Dual Monitors on ATI Radeon HD4350

[keith_leitch]

Now that I have something resembling a working system again, I would like to set dual monitors. However, I can't set independent resolutions on two monitors.

My goals are to a) create a Picture-in-Picture output and, b) have an alternative monitor available in case an earlier problem recurs wherein the HDMI video was "blanking".

I DO have a second PCI video card (a Radeon 9200); however, the last time I tried to install it, I ended up with a crashed system drive and have been working to recover ever since. While most of me doesn't believe it was the card's fault, enough of me believes it to be very wary of trying again.

What I would prefer is to use the 4350's dual outputs-HDMI and VGA (which would probably be easier on resources, anyway). I have an external VGA-to-composite converter that can then provide the PIP output.

Catalyst correctly identifies both my HDTV and my monitor by their model numbers. However, when I try to set a resolution on one, the other takes on the same resolution. If the resolution is two high for the monitor, it starts "panning" across the larger image.

What I want is for a duplicate or "clone" image to be sent to each output, but in a 1080p resolution to HDMI and, say, 640x480 to VGA.

[pBS]

clone mode is clone mode,exactly the same on both...
you can set independent resolutions in extended mode, but not clone...
what do you mean pic-in-pic output? tv has pip capabilities and you need an extra output?
the ati has composite out built-in...can't do widescreen with either it or adapters..[analog]
the svideo output is also composite..[with adapter,should have come with it]

i run mine i dual screen extended, with regular lcd for start menu and stuff with other monitor just for gpbvr [vmr9fse]
have no problems working on both at same time even tho other monitor is in fse mode..
and my lcd is primary,4:3....tv is hdmi,16:9 full acceleration

[keith_leitch]

Some followup to this.

Once I ticked "use driver defaults" for that monitor and abandoned Catalyst, I started to make minor progress (but not much).

I once...only once...managed to get both monitors displaying an entire image. This was also the only time that the Display Properties manager asked me to reboot the computer...it hasn't asked since. I achieved this by clicking "List All Modes" under the "Advanced" properties and choosing 1920x1080 resolution (even though that is beyond the monitor's capabilities). After a reboot, I had a cloned image on both displays.

However, my composite converter would not convert resolution that high, so I started changing them again. Since then, I have not been asked for a reboot, and any changes just return to the "panning" problem I had before. This includes changes to 1920x1080, which is the setting that worked only once.

[keith_leitch]

what do you mean pic-in-pic output? tv has pip capabilities and you need an extra output?

Yes, that's it...I want to be able to watch the progress of backups, installations and whatnot in a corner of a screen while I watch my PVR. I need a composite output to achieve that. I'd prefer to be have composite video on playback, as well, to feed the TV in my bedroom with the remote extender...but this is a rather minor point as I can always set up the laptop as a client.

Composite/Svideo are not built into the 4350. There is a DVI, an HDMI and a VGA.

i run mine i dual screen extended, with regular lcd for start menu and stuff with other monitor just for gpbvr [vmr9fse]
have no problems working on both at same time even tho other monitor is in fse mode..
and my lcd is primary,4:3....tv is hdmi,16:9 full acceleration

Interestine...TV is not the primary monitor. My spider sense is tingling about setting mine that way...seems like one of those things that shouldn't go wrong, but will.

What card are you using?

[keith_leitch]

Are you sure about dual resolution being unavailable in clone mode? I actually saw it with my own eyes today, but it seems like a fluke, now. If so, my only hope of achieving what I want is to put the computer-wrecking card back in.

[pBS]

the output of cards with composite outs is settable independantly from main monitors as they can't go nearly as high...a special case...so so with regular monitors..only tv out..
shoulda got a card with svideo outs, and used a hdmi adapter on dvi out for hdmi..
[svideo also serves as component out too,diff cable]
and would still have vga available..
have you tried the vga-comp. adapter on the vga outs? usually 1024x768 max...

would probably have problems watching tv in clone mode anyways..acceleration woes..
you want to have the monior with the start bar to be primary...popups..

if you put the 9200 in, use it for comp. outs only...
[can't clone it tho,not same adapter]
check bios for somethign like 'initial video adapter' with pci or pcie available as choices, select pcie as main...

i love whe way mine is, like having a computer and a separate tv computer in one...and they don't bother eachother and gbpvr doesn't need focus..

[keith_leitch]

have you tried the vga-comp. adapter on the vga outs? usually 1024x768 max...

Yes, this is my best compromise. I couldn't get the adapter to do anything but pan with any of my HD modes, but I did succeed in creating a Catalyst profile that swaps VGA to the main monitor and activates 800x600, which looks the best of some crappy choices...but it doesn't matter because it is really just for PIP.

I'm going to wuss out on attempting destructocard again.

[pBS]

on CCC 'display options' there's control over the panning modes..