Second Life Forums Archive - SL With Multiple Monitors?

Julian Fate

80's Pop Star

Join date: 19 Oct 2003

Posts: 1,020

03-17-2004 09:44

I'm looking into moving to a dual monitor setup at home. If you have two monitors I would appreciate any information you have about how SL handles them and what I should expect. Thanks.

Hank Ramos

Lifetime Scripter

Join date: 15 Nov 2003

Posts: 2,328

03-17-2004 09:51

SL Works fine with dual monitors.

You will want to run SL in "windowed mode" as full screen mode is not workable. Full screen will automatically minimize SL if you click to something in the other monitor.

Pete Fats

Geek

Join date: 18 Apr 2003

Posts: 648

03-17-2004 10:45

I too have been running SL in window mode on 2 monitors since beta. No real issues, except you tend to ignore your SL window cause of things like Photoshop and Google

Hawk Statosky

Camouflage tourist

Join date: 11 Nov 2003

Posts: 175

03-17-2004 10:49

SL works fine, yup. You may take a small framerate hit depending on the card, but I've never had any other issues.

As stated above, it's great for GIS results, or pratting around in PaintShop Pro.

_____________________

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Upshaw Underhill

Techno-Hobbit

Join date: 13 Mar 2003

Posts: 293

03-17-2004 10:53

hmmm... I seem to never get very far with the Google search page and concentrate on the SL window

UU

Apotheus Silverman

I write code.

Join date: 17 Nov 2003

Posts: 416

03-17-2004 11:38

If you have a newer video card with standard vga out as well as a digital out, I HIGHLY suggest getting the digital-to-vga converter and running both monitors off the same card.

I run SL spanned across 2 monitors this way. A 180-degree FOV rocks.

I have read some ATI cards allow 3 monitors to be hooked up this way. *drool*

_____________________

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Shop SL on the web - SLExchange.com

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Julian Fate

80's Pop Star

Join date: 19 Oct 2003

Posts: 1,020

03-17-2004 12:21

Thanks for the responses, everyone. I don't know why I didn't think of windowed mode. I was afraid SL might have issues with trying to switch to a single monitor but it's nice to know you can use windowed mode to confine it to one monitor or stretch it across two.

si Money

The nice demon.

Join date: 21 May 2003

Posts: 477

03-17-2004 12:30

From: someone

Originally posted by Julian Fate
Thanks for the responses, everyone. I don't know why I didn't think of windowed mode. I was afraid SL might have issues with trying to switch to a single monitor but it's nice to know you can use windowed mode to confine it to one monitor or stretch it across two.

This is actually entirely up to how your video driver handles the setup. There are several ways to do it. If you use the Windows built-in method of multiple monitors, it will work fine. You can maximize a window to a single monitor. There are some older implementations by both nVidia and ATI which like to just maximize across both, and open windows right in the middle of both, etc. Basically it happens when Windows sees it as "one big monitor", rather than two.

Anyhow, I would NOT recommend anyone stretch it across two monitors for risk of feeling violently ill

The framerates in SL do not lend themselves well to semi-stereoscopic viewing. It was quite possibly the most violent bout of vertigo i've ever felt.

_____________________

Like a soul without a mind
In a body without a heart
I'm missing every part

-- Progress --
Catherine Omega: Yes, but lots of stuff isn't listed. "Making UI harder to use than ever" and "removing all the necessary status icons" things.... there's nothing like that in the release notes.

Misnomer Jones

3 is the magic number

Join date: 27 Jan 2003

Posts: 1,800

03-17-2004 13:56

I run 2 monitors, 1 card. My only complaint is I *still* wish I could drag the UI windows off of the play window.

_____________________

Bel Muse

Registered User

Join date: 13 Dec 2002

Posts: 388

03-17-2004 14:22

From: someone

Originally posted by Misnomer Jones
I run 2 monitors, 1 card. My only complaint is I *still* wish I could drag the UI windows off of the play window.

Me too!

