Dual Display Tricks

• Installing two computer displays is one way of increasing efficiency by being able to divide tasks visually. Multiple displays are ideal for assisting computer users who find themselves working with multiple computer programs at the same time. There are two primary ways to configure the secondary display. The first is a spanning display that extends the useful area of the desktop, essentially making each display an extension of a larger workspace. The second display configuration is cloning, which doubles the initial display onto the second screen. This kind of configuration is most useful for connecting laptops to larger screens for use in presentations and similar applications.

Testing Your Computer for Dual Display Capability

• The first thing to do when testing the computer for dual display capability is to check the output ports on the video card. If a computer is using an integrated graphics setup or a simple dedicated video card, it is likely that it will only have a single video output port, meaning that you will need to expand your system in order to use dual display. If a computer has multiple video output ports, dual displays may be possible. Having more than one type of the same video output port on the video card is a good sign that it is capable of running dual displays. However, it is sometimes possible to use two different types of display output ports to achieve a dual display should the video card be capable of processing two devices. Windows 7 is capable of automatically detecting if multiple screens are present on a compatible video card. Follow the steps presented by the automatically activated wizard application to configure them for use.

Setting Up a Dual Display and Dual Video Card Configuration

• Another approach to solving the dual display dilemma is to give each video display a dedicated video card. In order to make the system work with two video cards, the system will need a compatible motherboard, capable of controlling both simultaneously. To check if a video card or system is capable of handling two video cards, check the manufacturer documentation. Note any mention of limitations regarding how two video cards will interact. The motherboard will also need a free PCI slot in addition to the PCI slot being used by the existing video card if one is present. Another alternative to having an internal display card is to purchase a USB display output. These outputs are best for simple utility applications such as expanding the capabilities of a netbook, which otherwise would not be able to use a second display. However, USB alternatives are limited in their processing power and have limited display quality.

Substituting Widescreen Monitors for a Dual Display

• Configuring a system for compatibility with dual display can be a costly and involved process, which is not always worth it. One trick the consumer can use to get around the limitations of their system is to change to a wide-screen monitor. While technically only one display, it can be used in a similar fashion by resizing windows for side-by-side viewing. This option is usually sufficient for the average user and popular because the only costs incurred will be buying the wide-screen monitor. When you install the wide-screen monitor, you will need to adjust your desktop screen configuration and change the resolution aspect ratio to one that prevents image distortion. A 1920 by 1080 pixel resolution is a common aspect ratio for newer systems. Changing to a wide-screen aspect ratio puts a greater strain upon a system's video card, meaning that extremely low-end systems may suffer diminished output quality, especially when using 3-D software.