Can two screens work like this?

  • Thread starter Wozza123
  • 13 comments
  • 14,122 views
W

Wozza123

51
Wozza123
I would like to get in to iRacing but my main monitor is a bit small and also sits on my desk so it's a bit high. I want to bring my wheelstand up to a large monitor, and I had the idea of buying a second monitor and mounting it so it faces more out into the room.

The question I have is will I have any problems with a set up like this? I mean are there issues with playing games on a monitor that's not the default monitor? Is there anything else I need to know before spending money?

I am planning on getting a 27" monitor the same res as my current one (1920x1080).

Any tips appreciated. :dopey:
 
Why not get 3? A lot of us iRacers use triple monitors plus 1 or 2 more USB monitors. It depends on the video card you have. Check out my rig in my sig, it shows my triple 55" monitors.
 
left888
Why not get 3? A lot of us iRacers use triple monitors plus 1 or 2 more USB monitors. It depends on the video card you have. Check out my rig in my sig, it shows my triple 55" monitors.
Click to expand...

Well, the reason I'm not getting three is a. because I can't really afford (or justify) it, and b. because I'm not sure my PC will even handle three monitors.

I actually only intend using the one monitor to play on for now. Maybe I didn't explain that too well.

So my question remains: what sort of issues am I likely to come across with this method? Are there any or should it be a fairly simple installation?

Nice rig by the way. You must have an understanding wife/girlfriend. :)
 
Oh I forgot. Maybe I should post my PC hardware:

CPU: i5 760 overclocked to around 3.2GHz
GPU: HD 7850
Ram: 8 Gb

I think that's the most important stuff.
 
That PC should handle triple screens with games like iRacing, rFactor, Race07 and the like.

As far as any issues running on the secondary monitor, not really. The only issues youd really run into would be getting it onto the other monitor in the first place, and thats usually easy enough to do (depends on the game though.)

Some games let you tell it in the settings which monitor to go to. Ones that dont but that let you alt+enter to toggle fullscreen you can usually go to windowed mode, drag the window to the other monitor, then alt+enter and it will go to fullscreen on the monitor the window is currently on (just make sure to get it all the way on the other monitor.)

For games that don't let you do either, you could just temporarily change monitors (if on Windows 7, hit win+p, select projector only and it will make your secondary monitor the only one.)
 
Joven
That PC should handle triple screens with games like iRacing, rFactor, Race07 and the like.

As far as any issues running on the secondary monitor, not really. The only issues youd really run into would be getting it onto the other monitor in the first place, and thats usually easy enough to do (depends on the game though.)

Some games let you tell it in the settings which monitor to go to. Ones that dont but that let you alt+enter to toggle fullscreen you can usually go to windowed mode, drag the window to the other monitor, then alt+enter and it will go to fullscreen on the monitor the window is currently on (just make sure to get it all the way on the other monitor.)

For games that don't let you do either, you could just temporarily change monitors (if on Windows 7, hit win+p, select projector only and it will make your secondary monitor the only one.)
Click to expand...

Yes, that was my main worry. Thanks for you information on this. As you can tell I'm kinda new. It sounds like everything should be OK. I can't imagine a modern game like iRacing would prevent you from switching it to the other monitor.
 
Going to triples in iRacing is probably the best upgrade one can make, you can get 3 24" monitors for $400.00 You would not believe how great it is with 3 monitors. If you are a member of iRacing just look in the hardware thread, it is very justifiable. :)

If its just 2 monitors you want go for it, however it makes no sense to me. There are a few people in iRacing that go with 2 monitors, I just think 3 is so much better. I also use a 7" USB monitor for my telemetry, iSpeed. My girlfriend does understand my racing, which is downstairs in my man cave, which I used sound proofing in the ceiling so it cuts down the rumble somewhat.
 
I dont think he is on about racing on two monitors....he is on about using a second monitor to race on, separate and in a different location to his main monitor which is on his desk...
 
Just connect both monitors to your GPU and swap in the display settings to the monitor you want to use.
 
Or you could get a DVI switch of some kind if you only want to use one monitor at a time, it's much easier to press a button to switch between the two than going through a load of software settings.
 
ravey1981
I dont think he is on about racing on two monitors....he is on about using a second monitor to race on, separate and in a different location to his main monitor which is on his desk...
Click to expand...

^^^This LOL.

I would actually LOVE three monitors. It would just be kind of difficult because my PC and desk is for normal use as well. Maybe something for the future...

How many people do you think actually have three monitors? I mean percentage wise. Is it quite common? I have a worry that I won't be able to see people to the side, which is why I like the sound of the spotter.
 
In iRacing triple monitors is very common, I would think (just my speculation) 35% of us use them. It really bumps up the immersion factor. If you asked any iRacer with triples if they would go back to a single monitor I think you would be hard pressed to find a single user that would go back to one screen.

Having 2 monitors is very common among computer users in general, a lot of video cards will support this, I work from home (semi retired) and my work PC upstairs I use 4 monitors. 2, 27" and 2, 19" all in the 16:9 format.


Wozza123
I have a worry that I won't be able to see people to the side, which is why I like the sound of the spotter.
Click to expand...

With triples this improves seeing on each side of your car, besides there is a left & right view at the flip of a switch.
 
left888
With triples this improves seeing on each side of your car, besides there is a left & right view at the flip of a switch.
Click to expand...

Yeah a lot of games have the left/right view but I've found it difficult to use when I'm going 100mph around a corner. :lol:

Also, can you use the spotter in normal road racing? I know real life nascar/oval drivers use them but not so sure about road or F1 racers.
 
Yes you can, I use the Jimmy Johnson Spotter pack. I think there are a couple different ones out there beside the default one that ships with iRacing.
 

Latest Posts

Back