Dual Monitors, one is G-Sync

[king3pj]

First, here are my PC's relevant specs.

CPU - i5-4690k @ 4.0GHz
Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD3H-BK
RAM - 16GB
GPU - Gigabyte G1 1070

I took advantage of an Amazon Cyber Monday deal on the Dell 24" 1440p 165Hz G-Sync monitor for $359.99. My current monitor is also a 24" 1440p monitor but it's only 60Hz.

I'm thinking I probably want to use my old monitor as a second screen for music playback, Steam chat, and quickly looking things up on the internet. I currently Alt-Tab a lot to do the same things but a second monitor would be more convenient. I am not planning to game on the second monitor at all.

My real question is whether running a second monitor at 60Hz will interfere with using G-Sync on my main 165Hz monitor. If it over-complicates things I would rather just stick to one monitor since this is primarily a gaming PC. I also want to make sure I'm getting the most possible benefit from my new monitor.

From what I have seen in a few searches it doesn't look like a second 1440p monitor would have much, if any impact on FPS if I'm not gaming or watching video on it.

Here is a secondary question I am having. I currently stream a lot of MLB games or NFL Redzone on my iPad while playing games on PC. It would be nice to be able to do this on my second monitor instead. I know that this will take resources away from gaming.

My question is whether plugging my second monitor into my CPU's integrated graphics would lessen the FPS impact of trying to stream video while gaming. My natural instinct is to plug both monitors into my GPU but is there any benefit to running the second monitor on integrated graphics instead?

My new monitor will be shipped tomorrow so I can test all of this out for myself then. I just thought I would see if anyone here has any experience with this stuff in the meantime since I have never had dual monitors, G-Sync, or anything with a refresh rate above 60Hz before.

 

[Bee_Dee_3_Dee]

combining with 60Hz is np.

the past year, i've used a G-sync and two older Dell LCDs, NP. It can be tricky, even with experience with multiple monitors, but just know it works fine. The newer the game the better.

Important: Be careful when changing the frequency of ur G-sync LCD during a game while it is loading or loaded. U can check the frequency; but changing frequency, is only sometimes possible during a game's loading or after loaded; and sometimes will lock-up ur PC. (As a result u'll be forced to Cold-boot ur PC.) So rely on using the nVidia Control Panel's 3D Game Profile and the individual game's In-Game settings to see if "use highest frequency/ resolution" are selected. And that should result in highest frequency.

And consider SLI, because with a G-sync LCD, SLI is great!

GL

 

[king3pj]

Thanks for your answer. I know that going with anything outside a standard configuration can introduce complications but I generally feel confident enough in my ability to figure things out. If I can't, members of this website always have the answers I need.

Any input on the pros and cons of running the secondary monitor off the integrated graphics instead of my 1070?

 

[Bee_Dee_3_Dee]

Thanks for your answer. I know that going with anything outside a standard configuration can introduce complications but I generally feel confident enough in my ability to figure things out. If I can't, members of this website always have the answers I need.

Any input on the pros and cons of running the secondary monitor off the integrated graphics instead of my 1070?

sry i missed the emphasis on integrated GPU.

ur 1070 should be able to run multiple monitors. And disabling the integrated GPU would be the best config to use if u want Games to perform best. I've noticed no drop in performance ever, with just dedicated GPU, when using one versus two or even three LCDs, as long as i'm only playing Games on the one Primary monitor and simple stuff running on others.

i only have two 1070's in SLI, and no integrated GPU (because i have an i7-6850k). But with my older set-up (x58 i7-950 and GTX760-SLI) i had np with three monitors, either. (i've always used one monitor for Games, second one for watching for Outlook Emails and third one for seeing System Hardware Monitoring software as i play.)

 

[king3pj]

Yeah, from what I've read the second 1440p monitor should have almost no impact on my 1070's gaming performance if I just have a web browser, Steam chat, or my music player open. That is what will be on the second screen the vast majority of the time while I'm gaming.

I was just curious about whether running the second monitor off my integrated graphics would lessen the performance impact of streaming video on the second monitor while gaming on the main monitor.

Since the integrated graphics are currently not being used for anything at all I thought it might be able to handle the video streaming duties instead of putting that load on my GPU while gaming. That's why I was curious whether plugging the second monitor into integrated graphics would have any benefit over plugging them both into my GPU.

This isn't the biggest deal in the world. I just like to stream sporting events on my iPad sometimes while playing a game from time to time. It would be nice to be able to do that on the second monitor instead of my iPad.

 

[Bee_Dee_3_Dee]

Yeah, from what I've read the second 1440p monitor should have almost no impact on my 1070's gaming performance if I just have a web browser, Steam chat, or my music player open. That is what will be on the second screen the vast majority of the time while I'm gaming.

I was just curious about whether running the second monitor off my integrated graphics would lessen the performance impact of streaming video on the second monitor while gaming on the main monitor.

Since the integrated graphics are currently not being used for anything at all I thought it might be able to handle the video streaming duties instead of putting that load on my GPU while gaming. That's why I was curious whether plugging the second monitor into integrated graphics would have any benefit over plugging them both into my GPU.

This isn't the biggest deal in the world. I just like to stream sporting events on my iPad sometimes while playing a game from time to time. It would be nice to be able to do that on the second monitor instead of my iPad.

Maybe u could try using ur Dedicated+Integrated GPUs. But imhao, disabling Integrated GPUs solves complications such as driver issues and after-all, why get the CPU hotter?

The Best bet for steaming or anything slightly taxing, is like i do:

I have a dedicated PC for that. It's my old 2007 Gaming rig with the Wolfdale E8400 in it. And I use a 4th monitor hooked-up to it, and run it along next to my Gaming rig.

To fit four monitors on my desk i use a Monitor stand for two of them like:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA3BG14X7420


The 1st couple of years I had this set-up (3 LCDs on PC1 and 1 LCD on PC2) I used a physical KVM switch.

But then I discovered a virtual switch/ software called "Synergy".
(See: https://symless.com/synergy/)

And it's like truly the best set-up imaginable for Gaming + Multitasking. Because all the resources from Main PC are focused on Gaming and the other PC can do strenuous things like Streaming, u couldn't ask for more. (My 2nd PC is an HTPC with WMC and a 4X HDTV tuner and with 13GB Storage.) I've used Synergy for seven or more years now and it is fail-proof after a small learning curve. (One PC is a Mouse Sever other PC is a Mouse Client. There's plenty on Youtube of it.) Always running two PCs is awesome. i get so much done while one PC has to restart, that it the definition of a no-brainer to have two PCs work as one.

Edit: While Gaming i do use a second physical mouse on the HTPC if need be, and I also have a remote control hooked up to control WMC too. But in Windows the Synergy Software RULES!