Most price conscious multi-monitor customers that i have encountered are always looking for an inexpensive way to upgrade their current single monitor computer into something similar to a SUPER PC multi display machine. Those with just a little bit of tech background and good advice can achieve this goal for next to nothing! 1st, Figure out the exact computer model (or
motherboard model) and we can help you choose the best multiple monitor video card option available based on your computing needs! If you don't know either of those, you may e-mailMulti-Monitors.com a digital
picture of the inside of your computer, so it can be determined which
type of expansion ports are available. If you are looking for a specific
Video Card that you don't see here, just let us know and we can quickly
provide it for you! If you aren't familiar with installing computer
hardware, we highly recommend taking a look at these powerful and
affordable Multiple Monitor Computers. Check out the AMD video below for tips on installing your multiple monitor graphics card.
SUPER PC | Multiple Monitor Settings: Instructions for Windows 7
While your computer is off, plug in the amount of monitors that you wish to use
into the back of the computer. (If you're not sure which display outputs best fit your needs, click here.) It doesn't really matter which port you plug each monitor.
Then turn on the computer. All of the monitors may not come online until you set them
up in the display settings located in your Control Panel. When using Windows 7 it should
detect and enable each monitor automatically once plugged into the computer.
Windows 7 Settings: Start Menu > Control Panel > Display
1) Right Click on your Desktop and select Screen Resolution from menu.
Or go to your Control Panel (change to small icons) and choose Display.
2) A small window will pop up that will look like the following image:
3) Separately, click on each numbered blue box to highlight it, and choose the option called
Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor from the menu called Multiple Displays.
After you enable each of the monitors, click the Apply button. All of the monitors should
come online, if not already on. We recommend using the your monitor’s native resolution
for the best video performance.
4) To arrange, click the Identify button. You will see a number on each blue screen.
Use this to guide you, to drag and arrange the “Blue Numbered Boxes” into
any configuration that you would like. Then click Apply again.
That should do the trick! You won’t have to set this up again, unless you want to
change your monitor arrangement. It will automatically remember your settings
every time you restart your computer. Now it’s time to have some amazing fun!
In order to mount multiple monitors on a single stand
or or onto wall mount, you will need monitors that are VESA Mount
compatible. This means that your monitor will have to have four bolt
sockets on the back of it in order to mount the monitor to the stand. VESA stands for Video Electronics Standards Association
which means that the video and electronics community has come up with
an industry standard for mounting displays, in which all of the
manufacturers of those products adhere to. In the case of display
mounting, there are two possible mounting hole arrangements you can have
on the back of your monitor. These arrangements are 75mm and 100mm hole
patterns. It is not incredibly important for you to know which of
these VESA patterns your monitor has, as long as you can tell that you
have the four bolt holes on the back (in the middle). This is because
all of the multi-monitor stands that are available on the market are compatible with both 75mm and 100mm VESA hole patterns.
How to Run Multiple Monitors on a Single Computer System There
are only two components you will definitely need in order to run
multiple monitors on your computer system. You will need computer
hardware that can support multiple monitors and you will need the
monitors. Then, there are other components like Multi-Monitor Desk Stands that are not essential, but will keep your monitor arrangement organized and looking impressive. Using a multi-monitor stand will also allow you to arrange your monitors in levels that you can't achieve with a flat workstation desk. We have included links throughout this Tutorial that lead to the specified products. Types of Multiple Monitor Hardware You
will need to have either internal or external computer hardware that
can support the amount of monitors you wish to use. The best way to
support multi-monitors is to have a computer with the proper multi-monitor graphics card
configuration that supports the amount of monitors you intend to use.
Here are the three Hardware Options that are available to support
multiple screens. Buy a Multiple Monitor Ready Computer
- Although this is is one of the more expensive solutions, this option
is recommended for those who need the most stable and reliable solution,
with the best performance. It's also the easiest option for the
technically challenged. Our multi-monitor computer systems are
competitively priced to compete with ordinary computer systems.
Install a Multiple Monitor Graphics Card inside your PC
- Most personal computers only support a single monitor. However, you
can replace your current graphics card with a multi-monitor graphics
card. Use an External Multi-Monitor Display Adapter
- This option is the most inexpensive solution to add an extra monitor
to your computer. It converts a USB port into a VGA or DVI monitor
output, depending on which type your monitor This solution would only be
recommended for home users who will mainly use the extra monitor for
Surfing the web, viewing documents, and other simple and mild graphical
situations. You can add an extra monitor per adapter you install, but
make sure you have enough USB ports available. It would not be
recommended for professional users or video intense environments.
