Widescreen Gaming Forum

UltraMon's advantage was that it has the ability to send a maximized window to any monitor by clicking an arrow button that sits next to the minimize, restore, close buttons in the upper right corner of the title bar. There are <--- & ---> like buttons. Makes for faster moving is all.

Thanks for that. Sounds like a good feature but something one can live without. It might be a good programming project to port Ultramon to a TH2G environment.

However, unless geniv2 can point to other advantages it seems much more straightforward to not bother with the second card (for bypassing TH2G in work mode). Indeed, at the same resolutions, there does not seem to be any significant advantage.

The 260's should do well too

BTW, I will be using a single 260 (with 896MB RAM) and a motherboard that does not support SLI. By accounts that seems fine ... I may have to turn down some settings in games. The strategy is to get a more powerful card in x months time to keep pace with graphics requirements.

...
[quote]One chunk of software I found indispensable with my TH2G is GridMove. It requires a bit of setup at first - though I posted my TH2G grid here: (Link)

The great thing is that (1) it's Free and (2) it's so simple to use once set up: [Win]-[1] resizes the active app to screen 1, [Win]-[2] resizes the active app to screen 1... [Win]-[6] sends the active app to zone 6 etc. (see link above for zones). For me this makes Windows and the TH2G so much easier to use well (productively) both in games as well as outside of games.

I also use it on another system with only two screens and no TH2G / DH2G - though with a different "grid" file.

Tyinsar has only one graphics card (GTX260). Tyinsar, could you confirm that for 2D work TH2G + GridMove is greater than or equal to Direct-to-cards + Ultramon?

Do most of you guys use this forth way (with or without gridmove)?...
Since my screens are hooked to two TH2G units in span mode (vertical not horizontal) my computer only sees one 3840*2048 monitor.

Ultamon: Because Ultramon is for meant for multiple monitors it would do me no good (nor would it help in a single TH2G setup [Edit: Unless PowerDesk can make Utramon see the three screens as being independent]).

PowerDesk: Additionally the PowerDesk software has issues with my two TH2G units on one system so I don't use it either.

GridMove: The advantage I've seen with GridMove is that it allows me to set up my own custom screen areas to snap windows to. It also works with simple mouse commands or hotkeys. It only does one thing but it does it very well.

If I may quote myself from another thread:

For the record: my single TH2G grid has these grids (window locations):

I found Vert- games to be most bearable when run in a window in grid 6.

The 6 screen grid adds to those grids - most notably 3 grids that are 1 screen wide x 2 high (similar to using rotated 24" monitors) which is a great way to browse forums and surf the net.

sorry for my late reply here but
I've since switched to 3x " BenQ2400WD. it has DVI/HDMI/Analog.
my connection and setup is still the same but just replaced the analog vga connection to the monitors with a HDMI connection.

- only issues I have now is the monitors don't detect and automatically switch input when I enable THg mode like previously so I have to manually push the "input selection" button on the monitors.
but at least I have digital quality for both work and play.

anyway I guess you guys are more interested in Ultramon.
for me personally I've been using dual/triple monitors with ultramon for about 2 or 3 or years (I have a system with 3 monitors and another one with dual monitor). and it works well across my entire systems.

I've only used/own a th2g for about 2 months. and used Matrox powerdesk alittle here's my comparison and reason why

Ultramon wins at:
1) - it work across all my computers and they don't need a Th2g. dual video card is cheaper.

2) - easy resolution and monitor settings switching with quick profile switcher. has hot keys feature for each profiles.

4) - you can easily move window from one monitor to another.

5) - I can use my full resolution of 1920x1200 on each monitor. (if u don't have 24" screen I guess it don't matter). but also u can use wacky resolutions the display supports that going through the TH2G don't let u use.

6) - you can mix and match individual monitor size/resolution/refresh rate etc.. and physical location and switching back and forth is just a quick 2 clicks away.

7) - as part of the profiles/setting you can easily enable/disable individual monitors easily. like when I want to just watch a movie I can just disable my L and R monitors and use one monitor .. like for times u really don't need to have 3 monitors for the work u are doing. (save power I guess)

8) - can set switch any monitor to "primiary" easily.

9) - u can save/restore desktop icon placements

12) - u can set your "primary" taskbar (the one that have the start button) to any monitor u want. (with PD it's ALWAYS on the L screen). I like to put the TB in the middle screen when running Triple since it is natural.

10) - u can easily switch to/ do desktop/monitor mirroring. (not exactally how that works as I never used or tried that feature but it's there)

11) - u can set separate screensaver for each monitor.

13) - takes very little resources and stable, never have it cause instablility or crashes to my system. and starts up quicker than PD.

14) - I can "Alt-Tab" to switch windows/programs like normal. with PD I think it have to do with the hotkey feature for enable/disabling screen bezel managment, but when I press "Alt-Tab" it takes up to 3 seconds to respond and switch app/window. it just pisses me off.

