multi-monitor set ups, full screen on one or two monitors, how to?

[Kyris]

So, let me start by saying I currently only have a single monitor display, but I'm looking into getting a set up with two monitors and my TV which is to the side of my computer desk.

My plan is to use the monitors for single player or online games, and web browsing. While using the tv for couch multiplayer for the few games that support it(battleblock theater and castle crashers immediately come to mind) as well as movies, youtube videos, etc.

As far as I understand it, windows only has two options for multi monitor displays, extend; which all monitors are just "extensions" of each other to simulate a larger screen. and mirror; which simply copies the same desktop onto each screen.

So, what would be the easiest way to, say, play skyrim in full screen on monitor 1 and 2, but have youtube playing on monitor 3? Or have a web browser on monitor 1, a game in full screen on monnitor 2, and a video stream on monitor 3?

 

[hunter315]

If you want to have different things going on each screen you will need to do extend. Mirror makes them all identical copies, so if you are playing skyrim on one it will be showing on all 3. If you set it to extend you can put skyrim on one, chrome on another, and youtube on yet another. You really don't want to play a game spread across two screens, the import information is always in the center of the frame which means it would be split between the two screens making it really hard to deal with.

 

[Kyris]

If you want to have different things going on each screen you will need to do extend. Mirror makes them all identical copies, so if you are playing skyrim on one it will be showing on all 3. If you set it to extend you can put skyrim on one, chrome on another, and youtube on yet another. You really don't want to play a game spread across two screens, the import information is always in the center of the frame which means it would be split between the two screens making it really hard to deal with.

Sorry for the late reply, I kind of forgot I even had this up until I checked my email..

So, my question then is, with a multi monitor set up on extend, would entering full screen put it on all of the displays, just one, or would I have to put it in windowed borderless and set it to the resolution of the screen I have it on?

 

[hunter315]

Unless you turn on eyefinity each screen is still treated as its own entity, when i full screen a youtube video it only full screens on the monitor its window is in, if i have a game set to full screen it launches and opens only on my primary screen.