My New Multiple Monitor Setup (pics/description)

[walker450]

First of all, I really really love this game. That is enough justification for spending $300 at Bestbuy last night and robbing a monitor off of our desktop computer (sorry honey!). She still has her laptop. :)

 

 

After several hours of experimenting, I decided to go with this layout:

Abris on 19" Dell rotated 90 degrees at 768x1024 on the left

Cockpit view on 23" Acer widescreen at 1920x1080 in center

Shkval on 19" Dell at 800x600 on the right

 

I have to run the Shkval at 800x600 to keep 30fps. With it at 1280x1024 I could only get 20fps. Since it's just the black and white Shkval, I can't tell the difference in the picture quality anyways.

 

With the Abris monitor rotated 90 degrees, it fits the screen very well. I tried it wihout rotation and it worked, but didn't look natural.

 

Multiplayer menus are accessible, but are not all together from left to right... I had to rig the monitor positions in windows to make it all work...

 

If anyone is interested in seeing my .lua files, just ask.

Edited February 23, 2010 by walker450

[EinsteinEP]

Would like to see .lua files, please!

[walker450]

Here are the windows settings:

 

 

 

_________From "options.lua":_____________

 

["graphics"] =

{

["multiMonitorSetup"] = "2 dells and acer",

["color"] = "32",

["heatBlr"] = 0,

["scenes"] = "high",

["water"] = 2,

["fullScreen"] = false,

["visibRange"] = "High",

["aspect"] = 1.77777,

["textures"] = 2,

["shadows"] = 3,

["display_mode"] =

{

["avi"] =

{

["bpp"] = 32,

["resolution"] = "640x480",

["full_screen"] = false,

["aspect"] = 1.25,

["height"] = 480,

["width"] = 640,

}, -- end of ["avi"]

}, -- end of ["display_mode"]

["effects"] = 3,

["lights"] = 2,

["haze"] = 1,

["terrPrld"] = "20",

["height"] = 1080,

["resolution"] = "1920x1080",

["civTraffic"] = 0,

["width"] = 3488,

}, -- end of ["graphics"]

 

_______________From "2 dells and acer": (my custom file in the MonitorSetup folder)______________

 

Description = '19 dell on left rotated 90 for abris, 23 acer in center for cockpit, 19 dell on right for shkval,, set up in windows with acer on left as main, abirs center and rotated, shkval right'

Viewports =

{

Center =

{

x = 0;

y = 0;

width = 1920;

height = 1080;

viewDx = 0;

viewDy = 0;

1.7777777;

}

}

 

Shkval =

{

x = 2688;

y = 0;

width = 800;

height = 600;

}

 

ABRIS =

{

x = 1920;

y = 0;

width = 768;

height = 1024;

}

 

 

 

 

This works very well in the game. I can also select all of the buttons in the multiplayer menus. However, the screens are mismatched since I have them mixed up in the windows settings. This setup requires me to adjust the windows settings and rearrange the monitors if I want to do desktop work with multiple monitors. When I start DCS, I must shuffle them around. But, since I mostly use this computer to just play DCS, I don't think I'll be changing it much. :)

 

I will also be posting some useful links on this thread in an effort to help others.

Edited February 23, 2010 by walker450

[EtherealN]

Very pretty, and I'd definitely be interested in the luas as well. I'm thinking about building an i5 system (heard and read good things about overclocking them :D ) and re-using some screens alongside a 32 inch plasma.

 

Might even get myself a touchscreen overlay for the ABRIS screen and see if I can script something to make the buttons work through touching them - or just get an opencockpit card and build a set of buttons and dials to mount on the screen.

 

PS: Isn't it lovely how you can see the faults in camera IR filters with that picture? :D

[walker450]

Might even get myself a touchscreen overlay for the ABRIS screen and see if I can script something to make the buttons work through touching them - or just get an opencockpit card and build a set of buttons and dials to mount on the screen.

 

Thanks EtherealN!! I really like this setup.

 

I too have thought about using a touch and making the ABRIS buttons touchable, but I don't feel I have the time to devote to that. I think that once you start adding in the menus that popup etc, it will get complicated in a hurry.

 

I myself may add buttons to the bottom of my monitor one day, but will propably go the simple route and just hack an old keyboard for the input commands. Know what I mean? :) (of course, no fancy dials like this, I would have to have 8 total buttons; 1-5, up-down, select)

 

I actually bought a Belkin n25te gamepad last night when I bought the new 23" widescreen. I am using the top 5 buttons on it for 1-5 on ABRIS, and the up-down arrows for the up-down functions, and the right arrow for select. I'll make a video of it, it works very good!!