Yeah, i run in dual monitor mode of one card. Windowed mode for SL, and a variety of other programs running on the other window. I can't go back now...its the ONLY way to play

_____________________

Pete Fats

Geek

Join date: 18 Apr 2003

Posts: 648

03-17-2004 16:36

From: someone

Originally posted by Misnomer Jones
I run 2 monitors, 1 card. My only complaint is I *still* wish I could drag the UI windows off of the play window.

We so need this! I was just talking about this last night. Some way to 'undock' windows from the main SL window. I have a feeling though, that this is alot harder then it sounds.

Carnildo Greenacre

Flight Engineer

Join date: 15 Nov 2003

Posts: 1,044

03-17-2004 22:45

From: someone

Originally posted by Pete Fats
We so need this! I was just talking about this last night. Some way to 'undock' windows from the main SL window. I have a feeling though, that this is alot harder then it sounds.

Yes, it is. I can go into the technical details of OpenGL viewports and such, if you want.

_____________________

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Phil Metalhead

Game Foundry Leaɗer

Join date: 11 Mar 2003

Posts: 291

04-25-2004 03:16

i return from a... 8.. 10 month(?) sabbatical, and where do i return to? the technical forum

anyways, i have a (now aging and soon-to-be-replaced) GeForce4 Ti4400, and i'm running nVidia's "DualView", which treats both monitors as separate entities forming one logical display. this works great for windows, because i can "maximize" programs to one monitor or the other (with a 17" running at 1152x864 on a shelf, and 19" @ 1600x1200 on my desk, things would look pretty funky spanned). however, second life does not... i repeat, does not like to be spanned across these two displays (in windowed mode).

Leonn Rubio

Rebmem Roines

Join date: 30 Jan 2004

Posts: 113

04-25-2004 10:26

From: someone

Originally posted by Carnildo Greenacre
Yes, it is. I can go into the technical details of OpenGL viewports and such, if you want.

Do so, for my technical hunger!!!! LOL

My simple understanding was that since the GUI is Rendered through OpenGL that you'd have to have the second monitor have an OpenGL app to hold and render the moved gui. The SL GUI is not based on Win32 dialog/GIU like resources. That's only what I assume though.

Tiger Crossing

The Prim Maker

Join date: 18 Aug 2003

Posts: 1,560

04-26-2004 07:45

I wouldn't want to span SL across two monitors, since the center point would be at the join... But THREE would be cool. Peripheral vision!

_____________________

~ Tiger Crossing
~ (Nonsanity)

Catherine Omega

Geometry Ninja

Join date: 10 Jan 2003

Posts: 2,053

04-26-2004 14:46

Has anyone tried SL with three?

_____________________

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paulie Femto

Into the dark

Join date: 13 Sep 2003

Posts: 1,098

OMG! three!

04-26-2004 16:09

I'm running a dual monitor setup and the 180 FOV R-O-C-K-S!

Yeah. The center point is at the join. Kind of annoying. But this would be fixed with THREE monitors! OMFG!

Is it possible?

_____________________

REUTERS on SL: "Thirty-five thousand people wearing their psyches on the outside and all the attendant unfettered freakishness that brings."

Phil Metalhead

Game Foundry Leaɗer

Join date: 11 Mar 2003

Posts: 291

05-06-2004 06:27

From: someone

Originally posted by Leonn Rubio
...My simple understanding was that since the GUI is Rendered through OpenGL that you'd have to have the second monitor have an OpenGL app to hold and render the moved gui. The SL GUI is not based on Win32 dialog/GIU like resources. That's only what I assume though.

sooooo... might it be possible in some later version, to implement a toggle of the purty openGL-ish in-game windows, versus Win32 GUI windows that have their own taskbar buttons (maybe) and can be dragged beyond the SL window... ?

Ricercar Neville

debates for fun

Join date: 31 May 2004

Posts: 36

I have machines with 2, 3, and 4 displays. Hmm...

06-16-2004 14:18

In UT2004 one must go into the .INI file to change FOV for multiple monitors. Is there a FAQ for changing FOV for using multiple displays on Second Life? I'd love to span 2L across four 1024x768 displays...

