2 monitors, 1 computer, 2 display areas, what do I need?

[bigboy529]

Hi all
I want to get a new PC for our office and warehouse. This PC will have a typical desktop monitor and then I also want to connect a big 55 inch TV monitor to it.

The idea is that the small monitor displays the normal Windows desktop, it will be used for email, browsing, MS office etc. Idea then with the big TV is to have a calander and Excell booking sheet displayed on it pretty much all the time.
Will I need a special graphics card for this, something with 2 independent outputs? I know a lot of people run multi monitor setups, but how does this work in terms of opening new windows, do you have to constantly resize everything each time you open a new window? I for example don't want to resize and have to drag everything in place each morning when I switch on the PC.

P.S This will be a new PC, so it will probably run Windows 8 or 10.

 

[Pitbull]

'n GFX card with dual display (Just about any GFX card lately) Most on board displays can't do it. Pretty simple tbh

 

[Soul Assassin]

Windows remembers which programs need to be on which monitor.

 

[Zyraz]

Useful tip .

If you want a window to open maximized every time it opens , open the window , maximize it and hold down the CTRL button while clicking on the "X" to close it.
It will now open up maximized every time .
The reverse is also works .

 

[bigboy529]

Windows remembers which programs need to be on which monitor.

I guess then say a Excell window on the big monitor and a second Excell window on the small monitor will be asking too much? This if I still want the booking sheet displayed on the big monitor, but open another Excell document for other work on the small monitor.

Alternativly would I be able to temporarily mirror the big monitor on the small monitor, for when sitting in front of the PC and making changes to the calander and booking sheet?

 

[Zyraz]

I guess then say a Excell window on the big monitor and a second Excell window on the small monitor will be asking too much? This if I still want the booking sheet displayed on the big monitor, but open another Excell document for other work on the small monitor.

Alternativly would I be able to temporarily mirror the big monitor on the small monitor, for when sitting in front of the PC and making changes to the calander and booking sheet?

You can do all the above .
Its simply a question of dragging the relevant program / display item to the right (Correct) screen .

 

[Corelli]

Digital is best

Get a card that does dual digital outputs. Ie two hdmi. A lot of tvs dont have vga inputs, only hisense and very specific samsungs does. So watch out for that. And get a tv that runs hdmi or displayport to match. You get specific video monitors (ie philips) otherwise you would need to buy a tv license for it. Digital hdmi or displayport is sharper and crispier than vga analogue by miles.

Then build a web app that can toggle and refresh. Thats the easiest ways to run wallboards. Let it refresh every 30 seconds. As some screens, even led, still has screen burn.

Any normal hp or dell can do it. Just check its outputs and what the display has. I've ran wallboards for production offices from a Pentium 4 without any hassles. Just make sure your feed is stable.

If you want to add even more screens then look at the matrox or nvidia quadro options.
But its very basic vga only items if budget is tight you still get pci gfx cards which ads more than the two onboard displays normally supported but that wouldnt handle heavy graphics.

 

[bigboy529]

Get a card that does dual digital outputs. Ie two hdmi. A lot of tvs dont have vga inputs, only hisense and very specific samsungs does. So watch out for that. And get a tv that runs hdmi or displayport to match. You get specific video monitors (ie philips) otherwise you would need to buy a tv license for it. Digital hdmi or displayport is sharper and crispier than vga analogue by miles.

Then build a web app that can toggle and refresh. Thats the easiest ways to run wallboards. Let it refresh every 30 seconds. As some screens, even led, still has screen burn.

Any normal hp or dell can do it. Just check its outputs and what the display has. I've ran wallboards for production offices from a Pentium 4 without any hassles. Just make sure your feed is stable.

If you want to add even more screens then look at the matrox or nvidia quadro options.
But its very basic vga only items if budget is tight you still get pci gfx cards which ads more than the two onboard displays normally supported but that wouldnt handle heavy graphics.

Already have the big monitor, can't remember what inputs it has, but I'll be sure to look out for that.
Though screen burn was something I also thought about, you totally lost me at "build a web app that can toggle and refresh".

 

[Neoprod]

'n GFX card with dual display (Just about any GFX card lately) Most on board displays can't do it. Pretty simple tbh

on-board graphics can manage what he's trying to do, PB...it's be a different story if there were hectic graphics going on.