[Haril]

PS: Isn't it lovely how you can see the faults in camera IR filters with that picture? :D

 

TrackIR is watching you...

[walker450]

Here is a video of me using the Belkin gamepad to navigate the Abris:

 

 

 

TrackIR is watching you...

LOL!! That does look kinda creepy... Does the trackir remind anyone else of the little robot in Transformers 1??

 

 

LOL I don't know why I make that connection... I'm weird I guess. :)

Edited February 23, 2010 by walker450

[walker450]

My setup:

 

Vista 64

EVGA 780i FTW Motherboard

Q9550 @ 3.9MHz

2x2GB OCZ reaper RAM

2x EVGA GTX280 1GB Video Cards

10,000RPM 150GB Vrap Hard Drive

 

The Primary and Abris Monitors are on the main GPU. The Shkval is on the second GPU alone. With this setup on high graphics, I am getting 30 FPS in the default instant action mission (cockpit and outside views). However, the F3 flyby view is about 27 FPS.

 

I tried hooking the abris and shkval monitors to the second GPU, leaving the Primary all by itself, but it actually decreased FPS to around 15-20. I don't know the reasons for this yet, but I have been searching for answers. I found one post so far that described similar problems....

Edited February 23, 2010 by walker450

[CAT_101st]

That is one nice setup walker.

[Maximus]

that's nice setup, I have very similiar to your setup.. something to think about rotating the monitor for Abris... nice idea. it will give me a bit more room on my desk since i have 40" HDTV on top of it lol...

[Mnemonic]

Hi Guys, maybe you will help me to sort out my problem.

I just got 19" 1280x1024 screen to my 22" 1680x1050 (Both are DVI).

My video-card is GeForce 9800GT 1Gb, and I use WinXP SP2.

 

I want to setup my system to use with BS.

When I use NVidia Control Panel to setup DualView mode I can setup maximum resolution - 2560 x 1024, so it goes 1280x1024 for both my screens.

 

I want that my main screen (1680 x 1050) must be at native resolution, and preferably both of them must be native, but I can't figure out how to make dual-view and keep resolution.

 

Without DualView mode BS renders only to one screen.

BTW how do you setup that BS able to render 3 screens without tripple-head?

[Mnemonic]

Oh my God, I think I understand how you done this ))))

 

P.S. Tried with dual cockpit view, windowed mode - it's worked but very laggy.

Edited February 24, 2010 by Mnemonic

[Ramstein]

my monitor,,

 

while I fight for my life with illness, at least I can get a decent video experience with flight sims..

 

 

 

:pilotfly:

[element1108]

Here is a video of me using the Belkin gamepad to navigate the Abris:

 

 

 

 

LOL!! That does look kinda creepy... Does the trackir remind anyone else of the little robot in Transformers 1??

 

 

LOL I don't know why I make that connection... I'm weird I guess. :)

 

 

I can see it! ;)

[JaBoG32_Prinzartus]

my monitor,,

 

while I fight for my life with illness, at least I can get a decent video experience with flight sims..

:pilotfly:

 

All my prayers for you to win that fight! :noexpression:

[walker450]

CAROL:

TEST.LUA

 

Viewports =

{

Center =

{

x = 0;

y = 0;

width = 1680;

height = 1050;

viewDx = 0;

viewDy = 0;

1.6;

}

}

 

Shkval =

{

x = 2480;

y = 0;

width = 800;

height = 600;

}

[Lightning]

Hi guys,

 

 

These multi monitor setups are really amazing !

 

I got some questions as i am very interested in a multi monitor setup too.

I would like to play Flaming Cliffs 2.0 with such a setup you guys showed here. Is it posible with FC2.0 ?

Or does this only work with Black Shark ( DCS series only ) ?

 

First of all :

I assume that i need a second video card in my PC with two VGA/DVI ports right ? Right now i only got one ATI 5870 in my computer.

 

What second video card is recommended for the task ?

As i would prefer an ATI card ( less trouble with the catalyst driver ), what model would you propose ?

I only want to use the extra screens for RADAR ( F-15 ) and bigger Camera TV ( A-10A ) for aiming with the AGM-65 K/D Mavericks.

 

I am very new to this kind of .lua programming and have absolutely no idea if this can be realized. A little help would be nice here.

 

By the way, does this setup also work in multiplayer games ?

