GSync Dual Monitor

[Catnap]

I have been having really hard time trying to search the answer for this..

I want to use dual monitor. One monitor with G sync for gaming and the other with or without G sync ( haven't decided what monitor to get) for surfing the internet / Streaming program / Movies .. etc.

I do NOT want to use both monitors for gaming. Game on full screen on one monitor and other stuffs on the other monitor.

But I've heard that G sync only works when the game is on full screen. Does it mean that I have to use both monitor for gaming? or running game on one monitor at full screen is fine for G sync?

If it doesn't work like that, can I get 2 graphics card and plug each monitor to each of the GPU without SLI?
And then can I use one monitor dedicated for gaming WITH g sync on. And the other monitor for other things?

 

[CraigN]

But I've heard that G sync only works when the game is on full screen. Does it mean that I have to use both monitor for gaming? or running game on one monitor at full screen is fine for G sync?

This part in bold is correct in how it behaves. I run two monitors, one for Facebook/chat/streaming/tv shows, and the other for games that's on GSync. As long as the monitor you are gaming on is running in Full Screen mode (NOT Borderless Windowed) then GSYNC works just fine. No need to get two cards or any other elaborate setups What you want to do will work just fine.

 

[Catnap]

OMG Thank you so much !!
I have one more question.
I heard that even if I have dual monitor, games in full screen mode wont let the mouse go outside of the game
so I can interact with whatever I have on the other monitor.
And I found out a program called Actual Multiple Monitor that lets you move your mouse outside of the game like if its in borderless window mode.

If I use this program, will it affect g sync? will it turn it off?

 

[CraigN]

This is correct for fullscreen games. Your mouse will not travel outside the screen. However, if you use ALT TAB simultaneously to switch tasks, press the Windows Key, or use Ctrl+Alt+Del and use Task Manager (if you're on windows 7/8) you will go to the desktop and the game will be running in the background minimized to your task bar. This will let you navigate to the second monitor just fine, then resume playing by Alt+Tabbing back to the game or clicking it on your task bar.

I have no idea if Actual Multiple Monitor will affect GSYNC or not.

 

[Catnap]

So if alt tabbing minimizes the game, having dual monitor doesn't really provide me a better experience than having just one monitor right? It's basically same with having one monitor and having other stuffs running at background.
How do you utilize the dual monitor when in gaming?
or is dual monitor only for multi tasking when you are not in the gaming?

by the way thank you for all your replies.
It really helped me get the concept of dual monitor and g sync

 

[CraigN]

No problem, glad I could help.

Honestly, yes, the ability to multi task is much better, and that's the main draw. Also, not every game "minimizes" when you alt tab, some full screen games just turn black but still consume the whole screen, so working on one monitor while trying to multitask and game at the same time can become cumbersome. That being said, unless you plan on a tri-GSYNC setup later on, I can't imagine a reason you would need two GSYNC monitors unless you were intending to eventually get 3 GSYNC monitors for Surround gaming.

For some games, i.e., MMOs like SWTOR, or games like League of Legends, I prefer to play Bordered Windowed and forgo Gsync, because I'm usually either looking up champion builds or raid strategies on my other monitor, and having GSYNC take care of tearing in those games is less important to me than it is on First Person shooters or adventure games.

 

[Catnap]

I think I should just get one G sync monitor for gaming and one non- gsync monitor.
And get benefit of multitasking of dual monitor when I am not in gaming.
And still use G sync when gaming in full screen even if I have to give up multitasking when gaming.

Thank you for your answers

 

[CraigN]

No problem! It's still a huge boost to multitasking even when fullscreen.

Just make sure you pause before you alt tab, i've been known to die frequently by not doing that, not every game auto-pauses >.< lol