Using a Stand Alone Video Wall Controller Box

The iVu9Pro from Super-PC (exclusively available at multi-monitors.com) may very well be the very best solution for companies attempting to create an amazing video wall presentation. Simply put, this is the

ATI Multiple Monitors Flight Simulator Video Wall Display

stand alone video wall controller to use. It’s an ultra high resolution solution that allows 8 mega pixel input and more importantly, 8 mega pixel output, resulting in an ultra high quality display. But here’s the real kick, this controller has an OSD keypad on the front that enables super easy-control interface. And because of the design, keypad in the front and video outputs and power in the rear, it means that cabling is a breeze. On its own, the iVu9Pro can drive nearly any type of display: LCD, DLP, video wall cubes and projectors, so it’s perfect for any display application. But to add more fuel to the fire, it will save you a small fortune, especially if you are trying to use an extra large wall display. Consider this, the NEC 82” Large Screen LCD Wall display unit will set you back almost $50,000, and while I can guarantee that you won’t be disappointed with its performance, you may not be able to afford this kind of display. However, $40,000 (maybe more) less, you can design and setup display using the iVu9Pro that will knock the socks of any trade show. It is clearly the economical choice.
Some other advantages are the pixel-to-pixel mapping without resolution loss. In fact, the iVu9Pro displays 7 megapixel images. The iVu9Pro also has fan-less design for any implementation and the iVu9pro can operate in a total of 6 screen modes (3×2, 2×3 or 3×3) for ultimate versatility. And it can do this with one images source input of up to 4080×2304 DVI Dual-Link or even 9 DVI-D out puts to 9 monitors (the above mentioned 3×3 configuration.)
If you have been considering setting up a video wall display, the iVu9Pro from Super-PC is an optimal choice. It is designed to allow ease of use features and will likely leave you feeling excited with the possibilities and versatility. You can only find this video wall controller box at multi-monitors.com, so keep that in mind when you are shopping around as you’ll be let down trying to find it elsewhere.

How Do I Make A Multple Monitor Video Wall?

As someone that focuses most of their energy on computers and tech related products, one of the most common questions that I hear these days is, “How do I make a video
wall?” Fortunately for those that are trying to put together options for a video wall, in this article I’m going to discuss how to make a video wall.  We’ll discuss all the various components that you need to get your video wall up and running.  Hopefully by the end of this article you’ll be able to piece together everything you need to get your video wall up and running and in turn this will help your business, whatever it may be, thrive!
Let’s start with a very important part of any video wall, the monitors.  I can’t honestly think of a good reason to use anything other than LED high resolution monitors these days.  But beyond resolution is there something that you should be looking for when you pick out your monitors?  Of course there is, one of the things that makes a video wall so attractive is using monitors which have a smaller than traditional bezel.  The idea behind finding monitors with a small bezel is that you’ll be able to use many small (and inexpensive as well) screens to create a giant screen. In case you’re unsure, the bezel is simply the inactive part of the screen, it kind of looks like a frame to me. There are a
number of companies that focusing on micro bezel.  Among those are Samsung, NEC and Dell.  I can’t say for sure that one is particularly better than the other.  I will say that NEC has been around and innovating in the monitor world probably the longest, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are the best.  Probably the best way to pick your monitors is to find out what’s on sale, and then compile a pros and cons list to determine what you best option is going to be.
Next you need to consider what type of video card is going to be best.  Well let me back up, there are multiple options for connecting your screens and making them active.  What you choose should be dependent on how many monitors you need to use or how big you want to make your video wall.  The two main methods for hooking up your video wall are going to be using a multiple monitor computer and using a stand-alone video wall controller.  There are pros and cons to each of course, which we’ll touch on, just a little bit.
One of the big advantages of using a stand-alone video wall controller is going to be cost.  When you’re building your video wall it’s important to make cuts where you can, and by using a device such as the iVu9 Xtreme4vs.  The beauty of a device like this is this is that it’s relatively easy to setup, as the ports are conveniently placed.  It can handle up to 9 different screens in up to 3 different arrangements and can be easily programmed, to make moving your video wall (if necessary) a complete breeze.   Of course, a big advantage is also the ability to use high-resolution graphics across all the screens.  And finally, I find it pretty cool that you can remote into your stand-alone video wall controller so that you can program the screens as needed.  This is definitely a cool feature.  For example, consider this:  you’ve sent an employee to work a trade show that you were unable to attend, but you can make adjustments to your presentation on the fly, thanks to the remote-in feature.
The other option, and one that many opt to do for some reason or another, is to have a custom PC built that’s designed to specifically for multiple monitors.  I know this seems like it might be a good option, and honestly for some of you it might be, but it does tend to be a bit more expensive.  Here’s why:  when you build your own system, you’re stuck with the cost of an expensive video card that can handle multiple monitors and the cost of a computer system that will cost you a pretty penny as well.  You can’t go cheap when you get your computer system either, and that’s a big chunk of the expense.  You need a system with a fast processor, preferably an i7 and 4-8 GBs of RAM.  There’s nothing wrong with going this route though, and in the end it may give you a bit more control, which is what some people are looking for, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that.  You just have to balance you decision and figure out what is going to work best for your business.
One big question people ask quite frequently is what type of stand do you use for video walls.  The answer really depends on the size and scope of your video wall.  In other words, there are customized stands that can be purchased that make setup (physically) your video wall pretty easy.  Among these stands, it’s worth noting, that there are both stand alone versions and wall mounted versions, either of which is considerably easy to assemble and display.  Of course there are custom stands for large display setups.  The stand usually cost a few hundred dollars.  You don’t need to be an expert to setup a video wall stand; it’s fairly common sense.
Hopefully this article helped you figure out how to make a video wall.  It is not hard to do these days, all you need are the tools and you can have your video wall up and running in no time at all.  The benefits of having a video wall in your business’s arsenal are exponential.  You’ll find that you’re better able to attract new clients and new customers and you’ll love how easy it is to setup and design new content for you presentation.  Using a video wall will be one of the smartest moves that you’ve ever made for your business.