External Multiple Monitor Controller Box - This solution allows the user to transform a single monitor output into multiple outputs. This is a great solution for anyone, but especially for those who wish to have a portable multi-monitor solution that they can use with any computer. This way you can transfer your monitors or multi-monitor array to any other computer system. For example: You can use it with your desktop at home, but can also take it with you while traveling and use it with your laptop.
Matrox External Multiple Monitor Adapters - Matrox has developed two external multi-monitor adapters
in which you can add multiple monitors to your computer. The Matrox
DualHead2Go will transform a single VGA or DVI output into a dual
monitor output. The Matrox TripleHead2Go will allow you to support three
monitors. If you are using these adapters with your laptop's external
monitor port, you can achieve three monitors with the DualHead2Go and
four monitors with the TripleHead2Go (this includes your laptop screen).
USB Powered External Display Adapters- Using a USB Display Adapter is the probably the least expensive
solution to add an extra monitor to your laptop or PC. You can add an extra screen per
adapter you install. You just have to make sure you have enough
available USB ports on your computer. This solution is recommended for
the casual user who wants to add an extra monitor or two for webs
surfing, reading documents, and other low impact activities. This
solution, although fairly reliable, is not recommended for the
Professional user, or for video intense environments.
Here is an image of a 24 monitor video wallwww.multi-monitors.com helped design for Indiana Universities Advanced Visualization Laboratory. 25 million pixels of resolution at 8196x3072! Let www.multi-monitors.com know how we can help consult you with all of your visualization needs.
The Advanced Visualization Lab
(AVL) is the main support unit for visualization-related activities at Indiana University. The Lab seeks collaboration with University faculty,
staff, and students to deliver more engaging and impactful application
of advanced visualization technologies in research, education, creative
activity, and community outreach. AVL promotes, maintains, and provides
open access to a variety of advanced hardware and software resources and
offers a range of consulting and development services utilizing staff
expertise that spans a variety of areas related to visualization. AVL
delivers services through three functional groups: the Visualization
Displays and Systems team, the Scalable Visualization and Virtual
Reality team, and the Advanced Digital Arts and Media team.
* The Visualization Displays and Systems
team designs, deploys, and maintains a variety of advanced
visualization displays, computer systems, interface devices, and data
acquisition systems. This team implements Research Technology’s vision
of a tiered visual cyberinfrastructure at IU with a combination of a few
centralized, high-end systems per campus and a larger number of
mid-range systems distributed across departments and buildings to
complement ubiquitous desktop workstations and grid-based visualization
workflows.
* The Scalable Visualization and Virtual Reality
team provides expertise in a range of software-based visual techniques,
including scientific visualization, information visualization,
interactive virtual reality environments, visual simulation, and 3D
modeling and rendering techniques. The team develops scalable,
sustainable, and repeatable workflows using a combination of
visualization hardware, open standards, open source and commercial
software, and custom software extensions. The team partners with local
and national groups to expand services, leverage cyberinfrastructure,
and to advance open community projects. * The Advanced Digital Arts and Media
team embodies IU’s long and successful history of supporting the
innovative use of advanced IT in creative endeavors. For the arts, the
team uses a range of hardware and software to develop custom displays,
sensor systems, and interactive interfaces to help realize the artists’
creative visions. For advanced media forms, the team proactively
explores new technologies, prototypes workflows, provides hardware
resources, and educates users. The team partners with key university
departments and initiatives, including the Institute for Digital Arts
and Humanities, the School of Fine Arts and the Telecommunications
Department at IUB, the Media Arts and Sciences program at IUPUI, and the
IU Cinema.
Turnkey High-Resolution, Visualization Display Solutions Quadro Plex 7000 provides the flexibility to be set up with any certified PCI Express® x16 platform and is certified on the industry’s leading professional applications. The optional rack mount kit enables Quadro Plex systems to be installed within any standard 19” rack environment ¹ and only take up 3U of vertical space. The Quadro Plex 7000 solution drives up to 36 megapixels across eight displays for simple and economical installations of
ultra-high-resolution, multi-display wall environments. Span any application
seamlessly across multiple displays, and visualize large datasets in
immersive stereoscopic 3D. By deploying Quadro Plex solutions throughout
an enterprise, professionals can create collaboration and
interpretation environments for faster time to insight.
