Computer with MediaPortal and two screens? (1 Viewer)

[lujo]

Hi,

Is it possible to use computer with MediaPortal (full screen) and still do work at that same computer on another screen?

Screen 1 - LCD TV
Screen 2 - TFT Monitor

And when I use remote can I "tell" the remote that it only works with MediaPortal on Screen 1 (LCD TV)?

So that I don't get conflict between remote and keyboard/mouse if I use it at the same time.

 

[sand]

it's possible to use MP on two screens.
I had a setup with LCD monitor and TV - mediaportal was running on TV (mp config general page) with priority above normal and on other screen I could use apps.
Also under remotes you can select some global setting that reacts on remote keys even if MP is not in focus.

 

[divxmaster]

I run the two screen setup as well. This way my main desktop PC is also my HTPC.
The desktop screen connects via VGA (screen:1), and the LCD TV (screen:2) for mediaportal connects via HDMI. The LCD tv is actually in a different room to the pc!
I run the hdmi cable through the wall. It all works very well. I also can unplug the hdmi to the lcd tv and plug in the hdmi cable that leads to my projector in the movie room.
I have a separate old soundblaster 16 (PCI) soundcard in the pc, and I direct the audio for mediaportal to that card. that way I have normal PC sound in the pc room and separate movie sound in the tv room/lounge/home theatre.
A tip is to turn on Hardware H264 decoding on the pc (I use powerdvd hardware decoder). This way I can play a 1920x1080 HD movie on the TV/Projector, and the pc is still using about 0% cpu.

Cheers,
Divxmaster

(I run a serial/COM1 port remote, which only ever controls mediaportal - via winlirc)

 

[lujo]

I run the two screen setup as well. This way my main desktop PC is also my HTPC.
The desktop screen connects via VGA (screen:1), and the LCD TV (screen:2) for mediaportal connects via HDMI. The LCD tv is actually in a different room to the pc!
I run the hdmi cable through the wall. It all works very well. I also can unplug the hdmi to the lcd tv and plug in the hdmi cable that leads to my projector in the movie room.
I have a separate old soundblaster 16 (PCI) soundcard in the pc, and I direct the audio for mediaportal to that card. that way I have normal PC sound in the pc room and separate movie sound in the tv room/lounge/home theatre.
A tip is to turn on Hardware H264 decoding on the pc (I use powerdvd hardware decoder). This way I can play a 1920x1080 HD movie on the TV/Projector, and the pc is still using about 0% cpu.

Cheers,
Divxmaster

(I run a serial/COM1 port remote, which only ever controls mediaportal - via winlirc)

Is it possible that you use/work on the VGA (screen:1) when another person is watching tv or movie on LCD TV (screen:2)?

That is for my very important.

 

[Wolen]

That's the way I have mine set up, on one screen I have Media Portal running, on the other I can do anything I want.

 

[pnyberg]

JUst curious - is that setup wiht no limitations?
I mean you can have different resolutions on the primary and secondary monitor for example?

 

[divxmaster]

lujo: yes, you can do that no problem, as long as you have a reasonably powered pc. Thats why I used hardware to decode the bluray in mediaportal, so it doesnt affect the using of the pc on the desktop.

pnyberg: yes,no problem with different resolutions, thats a standard windows feature. I run this all on windows 7 , btw.

cheers,
Divxmaster

 

[lujo]

lujo: yes, you can do that no problem, as long as you have a reasonably powered pc. Thats why I used hardware to decode the bluray in mediaportal, so it doesnt affect the using of the pc on the desktop.

pnyberg: yes,no problem with different resolutions, thats a standard windows feature. I run this all on windows 7 , btw.

cheers,
Divxmaster

So that is nice to hear. I have try to use Windows Media Center on LCD tv (screen:1) and to work on another (screen:2) but it is totally not possible to use Windows Media Center and to work on another screen.

For example:

LCD TV (screen:1)

- watching tv channel

TFT monitor (screen:2)

- using Windows Media Player to listen to music


Can I now use remote to switch between TV channels?
So when I press "+" that there is only switch from channel 4 to channel 5 (screen:1) and not between song 100 to 101 (screen:2 on Windows Media Player)?

 

[divxmaster]

that would depend on what remote you had. My remote is setup to send commands to Mediaportal only. It is not a mediacentre remote, so I couldnt comment on what that one would do.. im presuming you have a mediacentre remote. Im sure there must be a way to decide what windows functions it controls (i.e, tell it not to control media player)

Cheers,
Divxmaster