Can I use multiple monitors with Second Life?

[Ayana Auer]

I have 2 monitors and I would like to use both for Second Life.  Is there more information about this topic?

[Lexie Linden]

If your computer has two or more monitors, it's very useful to  display Second Life on one, while showing various applications on the  other(s). For example, some Resident content creators have dual monitors  so they can do image editing in Photoshop while keeping an eye inworld.  It's more convenient than flipping back and forth -- extra screen "real  estate" really does make a difference!

What follows are some general tips relating to Second Life and  dual monitors. For specifics, consult the documentation provided by the  manufacturer(s) of your monitors and your graphics card, because details  may vary.

On some systems, Second Life may encounter problems if it's  running on the secondary monitor. In Windows XP/2000, monitor numbering  is usually done in the Control Panel > Display > Settings tab, like this:

If your avatar turns black

Try this:

1. Log out of Second Life.
2. Open Second Life on the primary monitor.
3. Open the Advanced menu.
4. Select Advanced > Character > Rebake Textures.

This should "refresh" your avatar so you appear as expected again.

If this issue persists with your dual monitor setup, please tell more about your graphics card and monitor configuration here. Include:

• What graphics card are you using?
• What's your setup look like? 
  • A laptop with an extra monitor
  • A desktop with a dual-port graphics card
  • A desktop with a dual-monitor cable splittter
  • Something else

Stretching the Second Life window across more than a single monitor

This is also known as spanning, and can result in greatly lowered performance. To compare before and after, select View > Statistics Bar and observe "FPS" (Frames Per Second)" at the top. You'll likely notice  that it drops, and and you'll feel the experience get jumpier and  rougher. For this reason, spanning isn't generally recommended.

 

Quit Second Life before making major monitor changes

For example, switching resolutions, or enabling/enabling a monitor.  Changing those settings when Second Life is open may result in a hard  crash that restarts your computer.