How To Setup A Multi-Monitor PC

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How to Setup a Multi-Monitor PC

By stockstotrade August 18, 2016 trading  No Comments  1 
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1/2/2018 How to Setup a Multi-Monitor PC - StocksToTrade.com
Traders frequently favor using multiple monitors, to keep a close eye on all of the activity
on their trading charts and indicators, as well as other trading aspects, including
gainers/losers, high volume stocks, watch lists, time and sales, and so on.
Although modern trading platforms have moved towards a widget-based model, where
the widgets allow you to control several components of a trading application from a single
screen, many traders still prefer having a different monitor for each of their trading
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activities.
One option is, of course, to buy a name-brand company-built system, consisting of a

supercharged desktop with a chassis of monitors. Company-built multiple monitor array
matrices typically consist of a 2-monitor matrix, 3-monitor matrix, 4-monitor matrix, 1-
over-3 monitor matrix, 6-monitor matrix or 8-monitor matrix.
You can, however, save good money and have some fun while at it, by building your own
multi-monitor PC setup to mimic these fancy arrays.
Building a Multi-Monitor PC
You will first need to determine whether your computer has the requisite hardware to
handle the graphic requirements for multiple monitors. Check the back of your PC and see
how many graphic ports you can identify. There are four main types of video connections
used to connect computers to monitors:
Download a quick how to guide to setup a multi-monitor PC.
1. DisplayPort
2. HDMI
3. DVI
4. VGA
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Image courtesy of brucebnews.com
DisplayPort
The DisplayPort is the latest digital standard used for connecting monitors to computers. A
DisplayPort video port looks like a USB port–the only difference being that one side of the
port has an angle. Use a DisplayPort cable, if your desktop and your monitors have such a
port available.
HDMI
HDMI is an acronym that stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface. HDMI is the
standard for connecting many different types of video devices. HDMI has similar video
quality to DVI, which is discussed below. HDMI is capable of providing audio through the
cable.
However, the video card that’s installed in your PC must be capable of supporting audio via
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HDMI for it to work properly. If HDMI ports are available in your desktop and monitors,
then use a HDMI cable.
DVI
DVI, or Digital Video Interface, is a digital standard for connecting monitors to computers.
DVI connections are color-coded with white plastic or white labels. DVI provides video
quality that is similar to HDMI.
VGA
VGA, or Video Graphics Array, is the analog standard used to connect monitors to
computers. VGA connections are color-coded with blue labels or blue plastic. Being an
analog connector, VGA connections produce noticeably fuzzier images and less vivid
pictures. This connector should only be used if no other connectors are available.
DisplayPort connector (Left) vs. HDMI Cable (Right)
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Image Courtesy of PC World
If you are not using a discrete graphics card, your PC is likely to only have two video ports,
because most motherboards are equipped with integrated graphics that are only capable
of running dual-monitor setups. If you are using a discrete graphics card, your PC is likely
to have at least three external ports, not counting the ports available on your
motherboard.
In general, it’s possible to build a multi-monitor setup using the ports available on your
motherboard and discrete card, simultaneously. However, doing this usually leads to a
performance drop whenever you move windows between different monitors. If you need
to use this approach, you can configure your PC by entering your PC BIOS, then going to:
Configuration > Video > Integrated graphics device then setting it to ”Always Enable.”
Although your discrete graphics card is likely to have three or more video ports, you don’t
necessarily have to use all of them. For example, older Nvidia graphics cards are incapable
of running more than two monitors on a single card, despite having more than two video
ports.
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To find out whether your discrete graphics card is capable of supporting multiple monitors,
you can Google the name of your card, using the monitor setup that you intend to run. To
find the name of you graphics card, go to:
Control Panel > Device Manager > Display Adapters
If you want to set up more than two monitors, you can use Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 Ti
graphics card, which packs a single DisplayPort connection, single HDMI connection and
dual DVI ports. If your graphics card is incapable of supporting the number of monitors
that you are looking to set up, you should purchase an extra card that will meet your
needs.
Alternatively, you can purchase a newer monitor with DisplayPort multi-streaming support
and then use additional DisplayPort cables to connect your extra monitors, using a single
DisplayPort 1.2 port on your graphics card. You can do this even if your monitors have
different sizes and/or resolutions.
Before purchasing extra graphics cards, you need to check and ensure that your tower (the
open PCIe slots) has ample space and that the power supply unit is capable of handling the
load. Although not absolutely necessary, it’s advisable to purchase a graphics card that’s
similar to the one that you already have, or is at least in the same family e.g. Nvidia’s SLI or
AMD’s CrossFire. It’s generally not advisable to run Nvidia and AMD cards side-by-side.
Additionally, using multiple connected graphics cards usually yields better performance
than using multiple graphics cards that are not connected.
Buying Monitors and Cables
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Once you finish sorting through your graphics cards, it’s now time to purchase extra
monitors and cables. Luckily, monitors, nowadays, are fairly cheap: a 24-inch monitors
costs ~$170 while a good 27-inch can be had for $250.
The perfect monitor(s) for your needs depends on a variety of factors, including your
existing monitor and the work space available. It’s possible to mix and match different
monitor sizes, depending on your preferences. How you arrange and assign tasks to your
monitors is also up to you.
For example, you can decide to build a 3-monitor configuration with a monitor at the
center containing the primary time frame that you trade, the right side containing the next
time frame that you trad, and one on the left monitoring market movers (gainers and
losers, high-volume stocks, and watch lists). For most traders, 24-inch to 28-inch monitors
serve this array well.
Although you can use conversion cables, such as DisplayPort-to-DVI or DVI-to-HDMI to

