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Multiple Displays: Overview

When this site was originally created, it was for the purpose of assisting traders with multiple display issues primarily related to Windows 98. Before the release of Windows 98, the only way to create a multiple display system was to use a relatively expensive multiport card (or cards) from manufacturers like Appian and Colorgraphic Communications, normally running under Windows NT.

With the release of Windows 98, PC users had the option of using less expensive PCI and AGP-slot single-port adapters in combinations totaling up to nine screens - assuming the system had the required amount of free slots available, and the particular cards/combinations were multidisplay-compatible. In recent years, card manufacturers have employed multiport-capable chips from ATI and nVIDIA (among others) to enable relatively inexpensive dual-port and multiport adapters.

Note: You may still have a valid reason to select one or more of the higher-end multiport cards from Appian, Colorgraphic Communications, Matrox or elsewhere, rather than using single-port or less-expensive dual-port or multiport adapters. Some of these adapters are well-suited for high-end graphics applications (such as speedy 3D and high color-depth/resolution) or stock trading, and you may want to review their specs to see if they are a better choice for your situation. Plus, they may be a better solution if your PC is short on available slots, and/or you want to add more than one or two additional monitors to your system. Some of the cards can be combined to enable a 16-monitor system! Microsoft even lists some of the manufacturers in the following support document:

Third-Party Solutions to Multiple Monitor Support

With the release of subsequent operating systems, Microsoft has done a better job of enabling multiple display capability, but each operating system version still seems to have its own quirks. (For example, some older PCI cards are exhibiting issues with Windows XP that may be difficult to fix, since some of these cards were manufactured by companies no longer in existence; thus, updated drivers won't be developed.)

Therefore, I've created separate sections for issues peculiar to particular operating system versions. Some issues are applicable to more than one operating system version, so some redundancy exists. However, if you have an issue in setting up a multiple-display system, the best place to start is with the section for the operating system version you're already using or interested in.

Multiple Displays: Overview | Windows XP | Windows 2000 | Windows ME | Windows 98 | Multiport Cards | Myths & Realities

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