_____________________

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SL With Multiple Monitors?
Julian Fate 80's Pop Star Join date: 19 Oct 2003 Posts: 1,020	03-17-2004 09:44 I'm looking into moving to a dual monitor setup at home. If you have two monitors I would appreciate any information you have about how SL handles them and what I should expect. Thanks.
Hank Ramos Lifetime Scripter Join date: 15 Nov 2003 Posts: 2,328	03-17-2004 09:51 SL Works fine with dual monitors. You will want to run SL in "windowed mode" as full screen mode is not workable. Full screen will automatically minimize SL if you click to something in the other monitor.
Pete Fats Geek Join date: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 648	03-17-2004 10:45 I too have been running SL in window mode on 2 monitors since beta. No real issues, except you tend to ignore your SL window cause of things like Photoshop and Google
Hawk Statosky Camouflage tourist Join date: 11 Nov 2003 Posts: 175	03-17-2004 10:49 SL works fine, yup. You may take a small framerate hit depending on the card, but I've never had any other issues. As stated above, it's great for GIS results, or pratting around in PaintShop Pro. _____________________ This .sig has been cancelled due to lack of interest.
Upshaw Underhill Techno-Hobbit Join date: 13 Mar 2003 Posts: 293	03-17-2004 10:53 hmmm... I seem to never get very far with the Google search page and concentrate on the SL window UU
Apotheus Silverman I write code. Join date: 17 Nov 2003 Posts: 416	03-17-2004 11:38 If you have a newer video card with standard vga out as well as a digital out, I HIGHLY suggest getting the digital-to-vga converter and running both monitors off the same card. I run SL spanned across 2 monitors this way. A 180-degree FOV rocks. I have read some ATI cards allow 3 monitors to be hooked up this way. drool _____________________ Apotheus Silverman Shop SL on the web - SLExchange.com Visit Abbotts Aerodrome for gobs of flying fun.
Julian Fate 80's Pop Star Join date: 19 Oct 2003 Posts: 1,020	03-17-2004 12:21 Thanks for the responses, everyone. I don't know why I didn't think of windowed mode. I was afraid SL might have issues with trying to switch to a single monitor but it's nice to know you can use windowed mode to confine it to one monitor or stretch it across two.
si Money The nice demon. Join date: 21 May 2003 Posts: 477	03-17-2004 12:30 From: someone Originally posted by Julian Fate Thanks for the responses, everyone. I don't know why I didn't think of windowed mode. I was afraid SL might have issues with trying to switch to a single monitor but it's nice to know you can use windowed mode to confine it to one monitor or stretch it across two. This is actually entirely up to how your video driver handles the setup. There are several ways to do it. If you use the Windows built-in method of multiple monitors, it will work fine. You can maximize a window to a single monitor. There are some older implementations by both nVidia and ATI which like to just maximize across both, and open windows right in the middle of both, etc. Basically it happens when Windows sees it as "one big monitor", rather than two. Anyhow, I would NOT recommend anyone stretch it across two monitors for risk of feeling violently ill The framerates in SL do not lend themselves well to semi-stereoscopic viewing. It was quite possibly the most violent bout of vertigo i've ever felt. _____________________ Like a soul without a mind In a body without a heart I'm missing every part -- Progress -- Catherine Omega: Yes, but lots of stuff isn't listed. "Making UI harder to use than ever" and "removing all the necessary status icons" things.... there's nothing like that in the release notes.
Misnomer Jones 3 is the magic number Join date: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 1,800	03-17-2004 13:56 I run 2 monitors, 1 card. My only complaint is I still wish I could drag the UI windows off of the play window. _____________________
Bel Muse Registered User Join date: 13 Dec 2002 Posts: 388	03-17-2004 14:22 From: someone Originally posted by Misnomer Jones *I run 2 monitors, 1 card. My only complaint is I still* wish I could drag the UI windows off of the play window.** Me too! Yeah, i run in dual monitor mode of one card. Windowed mode for SL, and a variety of other programs running on the other window. I can't go back now...its the ONLY way to play _____________________
