3D Studio Max/dual monitors

SideEffect

Well I just picked up a new LCD and got dual monitors working now. I'm already loving it and have been messing around with different settings.

I've just started to try it out in 3dsmax, currently it spans across the whole screen. The only thing that is bugging me right now is where the viewports meet the control panels on the right. I want to be able to get that lined up between the 2 monitors but for some reason it just snaps like its on a grid. Is there anyway to do this?

Also how do you guys prefer to have things set up?

Dio

I loved dual monitors so much I went for triple. Max works well as the panels and bars are mini-apps.
Sounds like you are keeping the default arrangement intact. To manipulate a panel or bar as a mini-app just slowly mouse over the top until you get the arrow with two sheets under it then click drag it were you like. Then you can expand and shrink things as you prefer them.

MoP

Hmm, on a related note, 3DS Max 7 on my computer here slows to a crawl when I move any of the viewports onto a different monitor. I kinda like Maya's ability to "tear off" a viewport and maximise it on a different monitor, but when I try stuff like this in Max, it drops to about 2fps and half the icon images disappear. I can use the Unwrap UVW window on my 2nd monitor with no problems, but that's about all it's good for.
I'm using Ultramon and a Radeon 9800 Pro, Max is running in DirectX9 viewport mode... any ideas?

pyromania

Make sure that Hardware Acceleration is enabled on both monitors.

Display properties>>Settings>>Advanced>>Troubleshoot
make sure its set to Full

ATI drivers have been known to mess with the acceleration on the second monitor.

Also make sure that the ATI drivers have picked up on the second display. In the display properties, check the drop down box labled Display: It should have something like 9800 series and 9800 series Secondary.

MoP

Hmm, yeah, everything seems fine in the Display settings - it's displaying the "9800 series" for both monitors, and hardware acceleration is on full. Ah well, it's not a big problem, just something I'd have liked to be able to do

Eric Chadwick

Try swapping the primary from left to right (or vice versa)?

Delaney King

Nice one Dio. What card?
I just got a second monitor running on my system too. How did I ever live without it.

Weiser_Cain

Great, now I have to buy two more monitors.

sledgy

MoP, I have the same setup and problem, strictly with DX9. With DX8 or OGL I don't get the slowdown so it may be driver related. Let's call ATI a bunch of times and maybe they will hotfoot something out

MoP

Dave: Yeah, one of my monitors died a couple of weeks back, it got a little annoying without it. Being able to have the UV window (in Max or Maya) maximised on one entire screen, with a perspective viewport maximised on the other screen, is a luxury I very much enjoy.

Delaney King

Hey... Mop... get back to work! We have skinz to crank out!