36 replies to this topic

[RisaBB]

Hi All,

I asked this question last year if it was excessive to have more than 1 monitor and it seemed from the responses that it was barbaric to have only 1 monitor. For people with 2 monitors (and some had 3), if one broke, it felt like an arm was cut off.

Anyway, my 22" monitor died and I bought a 27" one, which seems HUGE, but I can't get the resolution of my computer to go higher than 1680 x 1050 and this one requires 1920 x 1080. I called Viewsonic who said it's my computer, and I called Dell, who said that my graphics card can support an even higher resolution. I can't figure out this problem and don't want to pay $60 to Dell for one-time tech support, and I searched extensively on Google for an answer to this problem, and posted a question in Dell's forum, to no avail.

I thought maybe I should return this 27" and get two 20" + monitors.

Does that sound like the way to go? That 27" one is MASSIVE!!! I can't believe I could possibly need more space.

What do you think?

Thanks.

Risa

[jonbey]

Well, I have a 22in and a 20in, which works well for me. The only person I know that was given a choice of two 22 or one 30 inch went for a 30.

Depends how you like to work. I work mostly on my 22 with the 20 to the right, which currently has BBC News showing. Most of my "business management" stuff happens on the right, along with items I am reviewing while writing. So 2 works well for me. But many like a big one.

Dell .... let me see .... (I have a Dell)

Dunno. My graphics card was quite cheap (but not using the on-board graphics) and only goes up to 1680 1050 too.

Something like this could be worth the investment (if it is the right connection type!): PNY GeForce 8400GS 512MB DDR2 DMS59 Low Profile PCI-Express Video Card VCG84DMS5R3SXPB - Amazon link

It says:

Product Features and Technical Details
Product Features
Chipset: GeForce 8400GS Engine Clock: 520 MHz Video Memory: 512MB DDR2
Memory Clock: 800 MHz Memory Interface: 64-bit Memory Bandwidth: 6.4 GB/s
Bus: PCI-Express 2.0 x16 RAMDAC: 400 MHz
Max. Resolution: 2560 x 1600 Connectors: DMS59(to VGA+VGA or DVI-I+DVI-I or DVI-I+VGA via Cable) Thermal: Fanless
Support Windows 7 Support nVidia Unified Architecture Support nVidia CUDA technology Support nVidia PureVideo HD technology Support DirectCompute
Support HDCP - High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection Support Microsoft DirectX 10 and OpenGL 3.1 Low Profile Design
Technical Details
Device Type: Video Card
Model: VCG84DMS5R3SXPB

So certainly has the resolution.

If you have a big flashy monitor it may be good to get a graphics card to do it justice.

Edited by jonbey, 06 April 2011 - 08:26 AM.

[Ron Carnell]

Do you know what graphics card you have, Risa? If so, I would suggest going to Dell's support site to download and install the latest and greatest video driver for it. If your OS is using a generic windows driver, that would explain why Dell is telling you the card will support a higher resolution than what your computer is allowing. Using the right driver might solve that problem.

Oh, and trust me, you'll get used to all that screen real estate faster than you might think. Six months from now, you'll think 1920x1080 is the bare minimum you can imagine using. That's especially true for graphics programs. I wouldn't give up on the big screen, Risa, if you can possibly avoid it.

[AbleReach]

Definitely see if you can update your drivers. You should be able to do a driver upgrade yourself. If you get stuck I'll bet someone here can walk you through.

[jonbey]

Or you could do this. Saw this photo on the Smugmug facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/SmugMug , but cannot hotlink due to new facebook image service!

So here it is (sorry about the size...):

Edited by jonbey, 08 April 2011 - 01:44 PM.

[RisaBB]

Hi All,

Thanks for the responses. I heard EGOL has 3 monitors so that must be what his set-up looks like. I'm going to try Ron's idea, and even if that doesn't work, I think I'm beginning to like the idea of 2 20' or 22" monitors and find out what all the fuss is about! I'm excited!!

Risa

[EGOL]

I was using three big monitors for a while but went back to two.... I was getting a sunburn on my face - no kidding!

Edited by EGOL, 08 April 2011 - 02:21 PM.

[RisaBB]

I'm sure this is a dumb question, because I just had to do a search to see if it's the graphics card that the monitor gets plugged into. I didn't realize that part of the graphics card popped out of the computer, but anyway, do I need 2 graphics cards if I'm getting 2 monitors, or at least one graphics card with a dual port? I can't make it work with one graphics card, right?

[AbleReach]

Look to see if the graphics card has two places to plug something into.
There are two sorts of plugs in circulation, so some cards have one of each.

How did you make out with the driver upgrade?

[DCrx]

Looking into a multi-monitor setup because you heard someone else had one? That, to me, sounds barbaric.

