multi monitors problem

[cougar3326]

Hi guys,
This is my first post so firstly hello to everyone.
My problem is as follows:-
my previous system had an nvidia gf7600 graphics card i then added a standard pci dual headed graphics card to use for any gauges that i wanted,
os was xp.
I have since upgraded to the following
os vista 32 home
nvidia gf8600gts
intel core quad cpu@2.4ghz
3 gig ram
matrox triple head
trackir4
3 X 15inch monitors as my primary and a 32inch tv connected via the hdmi socket on the graphics card
Going of what i did with my previous system i thought i could do just the same ie install the dual head graphics card and i would be away,but no after installing the card my system does not see my primary display just the dual head i also noticed that my nvidia control panel dissappears and my nvidia8600gts is not showing in device manager, only the geforce 5200.
If anyone can point me in the right direction i would be most grateful but please make it as simple as poss i`m no techie.
Thanks in advance IAN

[Michael Carter]

As simple as I can say it, go back to XP.

I think Vista has issues with multiple video cards.

[mkitch]

Vista has more then just one issue.

[Ronson2k9]

First did you find the latest drivers for your 8600GTS (Win Vista 32bit)
http://www.nvidia.com/object/win7_winvista_32bit_190.62_whql.html

If you've done that and still have difficulties you may want to consider going to XP Pro. Many have a duel boot system with more then one OS. Vista has quite a few difficulties though. I don't know if Win7 has addressed those or not? I've not seen to much from a difficulty standpoint in the tech press. That said it's not to hard to create a duel boot system with Win XP Pro on one drive and Vista or Win7 on second drive. That way you stay current with all new software and can keep your older stuff working on the other drive. You can then migrate when the OS finally becomes fully compatible if it does?

It's also not a bad idea in case of drive failure as that can happen. Having a duel boot will keep your computer running in that event. Not to through cold water on your new system but drives can fail. If you have just one then you may loose the use of your machine till you have your main drive restored. With a duel boot you have a 'backup' in case that happens.

Just some saged advice from a person that's been there before ;)

[richard hutchinson]

Hi Folks

okay. Vista does not support multiple monitors. If you fit two video cards, vista will shut one down. XP does support multi-cards, but bear in mind that PCI cards are getting hard to obtain now.

With Windows 7, they are re-introducing multi-video card support. They "thought" that no-one would want that facility in Vista so removed it from the code.

From what I am hearing and have seen on corporate copies, Win 7 is what Vista should have been! It is much quicker, will support up to 8Gb ram (Vista only 4Gb) and full quad core support (32 and 64 bit). I have my Win7 pre-ordered and cannot wait to get rid of Vista, then I can have a ceremonial burning of the Vista disk! (Might make a good ashtray - at least that would be useful).

Better option in W7 is to go with two video cards and an sli bridge giving you much more power.

Hope this clarifies things for you.

[twisted8]

I don't know if Vista 64bit is different but I used to have 2 nvidia cards and they work just fine. I have windows 7 64 bit now and still no problems. I would say go 64 bit, you can use more RAM and everybody makes 64 bit drivers now.

[g0kmt]

Vista 32 Home Premium does support multiple monitors, I have a Nvidia 9600GT PCIe and a 8400GS PCI stuffed in my box plus 3 monitors - 42" LCD TV, 23" widescreen LCD and 19" LCD. Works fine! I don't know about Vista basic though

Now what happens if you have multiple cards/use multiple outputs and your power supply isnt up to scratch, well with multiple cards and not enough power - only one will work.

I had to upgrade my power supply because the standard 350 Watt power supply wasn't man enough for the job - I fitted an 850 Watt Power supply. Simple job and they are around £30 - £40 ($40 - $60)

Hope that helps

[simpit]

Could anyone tell me how to add a couple of 17" TFTs one to display the PFD and the other to display the ND, GPS and engine instruments using vista Home premium with no networked computers. May seem like a silly question to some people but I really don't know how do it and any advice would really be appreciated.
Thanks

[richard hutchinson]

Hi

Not sure what aircraft you are wanting to use, but to run multiple displays you will need a Matrox Triple Head (TH2Go) unit which can then divide your window into three parts. It is then a case of undocking which window you wish and drag it to the appropriate screen. However, without knowing your setup it's a bit of a vague answer. Your video card needs to be a good one as you have to ramp up the resolution really high for the Matrox unit to divide this back down to 1024 x 768 for your three monitors.

Be aware that if you are using WS monitors, the analogue version of TH2go does not support this format so you would need the digital version.

You will also need extra VGA/DVi cables as the tight-wads at Matrox don't supply extras!

Hope this gets you on your way
Regards

Richard (Peterborough UK):lol:

[deering]

Could anyone tell me how to add a couple of 17" TFTs one to display the PFD and the other to display the ND, GPS and engine instruments using vista Home premium with no networked computers. May seem like a silly question to some people but I really don't know how do it and any advice would really be appreciated.
Thanks

Simplest way is to add another graphics card to your system. In a Vista system you must use the same driver for both cards; e.g. both must be Nvidia cards or both must be Radeon cards. The cards do not have to be exactly alike. An inexpensive second card will handle the instruments you want. I use a $30 Radeon 3450 for the purpose.

Jim.

[richard hutchinson]

Yes you can use two graphics cards and as you say, must have the same driver. However, a PCI-E and a PCi card are highly unlikely to use the same driver as the card architecture is different. You may have been just lucky.

Windows v7 will again support the use of different video cards as this function was taken out of Vista. It should also be pointed out that video cards use a lot of power when they are working hard and older PC's PSU's aren't always up to it so bear that in mind. You may have to upgrade the PSU to cope with it. A lot of manufacturers run the power supplies to the wire with what they have fitted at purchase so when you start adding, the pull-down gets too much.

I would personally still go with the Matrox as it has no power overhead on your PC and is external so you don't have to pull the PC apart and they are easy to set up.

[simpit]

Hi

Not sure what aircraft you are wanting to use, but to run multiple displays you will need a Matrox Triple Head (TH2Go) unit which can then divide your window into three parts. It is then a case of undocking which window you wish and drag it to the appropriate screen. However, without knowing your setup it's a bit of a vague answer. Your video card needs to be a good one as you have to ramp up the resolution really high for the Matrox unit to divide this back down to 1024 x 768 for your three monitors.

Be aware that if you are using WS monitors, the analogue version of TH2go does not support this format so you would need the digital version.

You will also need extra VGA/DVi cables as the tight-wads at Matrox don't supply extras!

Hope this gets you on your way
Regards

Richard (Peterborough UK):lol:

Thanks for the help. It is much appreciated. :wink:
Stuart (Andrewsfield, Essex)

[deering]

Yes you can use two graphics cards ....
.
.
.


Matrox is good. I use one of them. It's overkill for Stuart's requirement, though.
You'd have to be running a pretty marginal power supply for it to be overloaded by the class of graphics card I'm suggesting. It doesn't take much processing to display two or three 2D windows.

[I've removed my incorrect references to using PCIe cards in PCI slots.]

Jim

[BHawthorne]

Multi video cards works just fine in Xp, Vista and Win 7. Those running into issues are either mixing ATi with nVidia, using legacy video cards that are no longer supported by current drivers or quite plainly operator error. I Have a machine with 5 GPUs in it at the moment that works just fine in all 3 Windows versions. It's best if you're going to use multiple video cards that you're at the very least using G92 or newer GPUs if nVidia.

[thomasstuart]

Hi I am Thomas.
Simplest way is to add another graphics card to your system. In a Vista system you must use the same driver for both cards.
This is the simplest way to solve your problem.
Have a nice day.