Improve your Trade Show Display with a Multi-Screen Video Wall

In a worldwide economy it’s important that everyone know and understand how they can
 meet others that are in their field.  It’s important that others know how they can find new prospects with the eventual goal of being able to find new prospects that will lead to strong business growth.  In fact at popular trade shows, it’s not uncommon for the guy (or gal) with the biggest and flashiest display to get most of the floor traffic.  In fact, I’ve been to trade shows where people were literally lined up past other vendors because a particular display or promotion caught their attention.  In this article were going to show off some of the coolest trade show displays and talk about where they were at and some of the particulars.  In particular we’re going to discuss multiple monitor and video Wall displays because the trend tends to be going toward all video displays these days.
Now this may not seem like a big deal to most people, but this is actually one of my favorite vendors, and they are demoing one of my favorite products, the Matrox TripleHead2Go.  This display is pretty simple, but it catches your eye because if you’re not using multiple monitors, you’re probably wondering how they were able to pull this off, and what the little box behind the monitors is and what it does.
In recent years Microsoft sold their famous Flight Simulator to war machine Lockheed Martin.  This is their display at a trade show demoing the awesome flight simulator.  I like this setup because it gives anyone that hasn’t seen the flight simulator in action a chance to play with great graphics on a 1080p 40 inch display.
Here is a great tradeshow display from Nike and there are a few things that really stand
out in this display.  Of course they have multiple screens that are showing off different new product features and benefits, but they also have some strong bright visuals that attract attention.


My favorite thing about this display is the, uh, big screen in the background that shows
my favorite car, the Porsche, performing.  Reel them in with the car and deliver interesting facts or other information with your digital wall display.  This works like a charm.


Other than being the king of search Google has been known to be king of the trade show, often giving great presentations to demo new products or features.  Here they just have a few computers setup and are undoubtedly showing off one of their new apps, features or something else cool, because that’s what Google does!


WOW!  Samsung really knows how to make an impression.  This is their video wall when they were announcing the competition that that they were releasing against the iPhone
and the iPad.  Apparently they nailed it too because they are really penetrating the market, but that’s a whole other article.  What we can talk about are the 173 screens that made up their wall of vision at this trade show.  It was quite a site to see.


Sony loves to do it large and at this trade show it was no exception.  They have a huge display with their name and big lights.  But it doesn’t stop there, behind that big sign they had various displays lined up behind the flashy lights and they were demonstrating some of their newest products, including the Sony Vaio.  There’s no doubt though that these
displays make



Here’s an Apple iPhone tradeshow display and I love what they’ve done here the use of multiple monitors to create a video wall inside of an iPhone.  This is a great example of how you can use an interesting visual presentation to grab attention and sell your product.  The iPhone went on to revolutionize the way we thought about
personal communication, it’s undoubted that this display played a small part in the build up to its original release.


If you’ve been to any tech related trade shows, and as I a blogger I try to attend at least a couple each year, then you know that eBay always has a strong presence.  Much like the way apple revolutionized the personal communication industry, eBay was up and running in the late 1990’s and
changed the way we thought about buying and selling online.  But they haven’t stopped and have continuously tried to improve the way they run their company.  Their displays always pack a punch and trade shows and I love to stop by their both to see what new service they’re going to be offering next!

Last, but not least, I really like this Panasonic display, because I think it captures a lot of cool features of a good trade show display.  They have black lights with white objects to grab your attention.  They also have a strange video wall configuration that looks more
art deco than trade show.  I just think it’s a cool way to grab the attention of potential clients.  Panasonic is a big brand that has been around for a long time.  It’s likely that they will continue to impress trade show attendees with stunning visual displays.

Hopefully this has shown you a little bit of what is possible at trade shows these days.  More and more companies are using powerful video wall displays to grab attention, but it doesn’t always have to be the traditional video wall that we think of when we think video wall.  The creative minds of big and small companies think of amazing ways to put video to work for them at these shows that they guarantee that no one is going to miss their booth.
When it comes to creating a great trade show display, I think one of the most important things to remember is that creativity and uniqueness counts.  Making your display stand out with a multiple monitor video wall is an excellent way to grab extra attention.  And if your business is like mine, one important thing to remember is that a new client or customer is worth its weight in gold, so don’t be afraid to go all out with your video wall display and create something that will really impress those potential clients.  A video wall display can deliver your message and create a positive scene that no one will forget.