And I mean litterally barbaric; as in cargo cults.

And I say this as my sister has a multi-monitor setup at work. I prefer a multidesk. What's that ...? Never heard of that?

OMG ...how ruefully unhip or you.

Multiple monitors are useful when you're, say, writing code and compiling on one (standard aspect ratio) monitor and looking through a codebase on the other. In other words, when you have some conceivable reason.

Otherwise, it can be an annoying distraction.

Try not to be tragically hip. The only possible outcome is tragedy.

Edited by DCrx, 09 April 2011 - 08:40 PM.

[RisaBB]

I did what Ron said and went to Dell and installed the latest driver upgrade to no avail. But now I'm more interested in two 22" screens anyway. I guess I shouldn't be intimidated by opening up the back of my computer to install a graphics card, right? Is it no big deal? I don't really like the thought of doing this.

[DCrx]

I guess I shouldn't be intimidated by opening up the back of my computer to install a graphics card, right? Is it no big deal? I don't really like the thought of doing this.

Of course not. The little fact that the NEWER driver for my graphics card screwed up my system isn't a problem. I downgraded, and problem solved.

Edited by DCrx, 09 April 2011 - 08:50 PM.

[RisaBB]

well that doesn't sound too encouraging. your computer couldn't support it? why would a newer graphics card be a problem? how lamo.

[DCrx]

Upgrades -- and I am the technical support guru for my group -- are not always UPgrades.

Hence downgrades.

It isn't supposed to work like that. And -- for the most part -- upgrades are not a problem.

As someone who has had to operate a computer (and this is a whole different system than what I just described) with a blank monitor because of incompatibilities -- and successfully did so -- it's not that easy.

Monitors are surprisingly useful. I recommend not doing without a functional monitor.

Edited by DCrx, 09 April 2011 - 09:06 PM.

[EGOL]

Multiple monitors are useful when you're, say, writing code and compiling on one (standard aspect ratio) monitor and looking through a codebase on the other. In other words, when you have some conceivable reason.

You have not used multiple monitors very much?

[DCrx]

My sister does medical coding and other things on a two (physical monitor) setup. Having tried, I am not a fan.

I haven't been forced to "like it." What I prefer is multidesk. This is especially true for those widescreen LCDs.

Once again, each to his own. But I find my experiences are far, far, more diverse than others.

What I lack is length. I haven't done a two physical monitor setup for a year.

What I find is a whole whopping lot of people who have not tried all different things, then saying they prefer what they got stuck with.

Edited by DCrx, 09 April 2011 - 09:16 PM.

[RisaBB]

Try not to be tragically hip. The only possible outcome is tragedy.

there's something tragically very funny about that!!

despite the potential tragic consequences, it seems that to be tragically fearful of the unknown, might keep me from trying this relatively small investment, which might have a profound impact on my ....productivity??? which would indeed be a tragedy. I feel very shakespearian. Thank you DCrx for the only contrary view I have read on this tragic topic. You have made me chuckle, thought I'm not sure that was your intent, and that would be tragic (as is my sense of humor! HA!!!)

Edited by RisaBB, 09 April 2011 - 09:18 PM.

[DCrx]

it seems that to be tragically fearful of the unknown, might keep me from trying this relatively small investment, which might have a profound impact on my ....productivity???

Once again, this goes back to the usability tests nobody actually does. Hearsay and innuendo, for sure. Fads and gimmicks, no doubt.

Results ...not a chance.

Before you brand me a luddite, do a search on multidesk software. What a multidesk is. What a multidesk does. You may develop a better opinion of my advice.

Edited by DCrx, 09 April 2011 - 09:22 PM.

[AbleReach]

I guess I shouldn't be intimidated by opening up the back of my computer to install a graphics card, right? Is it no big deal? I don't really like the thought of doing this.

Awww Risa.

It's fine not to want to do it yourself. Is there is a *real* computer store in your area? You want the kind with people who actually work on computers, not the kind with employees who want to sell you a tech support contract. They can be very fast. Once in a while, if a place like that is not busy, they'll cut you a deal on installation if you bought the video card there. Once I lost my Windows admin password and a place like that refused to take money for getting into my registry so I could re-set it. They weren't very busy, it didn't cost them any money to do and they're great neighbors - a delight to deal with.


/edited - said "WordPress admin" - meant "Windows admin"/

[A.N.Onym]

Usually, a plugged in (not motherboard) graphics card has two plug-ins: for each of the two types of monitor connections. If you have a connector with the monitor or the card, you'll be able to use two monitors. Or just find a card with two same ins (I forgot what it's called ).

It's not that hard to insert a card as long as you know where to put it in. There are a few similar slots, but it's probably shown in the manual.

Edited by A.N.Onym, 10 April 2011 - 04:27 AM.