[chrislooney]

I wanted to make an extended desktop with a second monitor. I see there is an option of a mirror. If this is a copy of the main monitor, that isn't really what I wanted to do. Can you confirm for me that this second ADC connection can make an extended desktop on the G5? I already have a monitor on the DVI connection.

While we're on the topic, can you answer a second question? This is the setup I have now:

GeForce FX 5200:

Chipset Model: GeForce FX 5200
Type: Display
Bus: AGP
Slot: SLOT-1
VRAM (Total): 64 MB
Vendor: nVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0321
Revision ID: 0x00a2
ROM Revision: 2060
Displays:
Acer AL1906:
Resolution: 1280 x 1024 @ 75 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Supported
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Display:
Status: No display connected

Could there be an issue with having enough Vram?


Chris

[generationfourt]

if your card has an adc out and supports dual monitors then it should work fine.

I have a radeon 9000 mac edition in my G4, it has a dvi and a adc output. the adc to dvi adapter worked perfectly fine to connect my second monitor via dvi in extended mode.

[chrislooney]

Thanks for the quick response. So you're saying that I CAN get an extended desktop using the ADC and DVI outlets? I'm assuming you use displays in system preferences and detect multiple monitors and when there is a second one connected, there is an option for 1 and 2 to get an extended desktop, right?

Thanks for the help,
Chris

Originally Posted by generationfourt

if your card has an adc out and supports dual monitors then it should work fine.

I have a radeon 9000 mac edition in my G4, it has a dvi and a adc output. the adc to dvi adapter worked perfectly fine to connect my second monitor via dvi in extended mode.

[generationfourt]

OSX found the monitor and set the correct resololution for me upon start up. I really didn't have to do anything to get it working. The options are in system preferences, under displays. When you open it, an option box opens up in each display and you can tweak each individual res, and display profile. Your primary display will have an extra option for arrangement where you can tweak the setup.

I'm not really sure what you are asking, so I don't want to say yes and it not work. It all depends on your card...

[chrislooney]

I wanted to be able to use two monitors to get a larger (extended) desktop. I read that you don't have to minimize as much with this kind of setup. Two monitors side by side could give you a larger area in which to work. Files could be kept to the side and dragged over to the main monitor or large spreadsheets could be viewed without scrolling. I didn't want to order the adapter if it isn't possible with OS X. It sounds like it will work, so I'll go ahead and order the adapter.

Thanks for all the help.
Chris

[Gossamer]

I use dual monitors both at work and at home. I'll have my web browser or whatever I'm currently doing on my main monitor, and then Mail, iChat, iTunes, etc on the second display, it's very convenient, I'd highly recommend it to anyone. I had to use the Screen Spanning Doctor to get it to work on my iBook though.

[Leonard]

Originally Posted by chrislooney

I wanted to be able to use two monitors to get a larger (extended) desktop. I read that you don't have to minimize as much with this kind of setup. Two monitors side by side could give you a larger area in which to work. Files could be kept to the side and dragged over to the main monitor or large spreadsheets could be viewed without scrolling. I didn't want to order the adapter if it isn't possible with OS X. It sounds like it will work, so I'll go ahead and order the adapter.

Thanks for all the help.
Chris

Yes, it's worked that way for decades. You could do that in MacOS 9.x, MacOS 8.x, not sure about MacOS 7.x but it likely does too. You can have 3 or 4 monitors connected if you add a second video card.

Once you get the second monitor attached to the existing card, just go into the Displays system prefrence and set up the monitors. You'll be able to arrange which is the primary monitor and where the monitors are - one beside the other, one on top of the other, etc.

[dimmer]

You could do this in Mac OS 1.0. QuickDraw "assumes" a 32 foot monitor, with a HAL between the OS and the hardware.

Of course, you'd need a good aim to get a second graphics card into anything less than a "fat mac".

[chrislooney]

My cable came today and I now have the extended desktop I wanted. I love it! Easy to do. Once plugged in, I went to system prefs, displays, found the display and tweeked. It's going to be nice not having to minimize so much. Internet on main display, chat, iphoto, ppt, word, all other secondary apps to the side. Neat.

Thanks for all the help.

Chris