3) - TASK BAR EXTENDER/PLACEMENT!!! it's very very VERY VERY VERY USEFUL! and why I LOVE ultramon: let me explain:

Without Powerdesk or Ultramon: (Windows Default)
- you have one taskbar in your "primary" display. and when u open or move program/window to any other monitors the program's "taskbar ID rectangle" (lets call it TIR) stays at the taskbar in the primary display.
- lets say you have 3 monitors (L, Center, R) and the primary monitor/taskbar is on the L monitor. now if u have a bunch of windows opened in the R monitor. you would have to move your mouse and turn your head ALL THE WAY back to the L monitor to look for the program's TIR and click it.
problems with that is: the taskbar gets cluttered when you have multiple windows (like abunch of browser windows) opened up. confused with which TIR is for which monitor. and sometimes if u have 3 identicle programs in different monitors you have to click on 2 or 3 TIR to find the right window/monitor combination.

With PowerDesk:
- SAME situtation as I mentioned above. but WORST!
- instead of one taskbar on the "primary" screen of your choice (say in the middle) you get one LONG taskbar beginnin on the L and extends all the way to the R.
- yes. you can have more TIR on the taskbar before they start to "stack" because your taskbar is longer. but the taskbar ALWAYS start from the L side.
- in my case with triple monitor when I have windows on the C or R monitor I have to keep turning my head to the L monitor to find the right TIR and it takes a few trys to find the correct one since I usually have alot of windows open. and when u have 3x WIDE 24" lcds that head turning is alot of work.
This pisses me off so much that after using PD for over an hour I have the urge to go outside and punch a pregnant lady in the stomach.

With UltraMon running monitors individually:
- the above problems is solved in straight forward and SIMPLE way.
- you still have a primary taskbar like normal. and in addition u can "add" taskbars each monitor. so each monitor will have it's own taskbar.
- for example if a program is opened or in the R monitor the TIR will be in the taskbar on the R monitor. if u move the app/window to the C or L monitor the TIR moves accordingly.
- so when u are looking at a monitor and want to know what programs are in there just look at the TIR on the taskbar of that specific monitor. no need to move your head all the way to the L monitor and guess which TIR is for which program for which monitor.
- example 2 if you have 3 identical app opened each on separate monitors they have their own TIR below them on the taskbar of their monitor. with windows default or PD you have to freaking turn your head to the L monitor and click on the stacked of 3 TIR and guess which is which. I would rather have "a buffalo take a diarrhea dump on my ear" than go back to the old way of organizing TIR.

If you guys don't undertand what I'm saying above I can post screenshot comparisons.


Conclusion:
Some of the stuff I described you can set via windows display panel and in a sense through Powerdesk too but they are more of a pain in the buns to do manually. with Ultramon it makes it EASY, FAST and PAINLESS. thus making u more productive and a feature that u use often.
To me Ultramon is specifically designed and geared toward productivity and make it easy/pleasurable in a MULTI monitor environment. and make full use/potential of your monitors.


PowerDesk wins at:
1) it's free with the TH2g :P. but then again the th2g is more expensive than adding another video card. and
2) you can effortlessly span movies/3D rendering across multiple screen. (you "can" do it with ultramon but it have to do with your video card feature set and some settings on directX I guess, but it's not really worth the trouble as rending directshow/movies and 3D on one monitor at a time is fine with me). But that's really more to do with having a TH2G as oppose to powerdesk.
3) u can adjust settings on your TH2G with it:) I usually start up PD to do settings and then quit PD when I'm done.


Conclusion:
Powerdesk seems like an after through thrown in to make life easier because your desktop is spanned on multimonitors.
Comparing Powerdesk to Ultramon is like comparing windows Wordpad to a full blown Microsft Word. (minus the bloat) :P

Anyway youy can download and try Ultramon yourself to see how u like it personally. I guess you can technically use Powerdesk in conjunction with Ultramon but it's kinda a moot point except for a specific setting like Th2g + other independant monitors.

http://www.realtimesoft.com/ultramon/


I can't comment on the gridmove since I never tried it and I've been so happy with ultramon for the past like 3 years.

BTW: my post above ^^^^ should be a Sticky.

since I spent time trying to explain it and I think alot of people that don't know about Ultramon will find it VERY useful.

Ultramon is worth a try

geniv2 thank you for your comprehensive reply. That is an important contribution. No worries for taking your time!

If you plan on getting 3x 1680x1050 monitors then I still think there is no need for separating the monitors.

geniv2 has given us good reasons why even with 3 x 1680 x 1050, for work, ultramon (with direct-to-card setup/"independant monitors") is superior to PowerDesk and/or Gridmove (with DTH2G). Reasons, that is, to show that without ultramon you should want to perform street abortions or engage in scat play whilst on safari.

The taskbar ID rectangle placement feature does seem, alone, a killer feature.

Note that gridmove does not have these type advanced windows management features...