Pete Fats Geek Join date: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 648	03-17-2004 16:36 From: someone Originally posted by Misnomer Jones *I run 2 monitors, 1 card. My only complaint is I still* wish I could drag the UI windows off of the play window.** We so need this! I was just talking about this last night. Some way to 'undock' windows from the main SL window. I have a feeling though, that this is alot harder then it sounds.
Carnildo Greenacre Flight Engineer Join date: 15 Nov 2003 Posts: 1,044	03-17-2004 22:45 From: someone Originally posted by Pete Fats We so need this! I was just talking about this last night. Some way to 'undock' windows from the main SL window. I have a feeling though, that this is alot harder then it sounds. Yes, it is. I can go into the technical details of OpenGL viewports and such, if you want. _____________________ perl -le '$_ = 1; (1 x $_) !~ /^(11+)\1+$/ && print while $_++;'
Phil Metalhead Game Foundry Leaɗer Join date: 11 Mar 2003 Posts: 291	04-25-2004 03:16 i return from a... 8.. 10 month(?) sabbatical, and where do i return to? the technical forum anyways, i have a (now aging and soon-to-be-replaced) GeForce4 Ti4400, and i'm running nVidia's "DualView", which treats both monitors as separate entities forming one logical display. this works great for windows, because i can "maximize" programs to one monitor or the other (with a 17" running at 1152x864 on a shelf, and 19" @ 1600x1200 on my desk, things would look pretty funky spanned). however, second life does not... i repeat, does not like to be spanned across these two displays (in windowed mode).
Leonn Rubio Rebmem Roines Join date: 30 Jan 2004 Posts: 113	04-25-2004 10:26 From: someone Originally posted by Carnildo Greenacre Yes, it is. I can go into the technical details of OpenGL viewports and such, if you want. Do so, for my technical hunger!!!! LOL My simple understanding was that since the GUI is Rendered through OpenGL that you'd have to have the second monitor have an OpenGL app to hold and render the moved gui. The SL GUI is not based on Win32 dialog/GIU like resources. That's only what I assume though.
Tiger Crossing The Prim Maker Join date: 18 Aug 2003 Posts: 1,560	04-26-2004 07:45 I wouldn't want to span SL across two monitors, since the center point would be at the join... But THREE would be cool. Peripheral vision! _____________________ ~ Tiger Crossing ~ (Nonsanity)
Catherine Omega Geometry Ninja Join date: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 2,053	04-26-2004 14:46 Has anyone tried SL with three? _____________________ Need scripting help? Visit the LSL Wiki! Omega Point - Catherine Omega's Blog
paulie Femto Into the dark Join date: 13 Sep 2003 Posts: 1,098	OMG! three! 04-26-2004 16:09 I'm running a dual monitor setup and the 180 FOV R-O-C-K-S! Yeah. The center point is at the join. Kind of annoying. But this would be fixed with THREE monitors! OMFG! Is it possible? _____________________ REUTERS on SL: "Thirty-five thousand people wearing their psyches on the outside and all the attendant unfettered freakishness that brings."
Phil Metalhead Game Foundry Leaɗer Join date: 11 Mar 2003 Posts: 291	05-06-2004 06:27 From: someone Originally posted by Leonn Rubio ...My simple understanding was that since the GUI is Rendered through OpenGL that you'd have to have the second monitor have an OpenGL app to hold and render the moved gui. The SL GUI is not based on Win32 dialog/GIU like resources. That's only what I assume though. sooooo... might it be possible in some later version, to implement a toggle of the purty openGL-ish in-game windows, versus Win32 GUI windows that have their own taskbar buttons (maybe) and can be dragged beyond the SL window... ?
Ricercar Neville debates for fun Join date: 31 May 2004 Posts: 36	I have machines with 2, 3, and 4 displays. Hmm... 06-16-2004 14:18 In UT2004 one must go into the .INI file to change FOV for multiple monitors. Is there a FAQ for changing FOV for using multiple displays on Second Life? I'd love to span 2L across four 1024x768 displays... _____________________ I used to drive a Heisenberg, but each time I read the speedometer, I'd get lost.

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SL With Multiple Monitors?