Advice on running dual display (TV and monitor)

[Metalface Mark]

Im sure like me, there has been a lot of folks moved over from the comfy old nvidia setups we had, to the frankly foreign catalyst control panel after many years.

On first inspection, the catalyst looks to have a whole lot more options for running your tv, without too much fiddling about, profiles are pre setup so you can run 1080p at 24hz without problems.

The ideal goal

Ideally, id like this thread to be used as a tool to share information on how to setup a perfect dual hdtv/monitor setup, however, im still pretty in the dark, with the use of profiles, i imagine it would be possible to be able to have a setup for hdtv, and a setup for monitor, and be able to switch them at a click to only display one at a time. Clone appears not to be an option due to differing resolution sizes on the TV and the monitor.

I would like to keep this thread updated as information comes in.

So, who can start the ball rolling with some tips on where to start?

 

[Metalface Mark]

reserved

 

[HighlandeR]

Theres many ways to get it to work right back in the good ole days I use to enable clone mode for dual displays and then enable "theatre mode" (ATI) or Video mirroring (Nvidia) way, that way one can watch and do everyone on there main display but recieve a full screen hardware assisted playback on the 2nd display (usualy the TV/LCD TV)

However thats all gone in Vista, the only way for Nviida/ATI is simply dual display or extended desktop, and to simply leave the media player on the right hand side screen, this will display the movies perfectly fine, or u can drag and drop them to the right handside and double click and have it goto full screen.

This seems the only way currently, at 1st hated it but now after seeing certain websites like iplayer and youtube, am realising its the best way forward.... still a chore to sometimes drag the media player back and forth but hey its gotta be done !

If theres users out there that prefer the old skool good ole way as in double click on movie and watch in full screen on big screen telly then id recommend XP+ATI card and enable theatre mode thru the Cat AA control panel.

 

[Metalface Mark]

Clone would be ideal if monitors were 1920x1080, the same as 1080p, im tempted to buy one of the new 1920x1080 monitors when it comes out just to save any hassle, this would really make things easier.

 

[cavemanoc]

This is why I miss my x1900 M/C soooooo much - CCC is just better than the nVidia controller.

I have a Panasonic 1080p Plasma (42")down stairs in the Lounge and a 22" Belinea (1680x1050) upstairs. I set up CCC profiles with shortcuts as follows:

Gaming (ctrl+alt+G) - 22" only @1680x1050
TV (ctrl+alt+T) - 22" & Panasonic Cloned @ 720p
HDTV (ctrl+alt+H) - Panasonic only @ 1080p

It worked flawlessly, and the fact that I could swap effortlessly between modes with a simple shortcut key was pure bliss - I really HATE the fact that I can't shorcut my profiles with my 8800GTX - will definitely be moving to a 4870 soon

Plus the fact that with the 8800GTX I need an extra cable for audio

 

[Metalface Mark]

This is why I miss my x1900 M/C soooooo much - CCC is just better than the nVidia controller.

I have a Panasonic 1080p Plasma (42")down stairs in the Lounge and a 22" Belinea (1680x1050) upstairs. I set up CCC profiles with shortcuts as follows:

Gaming (ctrl+alt+G) - 22" only @1680x1050
TV (ctrl+alt+T) - 22" & Panasonic Cloned @ 720p
HDTV (ctrl+alt+H) - Panasonic only @ 1080p

It worked flawlessly, and the fact that I could swap effortlessly between modes with a simple shortcut key was pure bliss - I really HATE the fact that I can't shorcut my profiles with my 8800GTX - will definitely be moving to a 4870 soon

Plus the fact that with the 8800GTX I need an extra cable for audio

Thats the sort of thing im looking for, how to create these profiles to do this.

 

[cavemanoc]

Follow these steps(This assumes CCC is set to advanced mode):
1. Open CCC.
2. Set up the screens/resolutions/modes you wish to use.
3. Once all of this is set go to “Profiles” select Profile Manager and Enter a name for your new Profile and a short description if you like.
4. Click the “Activation” Tab and check off System Hotkeys Assignments.
5. Under Select Hotkeys Modifier keys select the keys to bind. Mine are “Control+Shift”. Then under “Enter a Hotkeys selection” enter the key to complete the bind.
6. Click save.

So everytime I hit Control+shift+G my system goes in to Gaming mode.

To create the TV profile

1. Open CCC.
2. Activate both screens, in cloned mode, at 720p
3. Once all of this is set go to “Profiles” select Profile Manager and Enter a name for your new Profile and a short description if you like.
4. Click the “Activation” Tab and check off System Hotkeys Assignments.
5. Under Select Hotkeys Modifier keys select the keys to bind. Mine are “Control+Shift”. Then under “Enter a Hotkeys selection” enter the key to complete the bind. Mine is “T”.
6. Click save.

So everytime I hit Control+shift+T my system goes in to TV mode with both screens showing the same thing at 720p resolution - hugely useful for me as I can't see both screens at the same time .

(I shamelessly plagiarised the above - so apologies to the original author!)

 

[MikeHiow]

One thing worth noting, I spent ages trying to figure out why I could only get either my TV (on s-video) or my monitor to work, and not both, Turns out the TV shares the same "channel" with the DVI plug to the right of it (For my 4850, anyway).