PC -> Two screens/TV ?

B_S · Mar 15, 2014

I'm intending to buy an i3-4130(intel HD4440) and a discrete GPU. Assuming the graphics card or motherboard has 2 hdmi connections: Can I use a TV with an HDMI port as a second screen to my PC, displaying a split or duplicated desktop?

Instead of displaying the whole content of the desktop on the TV, could I instead display only the output from a mediaplayer?

When using the TV as a screen, is it true that the TV does not need to have installed codecs supporting the video and audio fileformat of the movie being played?

Could I play a low req game on my discrete GPU displayed on the computer screen, while at the same time playing a movie on the integrated Intel HD4400 displayed via HDMI to the TV? Is it possible to use two different gpus in this way?

Alec Mowat · Mar 15, 2014

Yes, you can use a TV as a monitor.

Codecs only matter on your OS installation, nothing to do with the TV.

You cannot just run a media file, you'll need to extend or mirror your desktop.

Yes, you can play games on the TV.

A low quality TV won't look very good though, not as a monitor. You'll need something 1080p and higher end that will autoscale to the PC resolution. TV's cut the top and bottom off the picture by design.

B_S · Mar 15, 2014

Alec Mowat :

Ok, makes sense. A media file needs to be processed by the GPU and the screen only displays the GPU output.

Yes, you can play games on the TV.

When extending the desktop, can I run a game in fullscreen, with it only being displayed on one of the screens?

A low quality TV won't look very good though, not as a monitor. You'll need something 1080p and higher end that will autoscale to the PC resolution. TV's cut the top and bottom off the picture by design.

What if I specify the TV's resolution as output resolution in the game i'm running? And set-up the windows monitor resolution to be the same as the TV's? Will it still cut of some of the picture? Like if I have a 16:9 TV and in the game settings specify 16:9. Or what if i'm playing a 16:9 video file that using a TV with 16:9 resolution as output?

Alec Mowat · Mar 15, 2014

Ok, makes sense. A media file needs to be processed by the GPU and the screen only displays the GPU output.

Unless it's OpenGL or directX, the CPU does it. The GPU does very little in 2D graphics. Some high quality videos will use OpenGL extensions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MMX_%28instruction_set%29

When extending the desktop, can I run a game in fullscreen, with it only being displayed on one of the screens?

Most games support 1 or 3 monitors of similar size. Some games can use two monitors, Supreme Commander for example.

Otherwise, the middle of the screen would be in between two monitors, difficult to see.

What if I specify the TV's resolution as output resolution in the game i'm running? And set-up the windows monitor resolution to be the same as the TV's? Will it still cut of some of the picture? Like if I have a 16:9 TV and in the game settings specify 16:9. Or what if i'm playing a 16:9 video file that using a TV with 16:9 resolution as output?

Yes, but it depends on the TV. Some TV's will scale properly, some you will need to adjust the resolution in the videocard settings.
If you use a digital out, such as DVI or HDMI, you'll get better results. Most games you just put to 1080 and it's fine. Just like a monitor. If it's not widescreen, you will just get two black lines on the side. Just make sure you use a decent TV. I use an LG TV as my main monitor.

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PC -> Two screens/TV ?

B_S

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