Widescreen Gaming Forum

Hey guys,

Currently have a GTX970 and running a 5760x1080 resolution. However i'm wanting to add another monitor (I believe this is possible on a 970 but please advise me if i'm wrong).

The other monitor will not be part of the Nvidia surround as i'm hoping to use it for browsing/skype etc whilst playing on my 3 monitors (bordered I suppose).

Would Windows just see this as 2 monitors?

Thanks and sorry to ask on my first post but hope I can contribute in the future too.

Hi,

Technically it's possible to have a 3+1 Layout on Nvidia. But I do not know which connectors you need on a GTX970.

Thanks for the response and welcoming

I have all the connectors but my next issue was whether or not I can be using say Skype while playing a game in borderless fullscreen (windowed) without having to ALT+TAB out to gain control of my mouse again? As if I did have to do that it would make the use of the 4th screen pointless to an extent?

Cheers

impossible.
Even in Borderless Window mode if you click into another window you will lose Focus on the Game, so all input will be redirected to the other app. You then need to click back into the game.

Hi Defy9, Would you consider using an android device for skype? I use my old phone mounted on an old windshield GPS mount on my desk. I can then cast that screen to my TV if i need a bigger image. This way, you won't have to alt tab out of the game to chat.

Shredder Steve wrote:Hi Defy9, Would you consider using an android device for skype? I use my old phone mounted on an old windshield GPS mount on my desk. I can then cast that screen to my TV if i need a bigger image. This way, you won't have to alt tab out of the game to chat.

I 2nd this solution, either use miracast or a MHL cable that allows the phones USB port to output via HDMI to a display.

Thanks for the suggestions, I was considering getting an android tablet or something but still unsure if it'll get much more use besides from skype/browsing etc

I usually have my phone charging next to me but dislike using the phones touchpad to type? Would your solution of casting to another monitor allow me to use a bluetooth keyboard of some sort? So basically i'd be using my phone as a PC basically? Another reason i'd like the screen is I like to watch sports sometimes when playign games and as I use different streaming sites it may not be supported by android.

That and I kinda just wanted an excuse to get another monitor I do however remember im some instances when I was using a gamepad, the game would still work when I lost focus? I can't remember what game or what setting though (obviously wouldn't work on EVERY game).

I really appreciate the suggestions and advice though, a very welcoming community.

If you want to do it realy complicated you can try other methods.
A: Run a VM on your computer and Maximize it on the 4th monitor.
Then run a Remote Keyboard Software with Hotkeys, so you can press "Hotkey A" to switch from Local input to Input on Remote Computer and later press "Hotkey B" to switch back.
B: Buy a 100-150$ HDMI Compute Stick/Mini PC with Atom X86 core and Windows 10.
Use the Same Remote KEyboard software.

This would even allow for Fullscreen in DX applications as the remote keyboard software would capture the input and block it locally.

But yeah, then there is no big difference from Borderless Window mode, because you cant use it ingame anymore.

Ah excellent that sounds like a viable solution actually. The first option might be best as it'd be tough enough justifying to the missus I need a fourth monitor let a lone another HDMI stick as well

Can you suggest any of the remote keyboard software? I'm confused as how the periphirals could switch from virtually one PC to the other with a hotkey?

Actually, thinking further, I don't mind alt tabbing out of the game to type/browse if it didn't 'minimise' the screen. In a borderless fullscreen game can I ...

a) Move the window to the 5760x1080 screen and maximize the game? I assume alt+ent will just make the game fullscreen (not borderless window)
b) Alt+tab out of the game (lose focus) onto the browsing monitor, without minimisign the game window? Does this automatically happen when in bordered mode?

Borderless window is almost like a normal Fullscreen. If the game minimizes while alt tabbing out depends on the game, IIRC most of the games i used didn't.

Ahh okay, I guess 'll see how I go by trying to borrow a spare monitor or something first (maybe my TV and a 20m HDMI cable!) Appreciate the suggestions/advice!

Hey guys,

So i tried to achieve the 3+1 monitor using my TV and a long cable to see if it would work before purchasing another monitor.

Unfortunately when I plugged in the fourth it just disconnected one of the monitors I was using and ended up with only 3 monitors active...

Any way to resolve this? Or is it just my GPU? (GTX970)

Hi,

I'm using two different solutions depending on the game. Some games works fine in a Borderless Windowed mode so you can just move your mouse to the top screen and do your stuff. The game loose focus sure, but depending of what you play it sometimes doesn't matter. Like in my picture the game Elite Dangerous.. (the spacetruck simulator) there's lots of time you just sit in space waiting or traveling.. and it still does when i do other stuff on my top screen, like changing Youtube music videos, Netflix, browsing, Skyping..whatever.

Other games however don't have good borderless windowed support and maybe start to flicker or even crash if it looses focus. Also some games are demanding and i need fullscreen mode to work with my SLI. Then i disable the top screen.
BUT: My top screen is connected to my main through DVI and also connected with the VGA to a second small low profile PC on my desk behind my screens. So i can in the top monitor button menu change input to the VGA and then control it through a wireless small keyboard and a second mouse. Mainly using that setup for walkthrougs, browsing or Battlefields external BattleMap and such..



*EDIT:
Heres what nvidia says about your GPU and Surround.
So it should work for you, but maybe not with a TV. Its probably a bit different in refresh rates maybe?

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/technol ... quirements

GeForce GTX 970 Single-GPU With 2D Surround (Landscape)
> Orientation: Landscape
> Accessory Display: Yes, no additional GPU (if using 3 or less displays)
> Maximum Resolution: 11520x2160
> Maximum Resolution (Bezel Correction): 10,240x1600
> Maximum number of displays: 2-4 in Surround, 1 Accessory Display when using 3 or less displays in Surround

Special Instructions:
> Any connectors can be used to enable Surround.
> Once Surround is enabled, users can use any connector for the Accessory Display.
> Max of 4 displays can be used simultaneously (3 if monitors are 4K)
> G-SYNC and regular monitors can be mixed in Surround; effects of G-SYNC will only be seen on G-SYNC- enabled monitors

Hi,

Great reply thank you very much! I think the small/2nd PC would be an option for sure and as previosuly mentioned maybe the PC on a stick as i'd just use it for skype/walkthroughs/watching sport etc. As far as the fourth screen goes, never thought about refresh rates but you make a good point.

I'll have to try and borrow a monitor or something I suppose!

Thanks so much for the help!

Hi all,

I finally got this to work but only by using the iGPU as the fourth monitor...

Now i'm just wanting to know if when I move a game to the monitor that is coming through the igpu – Does it then use the integrated graphics card to run the game or is it still using the 970?

The reason i ask is that i'm currently using 3x 23 inch monitors but as some games don't like to run on 5760x1080 i'd like to play on the bigger 1080p screen.

I hope that all makes sense.