SovereignGFC SovereignGFC

DreamScene and Vista Ultimate: Not so Ultimate after all

▼

DreamScene and Vista Ultimate: Not so Ultimate after all

Dual monitors (with two video cards) apparently is TOO Ultimate...

from WinCustomize Forums

I have a rather high-end system.  Specs are below.
CPU: Q6600 @ 3.2GHz (Intel, obviously)
RAM: 8GB DDR2-800MHz 5-6-6-18 OCZ Vista Upgrade
GPU1: NVIDIA 9800GX2 in Dual-GPU mode
GPU2: NVIDIA 7900GTX
HDD1: Western Digital Raptor 150GB 10k RPM
HDD2: Western Digital Caviar 750GB
HDD3: Western Digital Caviar 750GB
HDD4: Western Digital Caviar 120GB PATA
OS: Windows Vista Ultimate x64 Service Pack 1 w/lastest Windows Updates
MON1: Acer AL2216BW 22" @ 1680x1050
MON2: ViewSonic VA721 17" @ 1280x1024

Latest graphics drivers are installed.  Apperently, there is some stupid rule with DreamScene which states that only operation with one graphics card is supported.  Now, I have two graphics cards for a reason.  Specifically, in order to use multiple displays, the 9800GX2 must be switched from Multi-GPU to Multi-Display and back again to play games.  This is annoying.  My motherboard supports more than one PCI-E videocard, so when I upgraded to my 9800GX2 I kept my old 7900GTX in to drive my second monitor.

When I ran DreamScene on both monitors with the 7900GTX, it was fine.  Both monitors were hooked to one card.  Now that I have two separate cards, this ugly limitation (which is only software, my hardware laughs at DreamScene, bring on Crysis!) rears its head.  Anyone know if there is a workaround or whether DeskScapes 2.0 will allow use of multiple display adapters?

20,615 views 29 replies
Reply #26 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I hope I don't get in trouble for "bumping" a thread from 2008 that is over a year old, but I just wanted to say that today I purchased DeskScapes 3.  The issues plaguing me in this thread are no longer problems.  I'm also running Windows 7 now, but the issue was software support, and Stardock came through.  Kudos, Stardock!

Reply #27 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The issues plaguing me in this thread are no longer problems. I'm also running Windows 7 now, but the issue was software support, and Stardock came through. Kudos, Stardock!
End of quote

Good to hear....;)

Siege of Centauri
Reply #28 from WinCustomize Forums Top

When I ran into this issue with dreamscene and multipla video adapters (I have Nvidia 275 GTX as my primary and a Nvidia 8800 to use for my PhysX) I simply switched over to running VLC Media Player, now I can run seperate videos in full screen on each of my 3 monitors, granted it may not be as elegant as other ways, but I really enjoy having 3 different videos playing across my monitors and with VLC the videos stay full screen even when I drag other windows on top of them so sort of making it like they are the background desktop in a way.

 

The only time that I remember that it's not really my desktop background  (I don't play it on my primary monitor as that holds all my desktop icons etc) is when I mouse over one of the monitors and get the little control panel that pops up to let me control the video, sound etc at the bottom of the screen.  As I said, it's not as elegant as doing it with deskscapes or dreamscenes with one video adapter but it's suiting my desires very well right now.

 

And of course, let's not forget that running multiple copies (3 at times but more often just one or two) of VLC Media Player will use memory and CPU power to do so, which means one needs to have a good CPU and amount of memory to do so.  I just built a new computer using the X4 Phenom II 965 BE with 8GB of RAM so I don't even notice when 3 copies are running videos (one on each monitor) during normal computer use.  I do turn them all off when playing a game as theres little point to trying to run all the videos and a game at the same time in my opinion.  Like I said again, not the most elegant solution but works great for what I want... Simply to be able to have seperate videos of my dogs on two of my monitors 24/7 since one of them is dying of cancer and it makes me feel like he's in the room here with me due to the video of him well... being in the room with me.

Reply #29 from WinCustomize Forums Top

since one of them is dying of cancer and it makes me feel like he's in the room here with me due to the video of him well
End of quote

That's sad to hear...

...but if a sofware solution/feature helps you then all is good...:)

It's getting on to 12 months since we lost our furry animal, but digital imagery is just another way [for us] of helping to cope...;)