OP - look for a motherboard that has both DVI and HDMI ports. I'm assuming you're on a budget here so you can go as low as this AM1 motherboard though it's not a very upgradeable path to take. This Intel board can be paired with an Intel cpu with on-board graphics and you're set.

 

[Rouxenator]

'n GFX card with dual display (Just about any GFX card lately) Most on board displays can't do it. Pretty simple tbh

My APU (onboard) can drive upto 3 monitors.

HDMI, DVI-D and VGA

 

[Pitbull]

on-board graphics can manage what he's trying to do, PB...it's be a different story if there were hectic graphics going on.

OP - look for a motherboard that has both DVI and HDMI ports. I'm assuming you're on a budget here so you can go as low as this AM1 motherboard though it's not a very upgradeable path to take. This Intel board can be paired with an Intel cpu with on-board graphics and you're set.

I personally have never had a Mobo with a dual port. But that doesn't mean there aren't any.

 

[Rouxenator]

There are loads of them out there. Even the earliest ones with one output will work alongside a dedicated cards if you want.

Asus AM1 board : R730
AMD Athlon 5150 : R680
Patriot 4GB RAM : R300

So there you have a setup that can hookup to three displays for less than R2k

 

[Pitbull]

There are loads of them out there. Even the earliest ones with one output will work alongside a dedicated cards if you want.

Asus AM1 board : R730
AMD Athlon 5150 : R680
Patriot 4GB RAM : R300

So there you have a setup that can hookup to three displays for less than R2k

Damn , I honestly never even looked at boards with such on-boards capabilities I learnt something new today

Maybe most gaming boards doesn't put much effort into on-board as it will have a GFX card? Pretty interesting. Well either that or I just don't take note of the on-board, Don't think I have ever used it past initial setup

 

[Rouxenator]

I run a similar setup with a Athlon 5370 and low latency DDR3-1866 RAM, it has acceptable 3D abilities. The nice thing about the AM1 setup is everything inside the APU, so the board is cheap because it essentially does not have a chipset.

 

[Neoprod]

Damn , I honestly never even looked at boards with such on-boards capabilities I learnt something new today

Have you only ever built PC's for gaming? I can see how that would happen actually. No NAS or HTPC lust?

I find it hard not to tinker but I'm getting help for it

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

I'm pretty sure most entry level and midrange motherboards (with onboard graphics) these days have multiple display outputs. At least I haven't seen any that don't.

 

[Neoprod]

I'm pretty sure most entry level and midrange motherboards (with onboard graphics) these days have multiple display outputs. At least I haven't seen any that don't.

I was surprised that there are a couple that don't have both digital ports (DVI-D and HDMI). Some of the really budget ones come with VGA (and one of the others, usually DVI-D). At the lowest price-points, HDMI and Displayport don't seem to make the cut.

But ja, in the main, almost all boards nowadays can do multi-monitor of some kind though I don't really count VGA with it's res limitations.

 

[bigboy529]

Thanks guys, by the sounds of it I should be fine then, won't need a ultra expensive special GPU.

Now the second thing, would it be possible to connect a second mouse and keyboard set to this PC which I can place at the big TV monitor and how do I do this? Obviously I don't intend to work on the desktop side and the TV side at the same time, but it would be nice if I can have direct input if standing at the big TV monitor.

 

[Pitbull]

Have you only ever built PC's for gaming? I can see how that would happen actually. No NAS or HTPC lust?

I find it hard not to tinker but I'm getting help for it

Yea, purely gaming rigs only . I actually just got home and the first thing I did was to check my mobo. Lo and behold, it has an HDMI, DVI and VGA. Gwd damn, tickle me impressed.

 

[Neoprod]

Now the second thing, would it be possible to connect a second mouse and keyboard set to this PC which I can place at the big TV monitor and how do I do this? Obviously I don't intend to work on the desktop side and the TV side at the same time, but it would be nice if I can have direct input if standing at the big TV monitor.

You can do a wireless mouse-KB (along with the mouse and keyboard by the monitor) or, if what you're doing isn't very complicated in navigation or data input terms, a Rii Mini 8 would be fine. I've got a couple of them..love the little things.