Great Video Wall of China! Shanghai International Airport

There are multiple airports in Shanghai, China – The Honggiao Airport and the Pudong Airport.  Both have one thing in common though- their advertising is managed by the well-known JCDecaux Momentum Shanghai Airport Advertising Company.  They are known for the more than 209 displays that they manage throughout Asia and the world.

Among other things these companies manage the type of content that gets displayed within the airport, which often includes advertising, but also includes other content as well, such as announcements from the airport authority and live TV.  One thing that JCDecaux Momentum Shanghai Airport Advertising Company does that’s kind of neat is that they arrange content in a synchronized manner.  For example they’ll have digital signs arranged in groups, that display the same information and an image may jump from one screen to the other.  Pretty cool huh?

Digital airport displays like this are becoming more and more popular as they seem to be popping up all over the globe.  It just so happens that a large number of companies also design and manufacturer their displays in China.  And China is no stranger to using technology to an advantage.  Displays of how technology is truly innovated into Chinese culture can be found all over China’s largest cities, and Shanghai is no exception to that rule.  Other cities through China are good examples as well.  This is a trend that is likely to continue too, because this digital signage technology is only going to improve.

Creating a Realistic Flight Simulator Environment using Multiple Monitors

Pilots and flight enthusiasts know all about Microsoft flight simulator. In fact, they’ve been using it for the better part of a decade (if not longer.) And there are many reasons why, not limited to the fact that it has some of the most accurate features of common aircraft. Real enough that before I took my first flying lesson, the instructor had me learn the basics with Microsoft Flight Simulator (or FSX for short.) And it’s not just me. Flight schools and programs around the country have started integrating Microsoft Flight Simulator into their programs as well, in combination with some pretty awesome multi-monitor setups that create an almost real environment to learn to fly. We’re going to go over some of the best features of FSX and discuss the best setups as well so that you too can create a realistic multiple monitor flight simulator environments. When Microsoft released Flight Simulator X, they touted it as the as “an important technological milestone.” Among the advantages was the ability to play the game without first inserting the disc. Since it was the first of the Flight Simulator series to be released on DVD-ROM, you can imagine that it also included a pretty sharp graphics update from previous versions. Technically speaking it was the 10^th version of the game to be released, hitting stores on October 17, 2006. Some of the key new features were navids, GPS and airways. This version featured over 24,000 airports and 28 detailed cities. Also included were 18 types of aircraft, which we’ll discuss in more detail in a moment. It’s also worth nothing that if you bought the deluxe version, you would get an additional 10 cities and 6 additional types of planes. Three of those planes include the Garmin G1000 flightdeck, a feature that aspiring pilots need to learn. Another cool feature of the deluxe version is the ability for a player to act as air traffic control for other online users, including an authentic radar screen. A gold edition was later released as well, which did a couple of things. It combined the Deluxe Edition and the Acceleration expansion pack into one. According to Wikipedia, the available aircraft for FSX include:

