Solved Setting up a multi-monitor display w/ a 20" HP monitor and a 32" LG TV

[Rain08]

Setting up a multi-monitor display w/ a 20" HP monitor and a 32" LG TV

Some backstory: just one month ago, I started to think of what will be the other use of our TV and it's HDMI cable. When I cleaned out my PC, I noticed that my card has an HDMI port so something came into my mind; and after 2 weeks, I decided to use my TV for a larger monitor and it works fine. In the coming weekend, I'll work with 2 displays. I'll use the 32" (capable of 1080p) as the main monitor and my stock 20" as a side monitor. So I can still do things while doing other things? I may not be able to connect with my internet since the positioning of the modem and the TV is away from each other so I can't immediately ask for support nor receive it. Also, is it possible to have different backgrounds in each monitor? And another question: if there will be two displays (with different contents being shown from one another), will it mean that the GPU load will double? What programs will I use? Is there already a built in program?

Specs of GPU and the displays:
Palit NVIDIA GeForce GT 610 2048 MB (VGA, DVI and HDMI)
Stock 20" HP monitor
LG 32LF20FR 32" 1080p TV (from what I can remember, it's from 2009)

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
the easiest way is to use WINDOWS + P and simply use the EXTEND option - then you can move things at will between the two monitors. Remember though the resolution will be that of the device having the SMALLEST resolution (not necessarily the smallest screen !!).

For different Backgrounds you could use the desktop program in the sysinternals suite - this gives up to 4 "Virtual desktops" that you can split out over the two monitors.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/bb842062.aspx

Extract the DESKTOPS.EXE file - works on W8.1 too

Couple of Caveats with DESKTOPS.EXE though -- desktop version of IE only works from DESKTOP 1 - if you start IE again from desktop 2,3,4 then the windows are stacked up in desktop 1.

Charms etc only operate from primary desktop (desktop 1)

Toolbars, desktop icons etc all work correctly on each desktop with the exceptions outlined

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Rain08]

Hi there
the easiest way is to use WINDOWS + P and simply use the EXTEND option - then you can move things at will between the two monitors. Remember though the resolution will be that of the SMALLEST resolution (not necessarily the smallest screen !!).

For different Backgrounds you could use the desktop program in the sysinternals suite - this gives up to 4 "Virtual desktops" that you can split out over the two monitors.

Sysinternals Suite

Extract the DESKTOPS.EXE file - works on W8.1 too

Cheers
jimbo

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm all set now and this is solved. The max resolution of my 20" is 1600x900 so it won't be a problem at all. Anyways, just gave you a rep..