If you have any questions as to which display port is right for your mult-monitor enviornment, feel free to visit www.multi-monitors.com or contact us via phone @ 877-320-8502.
The TripleHead2Go Digital SE adds up to three additional displays to your laptop or desktop computer.
Let www.multi-monitors.com help Transform Your Laptop or Desktop into a Triple-Monitor Platform and Drive More Applications, Copy-Protected Content, and Captivating Digital Signage
SUPER PC will be proud to offer Matrox's new TripleHead2Go Digital SE external multiple monitor adapter. Transform your Mac, or PC laptop or desktop to support triple displays per digital output for a multiple monitor experience like no other! Read Matrox's press release below for more information.
Montreal, Canada, October 3, 2012 — Matrox Graphics Inc. today announced the Matrox® TripleHead2Go™ Digital SE external multi-monitor adapter, which expands your system’s single-video output into an immersive triple-monitor setup so that you see and do more. This new Graphics eXpansion Module (GXM) connects to a compatible system's DisplayPort™ or Mini DisplayPort video output or Thunderbolt™ port and lets you add three external DVI monitors, each with maximum resolutions of either 1920x1080 @50Hz (PC) or 1360x768 @60Hz (Mac). New High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) compliance meanwhile enables the playback of copy-protected content, such as Blu-ray discs, across all three monitors. Compatible with a wide range of GPUs running under Mac or Windows, TripleHead2Go Digital SE yields a cost-effective multi-monitor platform for office, trading, digital signage, CAD, ProAV, houses of worship, content-creation, and simulation-training applications.
“We’re pleased to expand our TripleHead2Go product line,” said Caroline Injoyan, Business Development Manager, Matrox Graphics Inc. “TripleHead2Go Digital SE features improved usability for our customers, offering a simple and easy way to add three displays to a notebook or desktop PC. TripleHead2Go Digital SE is a versatile product that delivers an excellent multi-monitor setup from basic office applications to high-end 3D simulation and training environments — its unique design leverages the GPU performance of the system to deliver uncompressed graphics and video across all three displays — a true multi-display solution.”
Furthermore, accompanying Matrox PowerDesk desktop management software lets you optimize your multi-monitor experience through the customization of where and how applications open up among a vast array of other settings. Bezel Management, one of PowerDesk’s many features, available under Microsoft® Windows®, compensates for the gap in an image resulting from the bezels of adjacent monitors. TripleHead2Go Digital SE consequently delivers captivating digital signage, immersive simulation, and expansive gaming across multiple monitors.
Multi-GXM support, another feature designed to maximize your workspace, enables two TripleHead2Go Digital SE's to be connected to one system under Windows. Users can then operate up to six external monitors at once and create visually stunning video wall setups or multi-screen presentations, further illustrating the TripleHead2Go Digital SE’s value and versatility as a key building block of your next ProAV installation.
Pricing and availability
The new Matrox TripleHead2Go Digital SE is available as of November 2012.
About Matrox Graphics Inc.
Matrox Graphics is a leading manufacturer of graphics solutions for professional markets. In-house design expertise, top-to-bottom manufacturing, and dedicated customer support make our solutions the premier choice in industries that require stable, high-reliability products. Founded in 1976, Matrox is a privately held company headquartered in Montreal, Canada, with representation and offices in the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
The way it works is the
SUPER PC XtremeRGB-Ex2 receives the feed from the video source which can be DVI, HDMI,
VGA or Component (adapters included) and then the feed is sent to The HD Wave
where it is encoded and broadcasted over the internet. All of this is done in
real time and delivering an HD stream from glass to glass in under 3
seconds. •Dual channel DVI/VGA capture card (PCI-Express) •Four Lane PCIe bus with a maximum data rate of 480MB/sec • Maximum analog RGB capture resolution of 2048 x 1536 x 24bit •Maximum DVI capture resolution of 1920 x 1080 x 24bit • On card processor for real time mode and sync detection •Support for multiple cards allowing up to 32 capture channels. (32 cards) • Direct DMA driver software and Streaming driver •High quality down scaling • Support for YUV 4:2:2, RGB 5:5:5, 5:6:5 and 8:8:8 video formats •High performance DMA to system memory or direct to graphics memory with scatter gather •Support for separate H/V sync, Composite sync or Sync on Green •16 cropping windows per capture channel •Includes WDM streaming drivers and the SUPER PC XtremeRGB application software. •Fully integrated with the EMS Wall Control software for video wall applications. •SUPER PC XtremeRGB-Ex1 is also optimized for operation with the EMS range of graphics cards. •Support for Windows XP/ Server 2003. •EMS SDK included for software developers and also Directshow samples. The SUPER PC XtremeRGB-Ex2 is an ideal solution for applications that require the
capture of DVI or Analog VGA sources in real time. Typical applications
include:
- Viewing Analog or DVI sources from PCs, MACs, Industrial/medical equipment, cameras and other video equipment. - Recording Analog or DVI video sources. - Streaming video applications. - Video/Data Wall Controllers RGB Streaming:
For
streaming applications, the XtemeRGB-Ex2 can be used with Windows Media
Encoder to compress and stream captured video. To replay the video, use
Windows® Media Player. Any application compatible with Windows
DirectShow technology can use the XtremeRGB-Ex2 due to its built-in WDM
support.