Beechcraft Baron 58

Beechcraft Baron 58 G1000

Beechcraft King Air 350

Bell 206B JetRanger

Boeing 737-800

Boeing 747-400

Boeing F/A-18 Hornet

Bombardier CRJ-700

Bombardier Learjet LJ-45

Cessna 208-B Grand Caravan

Cessna 172S SkyhawkSP

Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP G1000

de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver floatplane

De Havilland Canada DHC-8

DG-808-S Competition Sailplane

Douglas DC-3

Extra EA-300-S

Grumman G-21-A Goose

McDonnell Douglas MD-83

Maule Orion M-7-260-C Super Rocket on skis

Maule Orion M-7-260-C Super Rocket

Mooney M-20-M Bravo

Mooney M-20-M Bravo G1000

North American P-51D Racer

Piper PA-28 Cherokee 180

Piper J-3C-65 Cub

Robinson R-22 Beta II

Additionally, players can use a few other aircraft for specific missions, although they aren’t available for free flight. The significance of these aircraft is that they are relatively authentic to the actual controls, handling and features, making it possible to train a new pilot on an aircraft without ever setting foot in the aircraft. Flight Simulator X: Acceleration was an expansion pack that was released in the US roughly a year after the original release date. Some of the key features of Acceleration were new aircraft (3 in total), including a helicopter and the ability to “air race” with other players. Additionally, non-US cities such as Berlin and Istanbul are available for fly over and include stunning and realistic images. Setting up FSX on a multiple monitor system requires a few things. Number one is the proper computer components. In fact, one of the most common criticisms of the game comes from those that attempt to run it on poorly optimized systems. Although most new computers can now handle FSX, it’s important to note that the proper CPU speeds and multiple cores are generally necessary. This should go without saying. Next we’re going to describe how to setup Flight Simulator with multiple monitors. Of course, before you can setup multiple monitors with FSX, you need to make sure that you computer can handle multiple monitors. We’ve done extensive writing on this, so we’re not going to cover it again in this article. That said, if you are using Windows XP or above and you have an extra video output, then the resounding answer is, YES, you do have a multiple monitor capable machine. The next question is will your hardware allow you to run multiple monitors smoothly. Especially when you run programs, such FSX, your system might need an extra kick like a high quality graphics card, or even a faster processor. If you know your computer allows multiple monitors, then proceed to the next steps to setting up multiple monitors for FSX. One of the coolest features of Flight Simulator X is the its ability to offer multiple views of the space surrounding your aircraft with multiple monitors. It creates an almost real cockpit environment, perfect for learning a new aircraft. As a general rule, the center monitor will represent the instrument panel and the view straight ahead, and additional monitors can be used to show the radio stack, GPS, the throttle, or any of the other various windows that are easily accessible in the “Views” menu. If your video card only allows one monitor connection you have a couple of options. You can 1) install a second video card or 2) install a card with 2 or more monitor outputs. Depending on your budget and your overall goal, there are plenty of options available regarding video cards. Because this has been covered before we won’t really go into detail, but know that both video cards and adapters can expand your existing monitors. It’s worth noting that most laptops have either a VGA or a DVI output connector on them, making it relatively easy to expand your monitors on most laptops. Adapters like the DualHead2Go and TripleHead2Go work well for laptops with no additional outputs. You will, obviously, need additional monitors as well. If you need additional help setting up your multiple monitors within FSX you can find it in the “Learning Center” within the simulator itself. The easiest way to access this is to A) Start Flight Simulator X B) Click Learning Center C) Open the index tab and click the letter D D) Go to “Display” E) Click Using Multiple Monitors You may also find the topic “Using Views” (also found in the learning center) relevant to your interests. It’s quite simple to move between monitors when you have additional windows open, but it typically works best if you give the throttle and the radio their own windows. It goes without saying that this can be done with other cockpit elements as well. If you’d like to move the windows between monitors just right-click on the window > click “Undock” > the grab and drag the window into another monitor. Simple! One tip that Microsoft recommends is not letting a single window stretch to multiple screens, as this will adversely affect the performance of your machine. If you’d like more information on setting up multiple monitors inside of Microsoft Flight Simulator X if you go to youtube.com. Many users have demoed how to do this within the software itself making it easy for you to follow along and set these up yourself.

Using a Multiple Monitor Video Wall for Boardroom Presentations

Corporate business meetings have gotten a lot more interesting over the past decade or so, because those doing the speaking do not have to rely on a poster board presentation or even a slide show. These days it’s all about digital technology in the boardroom, which has made visiting these presentations much more interesting. In fact, in a modern boardroom, there are custom solutions with multiple screens so that each any every member of the meeting can maximize their time in the meeting. This is important because it means that there is less time wasted, but also that it’s easier to get your point across, so there is less confusion, less frustration and only easy to understand presentations for the board.     A prime example of this is featured the following image, as you can see, this is a state of the art boardroom and there are a couple of really cool features that I’d like to point out. At each seat you’ll notice a screen that highlights some of the notes that others may be seeing on the main screens in the front of the room. There are also 4 smaller monitors surrounding the main screen that can be used for a variety of reasons. The great thing about this setup is that it isn’t that expensive or difficult to setup, and can really make a huge impact on your ability to present a strong presentation. Making the sale, inspiring new investors, seeking additional funding for your project- these are all things that should be relatively easy because the tools are there and all you have to do is present the information. Video conferencing is another very important feature for a modern day boardroom. Gone are the days of a single phone in the middle of a table for a conference without visual aid. The modern day video conference is practically as good as getting everyone together in person, because with dual screens one can be used to watch the person giving the presentation, while the other is for material being discussed. Likewise, you can actually have multiple other people “there” with multiple other screens. It makes the conference much better for everyone involved if you can see their pearly white smile along with hearing their voice too. Video conferencing is the wave of the future, no question.   A modern day boardroom is full of big images and bright colors because no matter how successful you are, your mind is still captivated much the same way as a child. Powerful images don’t’ stop being effective when you grow up and intelligent board members know this. That’s why multiple large LED screens at the end of the board room table are going to be key to keeping your audience (however captive they may be) interested in what you have to say. Using multiple screens, such as the ones featured below here are a powerful way to do that.     Another good example of what a boardroom screen might look like is pictured below. I like the fact that the table here is curved a little bit making it easy to see the monster 65-inch screen at the end of the room. While I don’t necessarily love the idea of only having one screen at the end of the room, I do appreciate the fact that it’s a very large screen, easily viewable, regardless of where you are sitting. It’s a very elegant designed boardroom that your members will likely appreciate.     So I included the picture below here because I thought it was awkward and kind of a weird design. The dual-screens are mounted on the wall behind half of the people at the meeting. This works great if you’re facing the screen, but what if your facing the opposite way, are you just out of luck? It would appear so. Not sure who is responsible for this design, but I can say that it looks obnoxious and just rather annoying. It’s a bizarre design that no one should have approved in the beginning, but it would appear that someone did, and forever reason it got built. I wouldn’t suggest this design to anyone though. It’s a horrible design and shouldn’t be used. Period.     Leave it to the Germans to design one amazing board room- I love what they did here, they used a large video screen in the center of the room but have smaller chairs/desk so that members of the meeting can arrange in any way that they see fit. This is a super slick design that everyone should take notice of and appreciate, as it’s very sharp and bound to grab attention.     Check out this ultra-modern 2x2 video wall in this sleek and stylish meeting room. I love what they’ve done here, because they’ve essentially taken 4 screens and used the ultra-thin bezel to create one giant screen. But if the need arises, you can use these screens as individuals as well. That’s ultra-sharp. It’s the perfect way to display a videoconference or to have meeting materials displayed. This is what a boardroom should look like at this day in age. It’s very sharp and this style of video wall/video screen is a huge advantage in your boardroom.     Here’s another example of how an actual video wall can be used in a boardroom, this one is 6x3 though, giving you an even greater advantage. In the demo you can see that newsreels are being played, as well as other imagery. You can also hold a very large videoconference as well. Setting up a video wall like this is pretty easy with the use of stand-alone video wall controllers, such as iVuProExtreme4vs. It’s almost as simple as mounting your monitors and plugging in a few wires. The configuration takes only a few minutes and you can program these device to remember various setups, which is great for remembering which application that you want to use it for, depending on a which situation you may be using it for in the future. That’s probably what I like about this style of video screen within a boardroom the most. Usability is at an all time high.     Regardless of how you decide to setup your boardroom, a strong video presence is a must. That’s why the above examples should be seriously considered. Having the right tools in your room can make all the difference when you’re pitching your new idea, so it can’t be underestimated just how important having the right tools actually is. Many executives take for granted the attention span of their perspective clients and even other officers and probably lose out because of it. You should be aware that not having the latest technology may adversely affect business, and as such it the type of screens that you use should be taken as a very serious matter. It’s not just a passing decision, making the wrong choice could actually cost you money, which is something you definitely don’t want to happen, so make sure you choose correctly when setting up your board room.