GridMove: The advantage I've seen with GridMove is that it allows me to set up my own custom screen areas to snap windows to. It also works with simple mouse commands or hotkeys. It only does one thing but it does it very well.

Mach1.9pants are you convinced enough to try Ultramon? :)

Perhaps someone could come up with counterarguments to show how you can get all of, or most of, the functions that geniv2 describes with a purely DTH2G setup. That would be welcome. However, even if those counterarguments were successful at the very least geniv2 has shown me that it is desirable to keep open the option to go direct-to-card (in addition to DTH2G), to experiment with Ultramon for myself.

I'm now back to throwing a second graphics card into my shopping list. Therefore the original issue of how best have both DTH2G and direct-to-card setups remain. I'd like, therefore, to bump these set of questions:


Avoiding analog connections altogether

JKeefe suggests a way out of this analog V digital issue: just get a monitor with both inputs that are DVI. If someone can point to a good 20" (or 22") LCD monitor with two DVI ports, that'd be appreciated.

However, there are none on the Master Monitor list. The listed 20" or 22" monitors mostly come with a DVI and a VGA port.

genvi2 added a twist to this ...

[the new 24" monitor] has DVI/HDMI/Analog. my connection and setup is still the same but just replaced the analog vga connection to the monitors with a HDMI connection.... I have digital quality for both work and play.

So I'll look out for a monitor with a HDMI input. This might be difficult in my case as I'm currently aiming at 3 X 20" widescreens. These models are rather old school so unlikely to have HDMI.

A second possible way to avoid analog connections might be to fit a double adapter to the monitor's DVI input. Do these exist? Isn't the whole point of the "Dual" in "Dual Link DVI" to allow this?

A third possible way to avoid analog connections might be to use some kind of KVM switch? Could that work? Anybody have this kind of setup?


Sticky V wiki

Perhaps, rather than stickying geniv2's valueable post, it might be better to wiki it. Perhpas it would be better if parts of this thread where put into two seperate wiki entries;
* "Setting up TH2G and direct-to-cards"
* Ultramon (via direct-to-cards) V GridMove/Powerdesk (via TH2G).

As a general suggestion I'd say threads are good for debating solutions. Once a consensus has been formed, once collective epiphanies have emerged, then it is time to distal the wisdom into a wiki, minus the scaffold of debate.

Mach1.9pants are you convinced enough to try Ultramon? Smile

No, not really matrox does all I want/need....i.e. snap to monitor. All I want is 3x1680x1050 (with snap to monitor edge) for desktop and TH gaming; and 1920x1200 for single screen gaming. So I am happy:)

_________________
Dipping bags at Mach1.9

Mach1.9pants, cool :)

My problem ...

A second possible way to avoid analog connections might be to fit a double adapter to the monitor's DVI input. Do these exist? Isn't the whole point of the "Dual" in "Dual Link DVI" to allow this?

A third possible way to avoid analog connections might be to use some kind of KVM switch? Could that work? Anybody have this kind of setup?

seems solved ...

All I need is a DVI Switch Box 2:1. Times three. They seem rare.

One model is the Cabac "DVI Switch Box 2:1 Manual Black" (SBDVI2P) for $AUD35. See also the manufacturer's specs.

In addition to three of these DVI switch boxes all I need, in terms of hardware, is:
* 2 graphics cards with 2 DVI outputs each.
* Triple Head to Go, Digital Edition.
* 3 Monitors with at least one DVI input. I don't need an extra DVI input, nor HDMI, nor even VGA.

I can now have a DTH2G setup AND a Direct-to-cards/Independent monitors setup, using entirely digital connections. I can use powerdesk, gridmove, or Ultramon.

a few question:

1) are you getting the 20" 3x widescreen new or u have it already?
if u are getting new. why don't u get 22" they are not much more if any than say a 20" and alot of 22" have dvi/hdmi/vga. (u probbably need a DVI-> HDMI cable but they are like $7 anyway)

2) is analog THAT bad for you to avoid it?
you can use use your center monitor on DVI through the TH2g (pass through) in direct to card mode. and just use the L and R monitors in vga mode like how I had it. you will still have digital clear display on your main (center) monitor.
I don't know what EXACTALLY u do in terms of work with your pc. but VGA is fine for me and don't look that much worst than DVI (but then again it really have to do with how well your specific monitor handles vga input, some monitor looks like crap and some looks nearly as good as DVI)

to me the worst thing about vga connection is once in a while i tend to press (auto adjust) button but it's not like that is alot of work just minor nick pick


BTW: you guys can put my comment/info on wiki, sticky or whatever u want. it's to help other people anyway.
and for those that are "happy" with the powerdesk. I guess "ignorance is blissed" but you REALLY should try ultramon and compare. you will not want to go back to PD. (I don't work for or have any assocation with that company)

Opinions are great and everyone is free to have their own. I wouldn't call it ignorant.

Opinions are great and everyone is free to have their own. I wouldn't call it ignorant.

I don't mean it that way. it's just a phrase from my favorite move "The Matrix"