Use my computer as an HTPC and computer (1 Viewer)

[Paranoid Delusion]

Nice Dog Khris

Yep i'm using my pc as all singing all dancing, but not at the same time.
Leave that to the Panasonic HDD/DVD recorder and NTL at the moment.
Graphic cards do have there limitations and potentially and expectably
anything that involves movement may reflect upon either screen, so unfortunately
have to agree, even with a pc with a dual processor and
linked graphic cards this is impossible with the technology at the moment.
Always worth asking and trying the impossible will happen one day.

8)

 

[Khris]

He's one of two Italian Greyhounds that my partner and I own!

Computer wise, you're right. Unfortunately right now, the technology isn't at a point which can allow us to use one machine to be use simultaneously as an HTPC and desktop computer......it's one or the other unfortunately.

 

[Tech Geek]

Just an FYI, I think Jetway (or was it SOYO) makes a motherboard designed to be used by two users at 1 time with 2 monitors, 2 keyboards, 2 mice and the one machine. It requires special software of theirs to do though.

 

[onkl]

It might be possible to have a resident program make sure the MediaPortal windows stay on the secondary display but any such program is going to take some CPU time.
I could try to do this with AutoIt and see how well it works. I have a feeling that MediaPortal won't be as easy to do this with.

I remember trying to force MP on the secondary monitor. GPU went skyhigh, since the videocard will only accelerate DX9 on the primary monitor. (MP was crashing BTW)

 

[Marcusb]

What started as my test rig on my bedroom PC has worked so well it is now my proper bedroom HTPC with shared actions as my main computer as well.

I find it works very well and for some reason it seems to work better than my dedicated HTPC in the lounge.

All I have done is set up Nvidia in clone view with a zoom to the TV of all video material. Since MP renders using DX9, this means that the TV shows MP just as it would on a dedicated machine and my monitor shows everything else. You also have to turn off "Full screen" and "always on top" in mp setup of course.

You do have to keep the MP window open at all times, but it doesn't mind being in the background (but the remote doesn't work if it doesn't have focus- then again, if I am sitting at the keyboard I don't need the remote).