Multiple Monitors: How Big and How Many?

Are you interested in learning about different monitor sizes, and how using the right number of monitors and size of monitors can help improve your office productivity? Buying the right monitor size can prove to be a difficult thing, especially if you’re not sure what to buy. Sizes range from 13 inches (and in some extreme cases even smaller) all the way up to 84 inches which are used for massive wall displays or commercial digital signage. Most individuals don’t need displays that big. In fact, the average consuming display ranges from about 17 inches to about 22 inches. If you are considering putting together a monitor array, it’s not uncommon to use monitor sizes between 2 and 6 22 inch monitors arranged either side by side, or stacked 2 high. This has been very helpful for some people who were trying to figure out the best way to increase their work productivity. As they’ve discovered, and you will too, the monitor size is not necessarily the most important thing. Rather, it’s important to understand that having the proper amount of desktop space and being able to view multiple programs at once will lead to a more productive day. If you’re not sure how many monitors you need to purchase, or need additional ideas about the correct monitor sizes, give the guys over at multi-monitors.com a call. They can help you determine which size of monitor will be best for you as well as how many you should purchase for your array. They are experts in the field of monitors and will make sure that regardless of your decision, you wind up with what is going to be best for your business.

A Multiple Monitor Trading Computer can help you Profit: For Stock Market and Forex Day Traders!