SUPER PC XtremeRGB Software:
The SUPER PC XtremeRGB-Ex2 is supplied with a powerful software application
for configuring the timing and format of the input sources and
displaying the data. Simply connect your external DVI or Analog source
into the card, run the SUPER PC XtremeRGB-Ex2 application to
automatically detect the video source format and display the captured
video in a window on your desktop. You can also use the software
application to record and capture the Analog data at high frame rates
and play it back using the SUPER PC PhynxRecorder and PhynxPlayer
applications.
Hardware Overview:
The
XtremeRGB-Ex2 has a dual capture channels supporting up to 1920x1080
DVI or 2048x1536 VGA resolutions. The SUPER PC XtremeRGB-Ex2 captures
the Analog/DVI data and triple buffers it into onboard storage. This
data is then copied using DMA to the host system for display, storage or
streaming. Whenever the DVI/VGA data is displayed the SUPER PC
XtremeRGB-Ex2 sends the video data directly to the graphics card or via
system memory (uer option). The SUPER PC XtremeRGB-Ex2 direct transfer
to teh graphics cards card increases the performance. The SUPER PC
XtremeRGB-Ex2 sends portions of the captured data to the video channel
and instructs each channel to use its graphics engine to update the
data. This utilizes the hardware and dramatically increases
performance.
Models SUPER PC XtremeRGB-Ex1 - A single channel PCI-Express capture card. Models SUPER PC XtremeRGB-Ex2 - A dual channel PCI-Express capture card.
Specifications:
·
Board Format: PCI-e x4 low profile card, 68.9mm x 167.6mm PCI-e bus
master with scatter gather DMA providing maximum data rate of 480Mb/s
· Connectors: Two DVI-I type connectors
·
Maximum Sample Rate: 170Mpixels per second analog RGB or 165 MHz DVI
Analog modes up to 340MHz pixel clock can be captured using dual-pass
sampling :
·
DVI Single Link Mode Support: 640 x 480, 800 x 600, 1024 x 768, 1280 x
1024, 1600 x 1200, 1920x1080, custom modes (HDCP not supported)
·
Input Mode Detection: Automatic detection of input modes in hardware,
enabling the tracking of mode changes in the source signal. Pixel
Output Formats: RGB: 5-5-5, 5-6-5 or 8-8-8 pixels. YUV: 4:2:2, UYVY,
YUY2, YVYU
·
Update Rate: User defined, typically 60 frames per second, limited by
available PCI-Express bandwidth max 480MB/s. Triplei-buffered to
eliminate tearing artifacts
·
Video Format Options: Analog RGB plus HSync and VSync (5 wire), Analog
RGB with Composite Sync (4 wire), Analog RGB with Sync on Green (3
wire). -> Progressive. DVI Single Link.
· Operating System Support Windows® XP, Windows® Vista and Windows® Server 2008 (x86 and x64)
· Power Requirements: Max current at +3.3V – 0.25A, Max current at +12V – 1.2A, Max power – 15 Watts.
· Operating Temperature: 0 to 35 deg C.
· Storage Temperature: -20 to 70 deg C. 5% to 90% non-condensing.
