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Working with two screens


More and more graphic cards on the market include a plug for a secondary screen and a TV-out, which allow the computer to work with two screens at the same time. This functionality can be very useful with Dartfish Software. Please refer to the documentation of your graphic card to make sure that you have a secondary screen plug and/or a TV-out.

The purpose of this FAQ is to cover the different possibilities available.


CONNECTION POSSIBILITIES


Example :

On this video card, there is:
  • 1 VGA Plug (blue)
  • 1 DVI Plug (white)
  • 1 S-Video TV-out (black, round)

This is just an example. You may have 2 VGA plugs and no DVI with or without a TV-out. On newer cards, you may also have no VGA at all but DVI's instead. Please refer to your hardware documentation.


VGA connection is analog. It is destined for CRT Screens (standard computer screens), for some high-end Plasma screens and also for beamers.




DVI connection is digital. It is destined for LCD-type screens.




TV-out uses an RGB S-Video signal. It is exclusively used for TV screens.

Before we continue, we will assume that your first plug, the VGA one, is used for your computer screen. Therefore we will focus on the second plug, VGA or DVI, and the TV-out.
You must be aware that you won't be able to use the secondary display and the TV-out at the same time; it's one or the other. Also take note that VGA<->DVI adaptors are available, such as the one shown here.




Such adaptors are often included when you buy a graphic card with a DVI secondary plug.

In summary, you can plug as secondary screen (connection type):

  • A 2nd standard screen (VGA)
  • A beamer (VGA)
  • A plasma flatscreen (VGA)
  • An LCD flatscreen (DVI)
  • A TV screen (TV-out)


Note: To avoid detection problems when using your secondary display, you should follow these steps: power your computer OFF, plug your two displays in, power them ON, and finally power your computer ON again.



THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF 2-SCREENS MODES

Every graphic card manufacturer has its own name for 2-screens modes.
They can be grouped as follows.

1/ Extended desktop: As its name implies, this mode gives you the possibility of increasing your workspace (horizontally or vertically) on the second screen.


 



2/ Clone mode: Both screens show exactly the same picture - this mode is very useful for training and demonstration purposes.



3/ "Theater" mode: As long as no video is playing, the 2 screens show exactly the same picture. When a video is playing, the second screen shows the video only, in full screen. It is useful for demonstration purposes.




As every card manufacturer has its own names and parameters for these modes, you will find hereunder links to the latest drivers and user guides for the three most common brands. You will find all the necessary information to activate each of those modes and configure them as you wish.

User guide:
On the drivers' download page, if you scroll to the bottom you will see the user guide section.

Latest drivers:
http://www.ati.com/support/driver.html


In case of problems with the use of your second screen, another help note is available here.


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