Don’t be a fool and believe that any computer is good enough for day trading. The fact of the matter is that professional day traders use professional trading computers, and they do so for a whole multitude of great reasons. In this article we’re going to talk about what a trading computer is and how you can use a trading computer to make your day trading or FOREX trading business more profitable. Day trading, as a general rule, revolves around being able to quickly make important decisions and then act on those decisions on a moment’s notice. In other words, you don’t really have time to mess around once you’ve decided that you need to make a trade. This is why having the appropriate equipment is so important. This day in age, there is no reason for a day trader to have a computer with a processor slower than the i5 from Pentium. Likewise, you should not even consider operating with less than 4 GB of RAM (or memory.) The number of monitors that you use is important. I can’t stress this enough. Using a single monitor computer is not enough. You need at least 2 monitors to sufficiently view all of the charts, graphs and programs, however, most day traders prefer at least 4 monitors. There are several ways you can accomplish hooking up multiple monitors for your trading computer. If you’re only using two monitors, then you are in luck because most video cards have two monitor outputs and can handle 2 monitors without too much trouble. However, if you want to use more than 2 monitors then you either need a special video card that allows you to hook up multiple monitors (and has sufficient GPU power to run them), or an adapter that will allow you to hook up multiple monitors. Both options will work, however, if you’re building a new trading computer, then ideally you’ll just add the video cards you need as you piece it together. Either the video card or the adapter will cost upwards of $350, but it’s worth it in the long run. Personally I use 4 monitors to trade and that’s plenty for my needs. Each monitor is assigned a specific function that doesn’t ever change. In fact, when I start my computer, those programs that I use automatically load up to each of the monitors for the function that they’ve been assigned. This works great- I don’t have to think about anything- I just hit the on switch. Furthermore, I only use my trading computer for stock trading, nothing else. No other programs, no other functions. I have a small laptop that I keep nearby for personal use. I’ll get more into why here in a few minutes, but you must know that your trading computer shouldn’t be used for any other function. Another thing to keep in mind when you are building your trading computer is your internet connection. You need to have a solid, fast connection as well as a solid backup connection. 10Mbs should be your minimum, but I really recommend that you go with a 20Mbs or upward. The last thing that you want is to get a connection that isn’t fast enough to handle all the up/down data and lag a transaction. Most cable companies are now offering 50Mbs connections and honestly, these are perfect. Verizon’s FIOS service is another great option (although they aren’t available in many areas yet. Keep in mind too, you should never do trading in public places where connections may become unreliable. The library, Starbucks, etc- these are bad ideas. Make sure you stay away. For your back up connection, it’s a good idea to use another provider. I can’t tell you the number of times that I’ve been working and my cable internet goes down (I’m in Florida, so thunderstorms are common and we often see our cable go out.) My back up is an 6Mbs DSL connection. It’s not super fast, but I can usually count on it being up in the event that I need a quick backup. It’s setup on its own router, so in the event that I need to use it, all I have to do is switch over via my desktop settings. As a little tip, make that if you use this setup, you label your routers something easy to remember, like Router 1 and Router 2 or “main” and “backup” - the last thing you need is to worry about which router you want to connect to in the mean time. Something that a lot of people just getting into day trading may not realize is that you need access to real time data, which you can’t simply get free. Most of the stats you see elsewhere are delayed 10-15 minutes, sometimes more. This simply will not do for a day trader, so you must purchase a data feed from your broker or another service. It will end up costing an additional $100 a month, but it is a must have if you want to be successful. If you’re considering building a day trading computer on your own, then more power to you. Seriously though, I recommend you do something more productive with your time and leave the computer building to the experts. Here’s what I suggest, go visit multi-monitors.com and browse around. Check out the basic prices that they offer on some of the varieties of computers that they have. Then give them a call. Talk with one of their staff about what you are going to do and let them help you come up with a solid custom day trading computer for you. There’s no need to worry yourself to death over buying the right components when you can talk with an expert about what you need to make your day trading computer work properly. Hopefully you’ve found this article about day trading computers helpful. It’s not supposed to be a substitute for a solid education on day trading, but it should get you going in the right direction.

Using Dual Monitors can make you More Money!

Are you interested in learning about different monitor sizes, and how using the right number of monitors and size of monitors can help improve your office productivity? Buying the right monitor size can prove to be a difficult thing, especially if you’re not sure what to buy. Sizes range from 13 inches (and in some extreme cases even smaller) all the way up to 84 inches which are used for massive wall displays or commercial digital signage. Most individuals don’t need displays that big. In fact, the average consuming display ranges from about 17 inches to about 22 inches. If you are considering putting together a monitor array, it’s not uncommon to use monitor sizes between 2 and 6 22 inch monitors arranged either side by side, or stacked 2 high. This has been very helpful for some people who were trying to figure out the best way to increase their work productivity. As they’ve discovered, and you will too, the monitor size is not necessarily the most important thing. Rather, it’s important to understand that having the proper amount of desktop space and being able to view multiple programs at once will lead to a more productive day. If you’re not sure how many monitors you need to purchase, or need additional ideas about the correct monitor sizes, give the guys over at multi-monitors.com a call. They can help you determine which size of monitor will be best for you as well as how many you should purchase for your array. They are experts in the field of monitors and will make sure that regardless of your decision, you wind up with what is going to be best for your business.

The Future of Computing: Video Walls and Giant Screens Solutions

Within the last few years, video walls have successfully fused into the main stream with distinctive usage such as Government, Military, Security, and Network Operations Centers. Video walls can be found at airports, trade stores, shopping malls, stadiums, commercial lobbies, conference rooms, broadcast TV, military, movie theatres, casinos, and tradeshows. The reason for their extensive usage is because lower display hardware costs, displays with smaller bezel width and better picture quality, it's easier to install and configure, and most importantly, its color and brightness calibration that helps achieve standardization from screen to screen has improved. So, branding, advertising, amusement, or communications through video walls has become relatively inexpensively. With the advancements in technology, there will certainly be some remarkable video walls being used in the near future. NEC has merged with a number of manufacturers offering bundled solutions that make using video walls easier and less expensive. There are LCD screens amid 7.3mm, 6.5mm, and up-to-the-minute ones with only 5.7mm pooled bezel width. Usage of LED Backlight on large set-up displays will give screens with even minor bezels, HD resolution, better video quality and incomparable screen-to-screen color uniformity. Configuring a basic 2x2 video wall these days is moderately trouble-free. A 1x2 up to 5x5 (or even 10x10) can be set of connections depending on construct and model. So, showing one large HD image across the full video wall is comparatively effortless undertaking. Specialized builds are also obtainable now that these manufacturers have been premeditated to make setting up (screen-to-screen placement) and servicing video walls much easier, safer, and more cost effective.

