SuP3RSiNGH

How's windows 7 on multiple monitors?

Does it have an extended taskbar like XP? or do we need to get third party apps such as UltraMon FTW! to get the extra taskbar?

and if you feel like show off your multi-monitor windows 7 setup

__________________

KusH

I'm sure it has the same support as vista does. Win7 is basically Vista sp3... with very little difference IMO. just a few face lifts here and there and a couple of features added but nothing really serious, in all essence its the same kernal.

__________________

HoldYrPistlstr8

brb, pics of Win7 RC dual monitor setup.

Basically, there is one taskbar on one monitor, and just an extension of your desktop. Sadly, you can't have two different themes for each monitor in Win7.

__________________

nathris

Extended taskbar is display driver feature unique to nVidia cards and the HD 5000 series, not a Windows feature.

I know you can stretch the taskbar through Eyefinity, so if you can't do it with an nVidia card then it's a problem on nVidia's end.

__________________

MalVeauX

Heya,

Windows 7 on its own has no additional abilities for multi-display beyond what older versions of windows had. You still need 3rd party softwares to really take advantage of multi-display setups like ultramon for example. ATI's eyefinity turns all the displays into one big display, but otherwise, there's nothing special to it. nVidia doesn't have all that great of extras either. The real stuff comes from 3rd party. So, check out Ultramon for sure if you want to go multi-display. It lets you move windows from display to display with one click instead of drags, it allows you to throw a single background across all screens, it lets you have a unique task bar for each display if you want even, or stretch it all the way across. Way beyond what windows/ATI/nVidia let you do on their own. Ultramon is the way to go.

I use 4 displays currently. I like to have everything at my finger tips and I usually am watching a few things at the same time.

My current setup (I used generic sites for privacy of course).
Windows 7 x64. Resolution: 7324 x 1080 (custom resolution as one of the displays is a 37" 1080p LCD that needs overscan compensation). Photobucket resized it due to size unfortunately when I up'd it. But you get the idea.



I turned off Ultramon so you could see the base Win7 approach to using multi-display. The taskbar is on your primary display. It doesn't stretch on its own. The other displays just take up all the screen with no loss. Not bad. But not very productive either if you like to multi-task quickly (you are always forced to go back to your primary display, or use key commands, etc). But that's not to say Win7 is poor for multi-display. It works right out of the box in fact.

I will say that ATI has a better setup for multi-displays though. Eyefinity makes it easy, but just the basic settings in its driver control center lets you make very easy changes to which displays are which. nVidia's works too, but I just find ATI's easier and more intuitive. Note: I use both nVidia and ATI in this box, two videocards, for my 4 displays from this one computer. The drivers/cards work side by side with zero issue. I often drag playing video from my digital tuner, dvd player, webcam, etc, with no issues. I even game while they play. It's totally fine. So don't worry about which GPU type to go with. Any works fine.

Very best,

lattyware

I've always found multi-monitor support lacking in Windows, as people say, 7 follows on from previous versions.

I havn't spent long using it of course, my Windows PC is purely for gaming, so I rarely hook up both my monitors.

I'd be so annoyed if I couldn't have custom panels on each screen and stuff like I do with Linux.

__________________
Lattyware | Main (Sig) Rig: gBOX42 | Lan Rig: gLAN42
Never been convinced by Linux? Here is a challenge. | Using LVM
Scratched Disc? | Guide To LAN Parties | Writing a GUI application in Python/Glade
Etching an image into your case. | Wireless Access Points: Easy wireless networking.
A Member Of The OCN Anime/Manga Club
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." --Evelyn Beatrice Hall

SuP3RSiNGH

ahaha.. vista service pack 3.. good one

hmm.. i will try that with my 8800GT.. if its even possible.. lol

i actually use UltraMon on my rig currently and i cant live without it... just like i cant live without 2 monitors lol

and i was hoping UltraMon has support for 7 and thank god it does.. any difference in features specifically for 7?

i was wondering if microsoft took the "one big taskbar" idea from XP and used in vista.. and same in 7.. but guess not.

__________________

Pankie

I am using Windows 7 Ultimate Retail x64. I use dual monitors and I love it. I haven't experimented with an extended taskbar, I'm used to just having an extended screen where I can watch movies or multi-task while I'm playing games.

THE ONLY problem I have had so far, is using SLI with dual monitors and playing older games. If I run sli with my dual monitors, and focus the SLI on my main monitor and then run Warcraft 3, it's very shaky and jittery. I haven't looked much into it but all I know is that it doesn't happen when I'm not running with SLI. Anyway !!

aroc91

Works great for me without Ultramon/etc.

__________________

The Black Mesa Survivors Club

SuP3RSiNGH

wow nice wally.. me likey
well 7 is new.. hopefully nvidia is working on some SLi Drivers that actually work with 7.. but you say its the older games. just wondering.. any improvement with 7 in SLi? i was wondering since vista demanded so much that it was almost necessary to run SLi [exaggerating]

i guess your used to it. once your used to things its hard to adapt to something else.. what screens do you have?

__________________