I read somewhere in the Forum, that specific .lua files might be deactivated by some servers, so that the .lua data will be cut off while in multiplayer games.

 

Thank you for some helpfull answers :)

[CyBerkut]

Hi guys,

 

These multi monitor setups are really amazing !

 

I got some questions as i am very interested in a multi monitor setup too.

I would like to play Flaming Cliffs 2.0 with such a setup you guys showed here. Is it posible with FC2.0 ?

Or does this only work with Black Shark ( DCS series only ) ?

 

First of all :

I assume that i need a second video card in my PC with two VGA/DVI ports right ? Right now i only got one ATI 5870 in my computer.

 

 

Hi Lightning,

 

Your ATI 5870 is capable of driving three displays. Presumably, you have 2 DVI Ports, 1 Display Port and 1 HDMI Port.

 

Both DVI ports can be used. In addition, you could obtain an "Active" Display Port to DVI Port adapter. Emphasis on the "Active", as opposed to the cheaper passive adapters that are out there. The Active adapter is needed because it injects a timing signal that the 5870 card is not providing to the Display Port (when both DVI ports are in use also).

 

There should be plenty of info from various sources out on the web. Look into the "Eyefinity" capabilities of your ATI 5870, and you may be able to get what you want via your single card. :)

[theGozr]

Ramstein :) stay strong !

[CyBerkut]

Ramstein :) stay strong !

 

The motion is seconded! :thumbup:

[Meltdown16]

Do you need at least 3 monitors to have a multi-screen setup in DCS?

I have two monitors, and DCS squashes both screens onto one monitor, and the other monitor is left blank :(

 

I have an ATI card, but Eyefinity seems it will only work with 3 screens.

[Wicaeed]

The new patch made it very easy to span Black Shark across dual monitors. Alls you have to do is go into your options.lua file and edit your height, width and resolution settings to whatever the total resolution is to whatever you want.

 

For example I have 2x 1980x1200 monitors, in the options.lua file my "height" setting is at 1200, and the "width" setting is at 3840, the resolution option is set to match that at "3840x1200." Alls that is left to do is edit your 1Camera.lua file so that the width and height match up to whatever your resolution is, also make sure to adjust your aspect ratio to match.

 

You will find that running dual monitors has disadvantages though. The aspect ratio isn't very great (you will have to look down in order to see the ABRIS/Shkval), the Helmet mounted side and hud are both in the very center of the split between screens, making it hard to properly fly the aircraft.

 

It LOOKS very cool though :D

 

What would probably be best to do though, is manage to squeeze the ABRIS/Shkval screens onto 1/3 or 1/4 of one monitor, and run it like that. I am in the process of configuring DCS to do just that, but haven't had much luck. I saw a ss of a guy who had DCS configured to do that, but he didn't post any config files :(

 

SS of what I'm talking about: http://img443.imageshack.us/i/20090711122455.jpg/

 

What happens is that I can get 80% of the way there. I can get both the ABRIS and Shkval to show up in an area to the side that I have setup for them, but they appear on top of each other in the top left of my monitor. I can move them up by giving them a - value in the 'x =' option in the .lua, so you would think that if I give them a + value it would move it down? Nope, as soon as you assign a + value to either one, the configuration doesn't detect the configuration for either ABRIS or Shkval. wtf?

Edited April 18, 2010 by Wicaeed

[Turuk_Makto]

I´ve two Monitors as well...no TFT screens (yet). So my question is whether it´s possible to split those screens, one for the camera (cockpit) and the other for the shkval and/or Abris. Is the options.lua responsible for this as well? For some reasons I cant locate the options.lua, where is it located? Even a windows (7) search wont take any results displayed.

 

Thanks

[Bucic]

I've always wanted to ask about multi-monitor performance. I get that GPU processing power is proportional to the number of pixels so if the set of displays features twice as many pixels(total width times total height) then it will require twice as much GPU processing power. Am I right? What are the CPU considerations in such a situation? The CPU computing power demand rises also?

[filtonflyer]

I´ve two Monitors as well...no TFT screens (yet). So my question is whether it´s possible to split those screens, one for the camera (cockpit) and the other for the shkval and/or Abris. Is the options.lua responsible for this as well? For some reasons I cant locate the options.lua, where is it located? Even a windows (7) search wont take any results displayed.

 

Thanks

 

This is what I want to do with my setup, Main cockpit view on primary screen and Abris on secondary screen, is there any chance somebody could post a walk through on how to do this for me.

Regards

Nick