Improve Your Surveillance and Security with a Multiple Monitor Video Wall

Throughout the years security personnel have discovered that keeping people safe, loss prevention, and overall wellness of a business can be maintained through careful planning, study and watching closely at how potential trouble makes behave.  It really is special set of skills to learn what people do just before a crime is committed, but the bigger struggle is figuring out how to find these people so that you can identify these behaviors.  In this modern day in age, however, we have learned to adapt and part of that adaptation is the use of power video wall technology that allows us to watch and see what people are doing more closely.  I’ve picked out some of the best video walls in security
offices around the globe to help give you an idea of what I’m talking about.
AT&T is home to the world’s largest security video wall.  It’s officially 12 feet high and 250 feet long and monitors the overwhelming majority of the world’s phone calls.  It looks like the set of War Games, but it actually does keep us all safe, which is what makes this room so special.
If you ever saw the movie Hackers then you probably remember the computer security room in the movie, home of the Gibson Super Computer.  Well this is what a cyber security and hacker specialist actually looks like.  It might not be as impressive as the scene from Hackers, but it’s still pretty darn cool.  This network admin and security specialist uses as many as 11 screens to look for anomalies and ward off any potential threats.
Another security room that most people probably never even think about is the guys watching over your electricity.  This is the security room for The California Independent System Operator Corporation, which is responsible for the flow of electricity across California’s power grid.  In other words, they keep the power supply pumping.  Can you imagine the chaos if they weren’t around to look out for our state’s power supply.  Their job is of the upmost importance and using multiple screens is a key part of that job.  In teams of 2 they monitor various sections with a multiple monitor setup, and also have a video wall to monitor big picture power issues.
This is what a typical CCTV operator room might look like.  These are the “eyes in the sky” that help prevent theft, monitor crowds and help keep us safe.  They use over 30 monitors on the video wall alone and additional monitors to zoom in and look for particular behaviors that might indicate a problem.  It takes special training to know what to look for, but more importantly it wouldn’t be possible without the help of the multiple monitor video wall that they use.
camera feeds from various government buildings all feed to, including the airport and the port of Palm Beach.  In addition, properties such a few malls are also monitored (with the owner’s permission.)  Interestingly enough, while it monitors dozens of properties, nothing actually gets recorded; they just use the room for monitoring.In Palm Beach County local and federal officials are working together to keep everyone safe through the use of what they refer to as “The Situation Room.”  This is where
If you’ve ever wondered where all those traffic cameras are feeding, they probably go to a room that looks a bit like this.  Usually a small team keeps an eye on the video wall to look for anything odd that may require further investigation.  These video walls aren’t exactly cheap, but they do serve a good purpose, ensuring the safety of everyone around.
As you can see from all of the above-mentioned examples, the security of our business, our nation and lives depend on the multiple monitor video wall technology.  And the cool thing is that the technology is only getting better, leading to even more security.  As this technology continues to improve, we’ll probably see even more services that utilize this type of multiple monitor technology to help keep businesses and lives safe from the dangers of the world we live in today.

Video Walls in Newsrooms - See how America Gets it's news!

We’ve all seen the progression over the years, from the somewhat cheesy green screen backgrounds, to the quite impressive video wall displays that make up our nation’s newsrooms.  Over the years the technology to bring better imagery to our newsrooms has progressed rapidly and it seems that sometimes a competition between networks to see who can have the coolest setup.  In this article we’re going to discuss some of the coolest newsroom displays.

Probably the best-known name is the news business, CNN has been fast to adopt new technology and put it to good use.  It seems during the last election there was more use of video wall screens than any other network- they must have had 5 different anchors, each using a different wall, which display some type of cool graph, chart, or other interesting number to help illustrate whatever point it was that they were trying to get across.  And this brings up a good point- that you can use these video walls to really help drive home a message.  CNN is the master at this.


Fox News, owned by Rupert Murdoch’s powerful News Corp., is another very well known news network that uses a video wall display to help get a message across to anxious viewers.  Seen here is their Washington studio, where they have a giant display behind the news desk, along with multiple other smaller monitors that are used to display various information. But if you check out their other studios you’ll see that they used synchronized monitors to help create a powerful display behind the anchor.  Pictured here is the Fox and Friends New York studio:


You’ll notice that they’ve designed these video screens to stand upright, and display their logo when they aren’t being used to display news imagery.  And here is yet another image of the Fox News Studio, where they use a powerful image cube that displays information regarding the news story that they are covering.  This creates a somewhat artsy feel to the studio too, which is kind of cool.  It really breaks up the monotony of the typical news story, it makes it much more entertaining to watch, which is what the modern 24 hour news station is going for, as opposed to the old school evening news.  There’s definitely an entertainment fact involved in modern news broadcasts.



If you look at the image below here and think, “Wow, MSNBC is all business” then I’d have to agree with you.  They use one large screen behind their anchors here to help create a depth to their stories, but it certainly lacks that artsy visually pleasing appeal that you’ve probably noticed in some of the pictures from the other 24 hours news network.  Don’t worry though, I’m sure they’ve done the market research to know that this what their audience is looking for when they watch their news

programs.  And if you look at this image, it almost looks like the polar opposite to what we saw above, as this is very artsy, warm and welcoming video wall that creates a lighted backdrop for the anchors, more than just displaying a story.  They’ve used multiple custom monitors to create a puzzle effect, which I don’t you’re going to find on any other news network.