· Anbalog input range: Min 0.5Vpp Max 1.0Vpp
· Input Offset: +/- 2V
· Hsync: 15Khz – 110Khz
· Vsync: no hardware limits, typ. 25Hz – 200Hz for real signals
· Separate Sync Polarity: Positive or Negative. ( Separate H & V sync, Composite Sync)
NEC Displays are for those who want the best quality VESA mountable LCD screens for their multiple monitor environment! All of our NEC brand LCD Displays come with a comfortable Three year Warranty (Four Years for some models) to ensure that your investment is protected! To purchase this NEC Multi-LCD Display, simply choose the Monitor Model/Size you prefer from the option menu above, and click on the Update Price button, before adding the item to your shopping cart. This Quad LCD Array will only work with a proper hardware configuration. Below, we have outlined the various hardware options which will support this multiple monitor display! We have also provided links to the specifications of each LCD model in the options configurator. We strive to offer the lowest prices for multiple monitor arrays and will attempt to match, or beat the price of the competition, for identical specifications. If you need assistance choosing the right model for you, please don't hesitate to contact us and one of our experts will consult with you for free!Get more productive and efficient with SUPER PC's NEC Multi Monitor Array Display. Not only will your physical workspace become more organized, so will your computer's desktop environment! Using Multiple Screens will expand your creativity & increase your productivity. While you might not realize it now, using multiple monitors is actually easier and more intuitive than using only a single monitor. It only takes a few minutes to see how each interactive monitor increases your work flow potential! You will begin to visualize your ideas in a refreshing new way!
Important: How to Use this Product? To use this Quad Monitor Array with a single PC or Laptop, you must have internal or external computer hardware that will support the use of four monitors. This is not a common feature for most computers. There are several ways in which you can utilize this NEC Quad LCD Multi-Monitor Array. The following solutions are available in the options above, for your convenience! 1) You can purchase a "ready out of the box" SUPER PC Quad Monitor Computer System(Recommended) 2) You can replace your current Graphics Card with a Quad Monitor Graphics Card price! (Recommended)
Xtreme4VS Quad Screen Video Wall Controller. This controller converts a single DVI or VGA output into 4 Outputs with many options of control. Great for Desktops and perfect for Laptops with VGA Output (Achieve 5 Screens with Laptops) (Recommended)
Matrox DualHead2Go Digital Edition - If you have a desktop computer with a Dual Monitor Graphics Card you can use two of these adapters to achieve four screens. Use one adapter with each monitor output to double your outputs. To check your computer for compatibility, click here. (Recommended)
USB to VGA Adapter - This adapter allows you to add an additional VGA monitor through a USB port. If you have a dual monitor graphics card, you would need two of these to achieve four monitors. If you have a single monitor system, you would need three.
USB to DVI Adapter - This adapter allows you to add an additional DVI monitor through a USB port. If you have a dual monitor graphics card, you would need two of these to achieve four monitors. If you have a single monitor system, you would need three. Make sure you have enough USB ports.
4) You can use four separate computers (or two dual monitor computers).
However, windows across computers will not be interactive with each other. This usage of the multi display is recommended for organizing multiple computer environments. By adding an appropriate KVM switch, the user can control multiple computers from a single keyboard and mouse station.
SUPER PC and Chief offer a variety of innovative monitor mounting solutions from wall or desk mounts to mounts for multiple monitors. Chief's monitor mounts offer smooth, fluid height adjustment to accommodate the vast majority of users and Centris™ Technology provides easy fingertip tilt and side-to-side pivot to achieve proper ergonomic alignment. Chief monitor mounts improve employee wellness, and save space with better utilization of the workstation footprint. Single and multiple monitor mounts are available for desk, pole, slat wall and wall mounting needs.
Design and shape the world around you
with Multiple Monitor SUPER PC workstations powered by ATI FirePro™professional graphics running AutoCAD® design and documentation software, one
of the world’s leading 2D and 3D CAD tools mixed with the POWER of SUPER PC
& Intel and AMD/ATI . Speed documentation, share ideas seamlessly, and
explore ideas more intuitively in 3D. With thousands of available add-ons like
our Multiple Monitor Displays or videowall accessories AutoCAD design software
provides the ultimate in flexibility, customized for your specific needs.
