Hi,I'm considering to add 2 extra monitors to my FS2004 PC, but I don't know what the best solution is.Here are the parameters:

• I have a pretty decent system, including a GTX285
• Running WinXP Pro x86, incl SP3 (and want to keep it that way)
• In FS2004 I only fly 2D panels, no VC
• Currently have a 26" 1900x1200 monitor

I would like to add 2 extra 22" monitors (1680x1050) only to display the forward-right and forward-left views (2D)What is the best way to go? Do I have to add an extra GTX285 and connect both monitors so can I dock both side views?Does it matter the forward view is 1900x1200 and both side views only 1680x1050 or do they have to be all the same?Do I need another graphics card replacing my GTX285?Do I need an extra PC driving the 2 extra monitors? (Not really an option, unless absolutely neccessary)Which solution offers the best performance?Thanks for your advice,Egbert

Hi,I'm considering to add 2 extra monitors to my FS2004 PC, but I don't know what the best solution is.Here are the parameters:

• I have a pretty decent system, including a GTX285
• Running WinXP Pro x86, incl SP3 (and want to keep it that way)
• In FS2004 I only fly 2D panels, no VC
• Currently have a 26" 1900x1200 monitor

I would like to add 2 extra 22" monitors (1680x1050) only to display the forward-right and forward-left views (2D)What is the best way to go? Do I have to add an extra GTX285 and connect both monitors so can I dock both side views?Does it matter the forward view is 1900x1200 and both side views only 1680x1050 or do they have to be all the same?Do I need another graphics card replacing my GTX285?Do I need an extra PC driving the 2 extra monitors? (Not really an option, unless absolutely neccessary)Which solution offers the best performance?Thanks for your advice,Egbert

Egbert- I'm running 3 monitors on a 6 year old AMD 1.8 GHz XP 2200 with 2 GE force FX 5200 GPUs (AGP & PCI) with Win XP Home. Runs very well with no plans to upgrade. The monitors are all different- an 18" CRT, ACER 17" LCD & an IBM 17" LCD for a total perspective/width of 45". At 26" eye to screen that covers almost 100% of my (relaxed) field of view. I run strictly 2D- virtual does not work with this setup.You may have to Zoom a bit on the smaller monitors to equalize object size. I zoom the smaller mons to about .97 for perfection- but the difference is small enough to mostly ignore. Zooming unfortunately will slightly misalign the correction you make for bezel separation.My main vid card drives 2 monitors, the extra PCI card drives the third. Don't know for sure, but I would think you need to have all monitors running at same resolution. Also since you are tripling the load on the CPU, try to keep the resolution(s) as low as possible.I run each mon @ 1024 x 768 . Since the three views are unified (via bezel adjustment) into what my brain thinks is one wide scene, in effect, my view is running at 3072 x 768 resolution!Lots written on this in the forums-See AVSIM "Hardware Discussions- Video Cards & Drivers" and look for these threads-"Mixing Video Cards" started by Bonanza Pilot July 28/09"Large LCD TV vs Triple Monitors" started by dabesq Oct 5/09. Scroll to post #13 by betelgeuse and follow to end of thread."Monitor Setup" started by sunbear Dec 22/09There is some interesting performance magic with one CPU driving 3 monitors. Since only one monitor/view can be updated at a time, the other two are stationary/fixed and so 2/3 of the whole scene has an "infinitely high" frame rate- perfection! As long as the posted frame rate (for the third monitor) remains above the 14-16 threshhold, the whole thing will seem to have a frame rate much higher- about double what the red screen numbers show!Happy to try to answer questions. The attached screenie gives a visual as to why I'm an enthusiast of a wide horizon.Alex ReidBritish Columbia Coast Mountains up close and beautiful

I run 3 monitors in 2 resolutions of one Nvidia and one Ati card.I would suggest you buy one 285 and then power the 2 smallest screens of one card and the biggest of the other card.Good luck and happy flying :(

I run 3 monitors in 2 resolutions of one Nvidia and one Ati card.I would suggest you buy one 285 and then power the 2 smallest screens of one card and the biggest of the other card.Good luck and happy flying :(

That's good news. Thanks for posting that info- may encourage others to try multiple monitors.Alex Reid

Hi,Thanks for the replies!