Start on second monitor?

[carrick1973]

I tell ya, I do love GBPVR - it's been able to do everything I want it to. I would still like to use the new versions as well. Is the DirectX support lacking on the second monitor ONLY for the GUI, or for video playback as well? If it's only the visual smoothing of the GUI, I can live with it being a little slower on the second monitor. If it causes video playback issues, well that something altogether different.

Perhaps the option to use the secondary monitor could be added back with a warning that GBPVR isn't optimized for secondary monitor use. I know there a couple of options in GBPVR that have warnings of 'use at your own risk'. I'm not at home, but I think it's in one of the middle options tabs.

Just a thought!
Thanks,
Steve

[carrick1973]

I'm not sure if anyone has used this before, and I'm not at home so I can't test this out, but there's a multi-monitor shareware product called Ultramon for NVidia users that might work. For ATI users, a free software called Hydravision is available that might work also. These products allow for much better multi-monitor support than is available with Windows. Take a look and if anyone can get either of these to work, then this might be the fix that we're looking for without having to bug Sub who is busier then ever getting this fine product polished.

Thanks,
Steve

[carrick1973]

On doing a little research, Direct3D is able to be utilized on multiple monitors. I would think ATI and NVidia driver's support multiple monitor support for Direct3D as well. Not sure about OpenGL, but that isn't the technology being used here.

Just some thoughts to help everyone out.
Steve

[andrew_macaluso]

hmmh... that link is interesting.

I know I'm probably the 1,000th person to say it, but this issue is very disappointing and disheartening. However, I don't intent to give up on looking for a solution; and, if need be, I'll look for another PC to run it dedicated. Now that I've been ungrateful... I just want to say that Sub does so much and has made this program and forum the best on the internets. Why else wouldn't I give up on it! Thanks Sub and I really, truly hope that some kind of solution is found.

[krypton_john]

Not sure if I'm following this issue with the 2nd monitor properly....

If I have no monitor on the PC, but a plasma tv attached to the fx6600 component video tv-out, will I be able to get full screen, no borders, and the full hardware accelleration benefits? I don't really care about the dvi monitor out as the machine is dedicated to gbpvr and not for general pc use.

[HTPCGB]

Not sure if I'm following this issue with the 2nd monitor properly....

If I have no monitor on the PC, but a plasma tv attached to the fx6600 component video tv-out, will I be able to get full screen, no borders, and the full hardware accelleration benefits? I don't really care about the dvi monitor out as the machine is dedicated to gbpvr and not for general pc use.

As long as the TV is set as the primary display, you will get the hardware acceleration benefits.

[sub]

Dont get too excited until you try it, but....

Try the attached patch. If you have <StartOnSecondMonitor>true</StartOnSecondMonitor> in config.xml, and are running fullscreen, then it will start app on the second monitor and ask direct3d to initialise acceleration for the second adapter. Whether this results in a smooth UI and smooth video playback will depend on whether you videocard and drivers support acceleration on the second display. (it does seem to be ok on one of my machines, with nvidia 7600GS video card)

[Wakalaka]

I have dual monitor output, yet in the config app on the General tab it doesn't have the checkbox for "Always use 2nd monitor". I run config.exe ... it looks like the old config program, is it?

[sub]

There is no setting in the config app anymore, since the majority of video card will not support the required Direct3D acceleration on the second monitor, but with the patch I provided above installed, you can try setting <StartOnSecondMonitor>true</StartOnSecondMonitor> in config.xml and it will at least try.

(that checkbox you refer to just used to set the <StartOnSecondMonitor> setting to true/false in config.xml)

[zed]

It seems to work OK for me. Menu animations smooth and playback seems to be OK, altho I haven't watched much. I'm using an Nvidia 6200 card into a Viewsonic HDTV at 720P via DVI-to-HDMI as a second monitor. Primary is a 20" Dell LCD from the SVGA output of the card.

Any way to tell from the log if it's using acceleration?

Then again, I was thinking of using this second monitor thing to justify a new PC dedicated to GB-PVR...