How to run dual monitors?

[crapjoint]

I just ordered ArcadeVGA for my jamma cab.  Question is, the PC i am using is also my everyday PC.  Can I add a PCI video card and run the arcade monitor as well as my regular monitor at the same time so it can be used for mame on arcade and someone can still use the other regular one at the same time to do whatever they want?  OS is XP.  Is this possible and if so, how?

[menace]

On ultimarc's site it says you can hook up a regular pc monitor-AFTER you have fully installed the arcade one.  That being said--if someone's playing mame then the other monitor is only going to show mame as well--there are video cards that let you run dual monitors so conceivable you could be doing two different things but not one that will run and arcade monitor.

[crapjoint]

Can I do this with 2 different video cards, like if I add a PCI card?

[Stingray]

I have no idea if this works on Windows or how to set it up if it does, but I have two monitors on my desktop Mac. The system has two video cards. The Mac OS desktop just extends across to the second monitor. However, when I run MAME on this computer, it always runs in the "main" monitor, which is the one with the menu bar (which I suppose is equivalent to the Windows task bar) in it. Clearly this is the monitor you would want in front of you when you are using the desktop computer. If there's a way you could force Mame to run in the secondary monitor (which is the one you would want to put in the cab) then it would work, but I don't know if there's a way to do this.

-S

[jr76]

This is the dilemma I face as well. Right now I just have a PII 300mhz so I'm building a new P4. However, I'll be using it not only for my cab, but as my everyday PC as well. I'm giving control of the PII over to my wife for her and our daughter to use. Back to my point, I'm getting a Radeon 9800. This card has monitor out and SVGA out, so that way I can hook up my regular monitor and run cables through my office wall to my cab which will be using a 27" TV. I'm not building a replica CAB for just the classics, so I figured this was my best option for the time being.

Even if two video cards worked, you both won't be able to use the PC at the same time. Yes two programs will run, but not both can be controlled at the same time. Especially if your using an encoder or keyboard hack, if she's typing an internet address in there's not telling what Pac-Man would do!

If you aren't playing 3D intense games, I would think the dual outs on the ArcadeVGA should serve your purpose fine. One to the PC Monitor and one to your cab.

Another answer might be a VGA switch box.

[tom61]

It is possible to run more than one monitor at a time (different cards or with a card with dual outputs) under Windows 98 and up.  However, as jr76 said, you can't really have two people use the system at the same time, do to input issues.

Running dual cards is simple, just install the PCI video card and Windows will recognise it. Go into display properties, settings, click on the box labled '2' and click the checkbox down below saying 'Extend Windows Desktop Here'. Your second monitor flickers and comes up with Windows (usually with no icons nor taskbar) and you can drag windows from one screen to the other. Most full screen stuff defaults to using the first display (should be your ArcadeVGA by default), no matter where you launch it.

Running multiple monitors does slow down your system though. OpenGL based games usually kill the second display, Direct-X games usually leave it running (though you can't interact with the second screen).

Heres a screens shot of me running MAME on monitor 1 (PC monitor on right) and Winamp on monitor 2 (TV on left):


As you can see, they can even be running at different resolutions. You can drag around monitor in the settings tab to tell Windows where it is in relation to the first monitor.

[Stingray]

Okay, it sounds like it works pretty much the same in Windows as it does with a Mac.

-S

[bluGill]

I don't know about windows or Macs, but with Linux you can (with a lot of effort because few do this.   Expect a lot of time reading bad documentation) set your system up with dual monitors, two video cards.   One controls needs to be entirely USB, and don't add/remove controls because it might mess up your ordering...

I've not done it myself, but I've worked with Xfree86 enough to know that it can be done, if you are smart enough to figure out what they documentation is trying to say.  

With the cost of PCs these days I'd just get second machine, go dumpster diving or something.   Even if you got the system working, there will be a date when you want to separate the systems.  If you just want to get it working though, and don't care about not being able to use the computer at the same time as the cabinet, go ahead.

It just occurs to me that not all video cards will support this mode.   Unless both cards support dual monitors you may have trouble or even be unable to do this.