Is DualHead2Go a graphics card?
No, DualHead2Go is not a graphics card. Rather it is a palm-sized box that sits outside of your system and expands a single desktop onto two monitors. It seamlessly harnesses the native graphics hardware already present in your system for all 2D, 3D and video drawing. The more powerful your existing graphics, the more powerful your DualHead2Go multi-monitor environment.
How does DualHead2Go
work?
DualHead2Go appears to your system as an ultra-widescreen monitor. Using standard EDID reporting mechanisms, the DualHead2Go will cause the graphics device already present in your system to generate the ultra-widescreen image, which is sent to DualHead2Go. DualHead2Go then splits this ultra-wide screen image into a left half and a right half and sends the normal size images to regular monitors.
Is "clone" or "mirror" mode
possible with DualHead2Go?
A clone or mirror mode causes the same
image to be output onto both monitors. Although DualHead2Go users will
be capable of using VESA resolutions in clone mode, there is no official
support for this feature.
Is DVD and video full
screen playback supported with DualHead2Go?
Yes. If your notebook or computer is already equipped with a DVD player, you will be able to watch a DVD or video content on any of the monitors of your multi-monitor environment. Playback will be as smooth as it would have been on your notebook.
Will DualHead2Go slow down my computer?
No. DualHead2Go does not depend on the limited bandwidth of your USB connection, nor does it depend on the limited bandwidth of any PC Card bridge. Your 2D, 3D and video performance will be just as good as on your notebook alone. The more powerful your existing graphics card, the more powerful your multi-monitor environment.
What is the price of
DualHead2Go?
The suggested retail price of DualHead2Go Analog Edition is $169USD and the DualHead2Go Digital Edition is $229USD in North America. Some dealers may sell for less.
Where can I buy DualHead2Go?
Matrox
DualHead2Go is now available worldwide through a network of authorized
dealers. To locate a reseller near you, please click here.
If
you reside in North America or Europe, you may also buy DualHead2Go from
the Matrox online store at Shopmatrox.com
For more
information, call Matrox Sales at 1-800-361-1408 (North America) or email
insales@matrox.com
Can I work with my notebook lid closed?
Yes. Once
DualHead2Go is connected to your notebook and monitors, you can close your
notebook, put it aside, and simply use an external keyboard and mouse along with
your two extra displays. The mechanism for setting the DualHead2Go up in this manner varies from notebook vendor to notebook vendor. More information on this is given in the Support
section of this website.
Do I need a special
brand of monitor?
DualHead2Go can be hooked up to any analog monitor, including flat panel monitors. To take full advantage of DualHead2Go, we recommend you use two identical monitors (that is, monitors that support the same monitor settings such as monitor resolution and refresh rate).
Can I connect multiple DualHead2Go/TripleHead2Go units in 1 system?
Although it may be physically possible to connect multiple DualHead2Go/TripleHead2Go units on the same system, Matrox does not recommend doing so. The Matrox Software Suite supports a configuration of 1 unit per system. Adding more than 1 unit per system has not been tested. Matrox does not plan to support these types of configurations. The DualHead2Go and the TripleHead2Go products were designed with a 1 unit per system configuration support model.
Can I mix analog (VGA) and digital monitors with the DualHead2Go Digital Edition?
Yes, any combination of analog and digital monitors is supported with DualHead2Go Digital Edition.
How do I know if DualHead2Go will work with my notebook or computer when running a Microsoft® Windows® 2000, Windows XP, Windows XP x64bit, or Windows Vista™ operating system?
DualHead2Go includes support for Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows XP x64bit, and Windows Vista operating systems, and is compatible with many professional and enthusiast class desktop and notebook PCs equipped with certain NVIDIA®, Intel® and ATI® enabled graphics chipsets and add-in-boards. A list of supported GPUs is available on the DualHead2Go compatibility page. Another way to check if your system is supported is to simply run the Matrox DualHead2Go System Compatibility Tool available for free, prior to purchase.
For information on DualHead support with Mac systems, please refer to the DualHead2Go compatibility list.
What is the DualHead2Go System
Compatibility Tool?
The DualHead2Go System Compatibility Tool allows you to check the compatibility of your system under Windows o/s with DualHead2Go before you buy it. With this utility you can make sure DualHead2Go will be compatible with your own specific computer system. When you download and run the DualHead2Go System Compatibility Tool from our website, it checks information such as the manufacturer of your notebook or PC, the graphics card you're using, the driver version installed, your operating system, and compares it to a list of validated devices to ensure that your particular configuration will work with DualHead2Go (it may suggest changes you can make such as downloading a more recent driver version that would enable you to benefit from all the functionality DualHead2Go has to offer). You can download and run the DualHead2Go System Compatibility Tool by clicking here.
