In order to run the system in dual monitor mode with the GeForce 4 Ti 4600, the following prerequisites must be met:

• You must be running the Dell-certified drivers for the GeForce 4 Ti 4600 video card. The drivers are preinstalled from the Dell factory on your computer. You can also download the drivers from Dell Support.
  
  
• You must have at least two display devices connected to the video adaptor. The GeForce 4 Ti 4600 has ports for three video output devices:
  • Analog output - This is the standard 15-pin monitor output that connects a wide range of monitors to the graphics adapter.
  • DVI output - This is the digital video connector, a connector that is used on high-end display devices such as digital flat panels and digital projectors.
  • S-video output - This connector allows you to connect devices such as televisions and certain commercial display monitors to the video card.

You must have the display device(s) connected to the GeForce 4 Ti 4600 video card before you power the system on.

While you can have all three display devices connected at the same time, you can only display video from two outputs at a time.

The feature of the GeForce 4 Ti 4600 that allows it to display the same image on two different monitors is known as Clone Mode, and you will see it referred to as such in the rest of this document.

To operate Windows XP in Clone Mode:

1. Ensure that both of the display devices that you want to use are connected to the system and powered on.
   
   
2. Right-click an empty space on the Desktop, and then left-click Properties.
   
   
3. In the Display Properties window, click the Settings tab, and then click Advanced.
   
   
4. Click the nView tab.
   
   
5. Click to select Clone Mode, and then click OK.
   
   
6. In the warning window, click OK.
   
   
7. When the second display device initializes and if you can see the output correctly on both display devices, click OK when asked if you want to keep this display setting.

A few guidelines to be aware of when operating in Clone Mode:

• If one of the display devices is a monitor connected to the S-Video port on the video card, set the resolution to 800 x 600 pixels, with a 60Hz vertical refresh rate. 
  
  
• Ensure that the video mode is set to a mode that the least capable display device connected to the system can provide. For example, if you have a 15-inch, digital flat-panel monitor connected to the DVI port and a 21-inch monitor connected to the analog port, set the video mode so that it does not exceed the capabilities of the 15-inch, flat-panel monitor.
  
  
• You cannot switch directly from Extended Desktop mode to clone mode. You must disable Extended Desktop mode before switching to clone mode.

This mode, also known as Extended Desktop mode, allows you to combine two display devices into one larger virtual display device. In Extended Desktop mode, both displays can be set to run at different screen resolutions and refresh rates. To enable Extended Desktop mode:

1. Ensure that both of the display devices that you want to use are connected to the system and powered on.
   
   
2. Right-click an empty space on the desktop, and then left-click Properties.
   
   
3. In the Display Properties window, click the Settings tab, and then click Advanced.
   
   
4. Click the nView tab.
   
   
5. Verify that that Clone Mode is not selected. If Clone Mode is enabled, disable it.
   
   
6. Click to select Extended Desktop mode, and then click OK, which takes you back to the Settings tab.
   
   
7. When you see two monitors represented by two blue boxes with the numbers 1 and 2 in them, click to select the second monitor (2).
   
   
8. Adjust the screen to the resolution you want. You may also drag the monitor icons around to adjust the relative position of the monitors.
   
   
9. Click to select the second monitor icon (2), and then click Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor.
   
   
10. Click OK.
    
    
11. If a warning window appears, click OK. The second monitor initializes and displays the Windows background. You may have a dialog box that asks if you want to keep the current settings.
    
    
12. Click Yes to allow Windows to operate in Extended Desktop mode.
    
    
13. If you are unable to see the Windows background, click No, and then proceed to step 8 to select a different resolution.

Question

When I enable Extended Desktop mode, why am I unable to change any of the settings on the nView tab in the Advanced Properties?

Answer

This behavior is by design. When Windows is running in Extended Desktop mode, you are unable to make any changes that interfere with the proper functioning of Extended Desktop.

Question

When I go to the Advanced Display settings, why is the nView tab not there?

Answer

This generally happens when the second display was selected in the Settings tab of the Display Properties window. To resolve this issue, return to the Settings tab and click to select the first monitor icon (1).

Question

How do I connect two analog monitors to my GeForce 4 Ti 4600?

Answer

Because the GeForce 4 Ti 4600 card has an analog connector, a DVI connector, and an S-Video output connector, it is not possible to connect two analog monitors directly to the video card. However, there is a device called a DVI-to-analog dongle available that converts the signals coming from the DVI port into signals that a standard analog monitor can use. The devices are available at most electronics stores, as well as through the Dell Sales and Dell Spare Parts page.

Question

How does the GeForce 4 Ti 4600 know which devices are plugged into it?

Answer

This depends on the configuration. At boot time, the video card scans its ports to determine what devices are connected to it, and there are two different orders in which it can scan output devices:

Without a DVI-to-analog dongle:

1. Analog output
2. Digital output
3. S-Video output

With a DVI-to-analog dongle:

1. Digital output
2. Analog output
3. S-Video output

Windows always uses the devices in this order:

1. Analog output
2. Digital output
3. S-Video output

One effect of this enumeration order is that if you have two analog monitors connected to the video card, one with a DVI-to-analog dongle, the primary monitor switches from one screen to another during the Windows boot sequence.

Question

When I am running in Clone Mode with a television connected as one of the devices, why does the image on the television pan?

Answer

This can happen when the display resolution for the monitor is set higher than 800x600. For best results when using a television as a display device through S-Video port, Dell recommends that the screen resolution be set to 800x600 or less.