most computers should support this as-is. As long as you have a video card with two plugs for monitors. NOTICE: Vista users still cannot do horizontal spanning in this mode. This means no games or programs across the two screens.

Two monitors w/ Matrox module: Same as before but now you can span games across all three screens. Not too great really.

Three or more monitors (no matrox module): This is possible, but would require two video cards at a minimum. Still good for office application and multitasking, but useless if you’re looking for that surround gaming experience.