Sijun Forums :: View topic - Questions about dual monitor setup and tablets

IO_Error · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2000 8:09 pm

Hey... this is for anyone who uses a dual monitor setup or knows anything about it..
I am aware of the fact that you need to have 2 video cards installed. Will it work if one of them is AGP and the other is PCI? and how does a double wide desktop affect the tablet? can you set the tablet to only use the screen area of 1 monitor? I seem to remember someone else I chatted with had troubles with his wacom after setting up a dual monitor desktop. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Tittle · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2000 8:29 pm

I can answer at least one of your questions...
You can have a dual monitor setup using one agp and one pci card. However the default card ends up being the first video card that the computer initializes. Unfortunately that is normally the pci card, which is normally the crappier card of the two. I have heard that you can change which card is initialized first through the bios but I have had no luck myself. If anyone knows how to switch this in the bios of Abit BP6 motherboard I'd appreciate it.
As for your questions about the tablet I have no idea mine hasn't been shipped to me yet

lungx · Posted: Tue Feb 29, 2000 1:45 am

well i'm at work now and can't really check what the exact names are in the BIOS. But i know for sure you can pick either the AGP or PCI bus for primary video display. Well at least with my BIOS, my motherboard's a FIC.

I should check when I get home and tell you what's up...

Oh, I don't know about Wacom either since I'm also waiting for mine...

lx

[This message has been edited by lungx (edited February 29, 2000).]

The Dude · Posted: Tue Feb 29, 2000 6:39 am

I have just looked at my wacom setup and it does have options for the tablet to use the full desktop, a portion, monitor 1, or monitor 2. Personally I haven't used any of the features other than full desktop. This way I can stretch photoshop (and others) across both screens, giving myself much more room to work with.

[This message has been edited by The Dude (edited February 29, 2000).]

Begby · junior member Member # Joined: 22 Feb 2000 Posts: 12

So I have a dual monitor setup also. I ended up stuck with having to use my PCI card as primary since I have a shit motherboard. That doesn't really matter though for practical purposes unless you play 3d computer games. As for the tablet I use it across both monitors with no problem, took me a little to get used to but I like it better.

Also, you can purchase an AGP video card that supports the two monitor setup off of one card, such as the Matrox G400 max, this will save you a slot.

Blind · Posted: Tue Feb 29, 2000 11:02 am

If you were going to be using your left monitor for painting and your right monitor for reference & tools, why would you want the tablet to extend across both screen? You only need it on the paint monitor, and you can use the mouse across both?

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- Blind
[email protected]
Clan Shred Company

The Dude · Posted: Tue Feb 29, 2000 1:57 pm

What I like to do is use my wacom just to select tools, while painting with my mouse and typing with my nose!

Okay not really...

IO_Error · Posted: Tue Feb 29, 2000 2:21 pm

Fortunately enough for me, the PCI card WILL be the better of the two.. if what you say is the case. And if its true that I won't lose any resolution on the tablet if the space covers both monitors, then I'll give it a try. Thanks for all the helpful replies.

IO_Error

Loki · Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2000 12:17 am

How would you select your tools??? Do you want to grab the mouse every time you want to select something?????
The tablet must include both monitors to do that - and don't be afraid to lose resolution on the tablet - I run both monitors at 1600x1200 and didn't notice anything ...

Blind · Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2000 7:54 am

Loki: I can see why you would want to easily select tools (w/o using the mouse) and stuff by having the tablet stretch over both monitors. That makes perfect sense. But, does that make a difference in drawing with only half of the tablet? I've only got a 6�8, and I'm working on getting a dual monitor setup. If I do that, I'll be confined to the left 6�4 of my tablet when working on my left monitor. Won't that feel cramped? I guess it's all relative and your hand gets used to it. But won't the perspective be off from the monitor? Confused...

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- Blind
[email protected]
Clan Shred Company

B · Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2000 10:06 am

you won't notice the difference,

n8 · Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2000 4:16 am

ive just set my dual monitors up.....but the 15" monitor i bought for $20 at an auction is fuct atm...=(....oh and i got a soloution for the dual setup.....2 monitors = 2 tablets...heehee

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Woo0boggyboggy!!