SUPER PC Multi-Display Touch Screen Interactive Videowalls are great for
all kinds of Industries. Multi-Touch computing has revolutionized
communications with prospects at trade shows, in showrooms, reception
areas or customer service centers. Whether at the point of sale or point
of interest, virtual worlds can be controlled, open up in-depth
information and perform interactive product presentations or sales
meetingds. In combination with software tailored to your needs, we offer
multi-touch systems in a new generation.
Display mode: Span (one large desktop), mirrored (clone mode) or
extended desktop (stretch mode)
Screen resolution: Up to 2048x1152
Screen orientation: 0, 90, 180, or 270 degrees
Monitor placement: Extend monitor to right, left, above, or below
Windows Display Properties setup menu allows users to set resolution
and the position location of each USB 3.0 to DVI/VGA Monitor Adapter
along with the systems graphics displays.
The USB3.0 to DVI Monitor Adapter is lightweight and is easy to
carry. A projector can quickly be attached to the ThinkPad USB port.
The USB 3.0 to DVI/VGA Monitor Adapter does not disable a system's
graphics capabilities. For ThinkPad users, the ThinkPad display is
active, a second monitor can be attached to the ThinkPad monitor port.
Additional monitors can be easily connected using one or more USB 3.0 to DVI/VGA Monitor Adapters.
USB 3.0 – DVI/VGA Adapter Features/Benefits:
USB 3.0 – DVI/VGA Adapter is
Better
Full HD image quality
Faster
10x performance over USB 2.0 Adapter
5 Gbps performance with SuperSpeed USB 3.0
Cheaper
Lower price than previous generation Lenovo USB 2.0 Adapter
To help you create the ideal
multi-display environment, the Samsung MD Series
bundles with a precision aligned 100mm height adjustable stand that ensures
perfectly aligned bezels and supports several multi-display formats. The
MD230X6 features a total of 6 displays that can be operated with one remote
control keypad for ultimate convenience.
Ultra-Thin Bezel, Super-Seamless
Viewing
To facilitate the creation of a seamlessmulti-display environment, the Samsung MD series features an ultra-thin bezel.
At only 7.6 mm (left and right sides), 9.2mm (top), and 8.2mm (bottom),
multiple Samsung
MD series can be combined either vertically or horizontally to create a
video wall that is clearly superior.
Brilliant Full HD Picture Quality
Complete your multi-display
experience with the highest picture quality you can get—full HD. The MD series
offers a stunningly clear picture thanks to an incredible 3,000 : 1 static
contrast ratio and a 150,000 : 1 dynamic contrast ratio. And with a wide angle
view of 178˚ / 178˚, the picture looks razor-sharp from every direction.
Specialized Stand Supplied
To provide specialized support for
the different multidisplay
formats, Samsung
MD series offers a specialized stand as a standard. The ergonomic 100mm
height adjustable stand, with a precision aligned bezel fit and a 30 degree
tilt function, is designed for optimal multi-display environment.
Convenient Connection Options
Worried you won't have enough
outlets to hook up every display? No problem—the MD series features a simple
power connection. With Display Port (DP), DVI, and VGA interfaces available,
the Samsung MD
series is equipped to connect conveniently to a variety of analog or digital
sources.
Multi-Display Control
The Samsung MD
series come with an intuitive, easy-to-use Multi Control Pad that can control
up to 6 monitors
simultaneously. Monitor
selection is simple, enabling you to select from automatic preset modes to
customize the on-screen environment to meet your exact needs.
AMD Eyefinity
technology enables you to run up to six independent and simultaneous
displays with a single graphics card.1 By expanding your field of
view across multiple
high-resolution monitors, you can see more detail than ever, helping to
increase your workflow productivity. You can manage multitasking
more efficiently, and view more data, applications, and images at once.
AMD
Eyefinity technology gives you more visual real estate to view large scale
models and multiple applications at the same time in a single, large workspace.
You can operate up to six high-resolution displays simultaneously and
independently, flexibly configured in various combinations of landscape and
portrait orientations. Group multiple monitors into a large integrated display
surface, enabling windowed and full-screen 3D applications, images, and video
to span across multiple displays as one desktop workspace. Multiple display
outputs enable multiple 3D displays
with independent display resolution, refresh rate, and display rotation
settings.
AMD
Eyefinity technology helps you get more things done. It allows you and
others on your team to physically and simultaneously display and view multiple
documents or applications for efficient discussion and collaboration. Multi-tasking is easy
since you no longer need to flip documents and applications back and forth
between windows. It helps improve accuracy and speed your workflow.