For compatible Mac systems, please check Mac compatibility.
How long does it take to install
DualHead2Go and what is involved?
Setting up DualHead2Go can be done in only a few minutes; it's basically just a matter of connecting your monitors! You adjust the monitor resolution and refresh rate on your monitors to 1024x768 @60Hz, shut down your computer, attach the Matrox cable to the bracket of your graphics card or the VGA port of your notebook (the other end goes into the INPUT connector of your DualHead2Go), connect the two monitors to your DualHead2Go using the monitor cables, plug in the power supply and turn on your computer. Select the "DualHead Stretched Modes" and voilà!
What is a DualHead 'stretched
mode'?
A DualHead stretched mode refers to a single desktop that is set to a very wide resolution (ie. one in which it is much wider than it is tall). This desktop is then extended across two physically separate monitors. Note that even though the word 'stretched' is used, there is no actual stretching of the image or pixel distortion. The Windows operating system draws every pixel as sharply as it would a 'normal' desktop.
How do I select these new modes (Windows only)?
These new 'DualHead Stretched Modes' will show up in the usual 'Monitor Properties' page accessed by right-clicking the Windows® desktop and choosing 'settings'. The screen resolution bar will have both 2048x768 and 2560x1024 (if supported) added to the list of available resolutions. For you to select one of these DualHead Stretch Modes, you simply have to access this menu and use the slider bar to select.
How do I know if DualHead2Go will work with my Mac notebook or computer?
DualHead2Go support for Mac OS X v10.4 or later is limited to a specific list of Mac desktop and notebook models. This list is available on the DualHead2Go compatibility list.
How can I find which graphics card I have on a Mac system?
To find out which graphics card you are using on your Mac system, start by opening the Apple menu and select 'About This Mac' from the dialog box that appears. In the 'About This Mac', click the 'More Info' button, at which point the System Profiler will open. Select the 'Graphics/Monitor' page and you see the graphics card listed there.
Based on my graphics card, what resolution should I expect with my Mac system?
The level of support you can expect is similar as on a Windows operating system. To compare the maximum resolution support anticipated whether you are using an Intel, NVIDIA or ATI add-on board with DualHead2Go, please refer to the DualHead2Go compatibility list.
How long does it take to install DualHead2Go with my Mac and what is involved?
Setting up DualHead2Go on a Mac can be done in only a few minutes; it's basically just a matter of connecting your monitors! Attach the Matrox cable to the bracket of your graphics card or the VGA port of your notebook (the other end goes into the INPUT connector of your DualHead2Go), connect the two monitors to your DualHead2Go using the monitor cables, plug in the power supply and turn on your computer. Select the "DualHead Stretched Modes" and voilà!
How do I change the resolution on the Mac?
The resolution options will show up in the 'System Preferences' window accessed by clicking on the Apple menu. In the 'System Preferences' window, select the 'Monitors' icon and you will see a single 'Monitor' window with a list of supported resolutions. You can then select the resolution you want. Other information that you can change using these steps include: color depth, refresh rates and in some cases rotation option.
To add additional resolutions to DualHead2Go Digital Edition and TripleHead2Go Digital Edition, download the GXM control panel at: http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/corpo/support/drivers/home.php.
What is a DualHead 'stretched
mode'?
A DualHead stretched mode refers to a single desktop that is set to a very wide resolution (ie. one in which it is much wider than it is tall). This desktop is then extended across two physically separate monitors. Note that even though the word 'stretched' is used, there is no actual stretching of the image or pixel distortion. The Windows operating system draws every pixel as sharply as it would a 'normal' desktop.
Depending on
the graphics device, your monitors and certain software settings, some or all
of the resolutions above may be available on a compatible system.
How do I setup my Mac notebook with a DualHead2Go where my notebook lid is closed?
To acquire this setup, first configure your DualHead2Go so that is running as the secondary monitor with the notebook LCD open. It is recommended that you have either a USB keyboard or mouse or both, as the built in ones will be unavailable once your notebook is configured and the lid is closed (make sure one of these is disconnected from the notebook before closing the notebook lid). The notebook will then enter a "sleep state", at which point you can plug in the USB device and the notebook will "wake up" and set the external output as the primary monitor.
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