connect different port types on your monitors to your PC, it’s generally a good idea to have
input ports on your monitors that directly correspond with the output ports on your PC.
Configuring your PC
Connecting the monitors to your PC is quite easy and straightforward. You will, however,
need to configure your PC so that it works correctly with your multiple monitors. When you
connect external monitors to a laptop, the laptop’s default setting creates an exact mirror
image of your laptop on your external monitors. In sharp contrast, when you do the same
with a desktop, the default is to extend your displays. By configuring your PC, you should
be able to drag a window from one monitor to another, without altering your existing
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settings.
If you are running Windows 7, use the following steps to configure your PC.
Method 1: Use Win + P Keyboard Shortcut.
1. Close all of the programs on your PC.

2. Now hold down the Windows Logo on your keyboard, then press the P key on the
keyboard.
3. Select one of the following options:
Computer Only: this setting shows the screen image only on your PC monitor.
Duplicate: the Duplicate setting duplicates the PC screen image on your monitors and
applies the lowest resolution on your monitors across all monitors.
Extend: the Extend setting allows you to move a window from one monitor to another
by clicking on the Title Bar and dragging the window to your desired location.
Projector only: this setting allows your laptop to use the higher resolution of your
external monitors.
Method 2: Screen Resolution Menu
1. Close all of the programs on your PC.

2. Right-click on any empty space on your PC screen then click Screen Resolution.
3. Click on the Multiple Displays menu, and then select the Extend These Displays
option or the Duplicate These Displays option. If this fails to list your external
monitors, click Detect. If this still fails to work, restart your computer, then repeat
steps 1 and 2.
4. Click Identify Monitors to check which monitor has been designated 1, 2, 3… then drag
the icons, so as to reorder their positions to match the physical steps that you have
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selected.
5. Click on the Resolution menu and then select a screen resolution by moving the
displayed slider arrows to the right or left. Then, click OK.
6. If the settings that you have selected are compatible, your PC screen will apply the new
settings. You can change the display resolution settings to the old setting by simply
holding down the Windows Logo key on the keyboard, then press P to revert to
Computer Only mode.
7. If you want to keep your new settings, click Yes.
8. Restart your PC to save your new settings.
Windows 8 has more options for a multi-monitor setup. You can extend your taskbar
across multiple displays and even assign different wallpapers for each monitor, without
using any third-party software. Additionally, there are Nvidia and AMD control panels that
allow you to configure your PC according to the graphics card you are using.
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1/2/2018 How to Setup a Multi-Monitor PC - StocksToTrade.

Pro Blog Testimonials Plans Support Login

One option is, of course, to buy a name-brand company-built system, consisting of a

Download a quick how to guide to setup a multi-monitor PC.

DisplayPort connector (Left) vs. HDMI Cable (Right)

Control Panel > Device Manager > Display Adapters

Buying Monitors and Cables

Although you can use conversion cables, such as DisplayPort-to-DVI or DVI-to-HDMI to

Method 1: Use Win + P Keyboard Shortcut.

1. Close all of the programs on your PC.

Method 2: Screen Resolution Menu

1. Close all of the programs on your PC.

recommendation or sponsorship of any company, security or fund.

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