Don’t be a fool and believe that any computer is good enough for day trading. The fact of the matter is that professional day traders use professional trading computers, and they do so for a whole multitude of
great reasons. In this article we’re going to talk about what a trading computer is and how you can use a trading computer to make your day
trading or FOREX trading business more profitable.
Day trading, as a general rule, revolves around being able to quickly
make important decisions and then act on those decisions on a moment’s
notice. In other words, you don’t really have time to mess around once
you’ve decided that you need to make a trade. This is why having the
appropriate equipment is so important. This day in age, there is no
reason for a day trader to have a computer with a processor slower than
the i5 from Pentium. Likewise, you should not even consider operating
with less than 4 GB of RAM (or memory.)
The number of monitors that you use is important. I can’t stress this
enough. Using a single monitor computer is not enough. You need at
least 2 monitors to sufficiently view all of the charts, graphs and
programs, however, most day traders prefer at least 4 monitors. There
are several ways you can accomplish hooking up multiple monitors for
your trading computer. If you’re only using two monitors, then you are
in luck because most video cards have two monitor outputs and can handle
2 monitors without too much trouble. However, if you want to use more
than 2 monitors then you either need a special video card that allows
you to hook up multiple monitors (and has sufficient GPU power to run
them), or an adapter that will allow you to hook up multiple monitors.
Both options will work, however, if you’re building a new trading computer, then ideally you’ll just add the video cards you need as you
piece it together. Either the video card or the adapter will cost
upwards of $350, but it’s worth it in the long run.
Personally I use 4 monitors to trade and that’s plenty for my needs.
Each monitor is assigned a specific function that doesn’t ever change.
In fact, when I start my computer, those programs that I use
automatically load up to each of the monitors for the function that
they’ve been assigned. This works great- I don’t have to think about
anything- I just hit the on switch. Furthermore, I only use my trading computer for stock trading, nothing else. No other programs, no
other functions. I have a small laptop that I keep nearby for personal
use. I’ll get more into why here in a few minutes, but you must know
that your trading computer shouldn’t be used for any other function.
Another thing to keep in mind when you are building your trading computer is your internet connection. You need to have a solid, fast
connection as well as a solid backup connection. 10Mbs should be your
minimum, but I really recommend that you go with a 20Mbs or upward.
The
last thing that you want is to get a connection that isn’t fast enough
to handle all the up/down data and lag a transaction. Most cable companies are now offering 50Mbs connections and honestly, these are
perfect. Verizon’s FIOS service is another great option (although they
aren’t available in many areas yet. Keep in mind too, you should never
do trading in public places where connections may become unreliable.
The library, Starbucks, etc- these are bad ideas. Make sure you stay
away.
For your back up connection, it’s a good idea to use another provider. I
can’t tell you the number of times that I’ve been working and my cable
internet goes down (I’m in Florida, so thunderstorms are common and we
often see our cable go out.) My back up is an 6Mbs DSL connection.
It’s not super fast, but I can usually count on it being up in the event
that I need a quick backup. It’s setup on its own router, so in the
event that I need to use it, all I have to do is switch over via my
desktop settings. As a little tip, make that if you use this setup, you
label your routers something easy to remember, like Router 1 and Router
2 or “main” and “backup” - the last thing you need is to worry about
which router you want to connect to in the mean time.
Something that a lot of people just getting into day trading may not
realize is that you need access to real time data, which you can’t
simply get free. Most of the stats you see elsewhere are delayed 10-15
minutes, sometimes more. This simply will not do for a day trader, so
you must purchase a data feed from your broker or another service. It
will end up costing an additional $100 a month, but it is a must have if
you want to be successful.
If you’re considering building a day trading computer on your own, then
more power to you. Seriously though, I recommend you do something more
productive with your time and leave the computer building to the
experts. Here’s what I suggest, go visit multi-monitors.com and browse
around. Check out the basic prices that they offer on some of the
varieties of computers that they have. Then give them a call. Talk
with one of their staff about what you are going to do and let them help
you come up with a solid custom day trading computer for you. There’s
no need to worry yourself to death over buying the right components when
you can talk with an expert about what you need to make your day trading computer work properly.
Hopefully you’ve found this article about day trading computers helpful.
It’s not supposed to be a substitute for a solid education on day trading, but it should get you going in the right direction.