The CBS studio in New York reminds me much more of the traditional newsroom that we grew up seeing, with a single long desk for anchors.  Immediately next to the desk you’ll notice large video screen for stories delivered with the anchor standing.  This is a high impact, high-resolution screen that undoubtedly packs a punch when the anchor is delivering a news story.  The fact that this is the only screen visible on set really echoes CBS’s desire to keep their set simple, minimalistic if you will.


I can remember watching ABC news with Peter Jennings when I was a kid, and he always had a wall of screens behind him.  The newsroom looked big and busy.  On the outside of ABC’s studio in New York, there is very much activity taking place, with a large screen and scrolling news wire.

Inside is no different either, with ABC taking the seemingly opposite approach of their CBS counterparts; they’ve used a large wall of mega-screens that sits behind the anchors.  Each anchor has their own screen that seems to swallow them up whole.  These screens are very powerful and add a lot to any news story, without question.


Probably one of the best-known studios in the world is 30 Rockefeller Place New York, NY- the Rainbow Room at NBC.  That distinct sign outside is hard to miss and is something that Tourist in the New York area always wants to see.  But the inside of the studio is common in many homes as well, as NBC is a popular news station.  They’ve changed their studio many times, but all of the most recent updates include large video walls that are part of that change.



But it’s not just the major news networks that are using large video screens inside their studios.  Pictured below is a CBS affiliate station in California that almost mimics their national news counterpart with a single large screen sitting directly behind the anchor as she delivers the morning news.



As you can see these types of video walls are popping up all over the place in newsrooms.  Here and abroad, national and local, this has become a powerful way to add powerful imagery to the news we all watch.  And it’s only going to get better, I have no doubt, because as the technology of large video walls continues to improve, so will the imagery that news networks and stations are able to use within their studios.  It likely won’t be long until hologram technology has taken over and the screens transport anchors the actual scene of the news story.  But until then we have high-impact and high resolution images that will help get the stories across better than any other time in history, so get enjoy it.

Using a Multiple Monitor Computer for Audio Recording, Engineering and Production

If you’re a musician (or an aspiring musician) and you’ve setup your own home studio, then you probably recognize that screen real estate is extremely valuable.  It doesn’t matter which recording program you use, Logic, ProTools, Cubasic, or one of the many other that are available.  With all of the plugins, samples and additional tools that you use alone with the main recording program, having an extra screen available will make recording significantly easier.  In this article we’re going to discuss some different setups and how you can maximize your recording efforts by using multiple screens.


Here’s a prime example of how using multiple monitors can help enhance your recording.  Using a second monitor is great way monitor multiple tracks at once and monitor each and every plugin at the same time with your second monitor.  You can also use the additional screen to monitor other applications such as email or communications tools, such as Skype.   Having this extra space means you’ll get less distracted and you’ll be able to multi-task while recording.

And I should point out that Windows users aren’t the only ones that are using multiple monitors.  Mac users, especially power Mac users have been using multiple monitors for quite some time as well and can definitely appreciate the benefits of having their full mixing abilities available while they are reviewing each individual track on the second screen.   And with OSX Lion setting up multiple monitors on multiple screens is actually rather easy to do.  It just takes a couple of quick clicks to do so.  The cool thing is regardless of if you prefer Pro Logic 9 or Pro Tools, it’s easy to use multiple monitors and benefit from them.
Regardless of what type of audio recording you end up doing, and regardless of what program you use, having multiple monitors is going to be a key benefit for your recording experience.  You’ll appreciate the extra screen real estate and you’ll enjoy not having to bounce back and forth between tools are you record, edit, mix and create.

Professional Grade Graphics and Video Card Guide

Teens are hooked on fast-action and riveting video games, adults are breaking sweat on high-tech image analysis and various industries are stacking computers over computers to create a bigger screen! Today’s world seems to rotate around high-throughput graphics technology. And with that, comes the age of cutting-edge Graphic solution technologies.
Every time you turn on your PC and switch your monitor on, right from the wallpaper displayed to the complex visualization of video games, everything thrives on a good graphic support! For this purpose, Graphic cards have been developed, and every now and then, one surpasses the other.
With the demanding and ever-increasing need for an enhanced display as seen in almost all sections of today’s society, it has become merely confusing to single out a graphic solution from the profuse variants of high-performance graphic cards. Many graphic cards these days allow you to expand the horizons of your screen onto other monitors. Some let you support a wider screen image by allowing more data at a rapid rate. Some provide higher storage capacity, which entails a greater data assimilation power to ensure better image display! It seemingly becomes an ordeal to browse through these many lucrative options and settle for a solution that satisfies your needs most appropriately.
In an attempt to ease that stress for you, here are three top contenders for the most advanced graphic solutions available. One of these bad boys is bound to end your search:

 Matrox M9188 PCIe x16 multi-display Octal graphics card:
Being a newly embedded jewel to the pristine M-series of Matrox Graphic solutions, this power-packed graphic card heralds itself as being the first single-slot Octal card with PCl Express x16 offering single card with 16 display support! The most celebrated feat of the Matrox M9188 is that it harbors 8-display plugins in one unit, which makes it almost indispensible for people who use multiple displays. Matrox M9188 uses Mini Display Port adaptors, which allow the user to manage eight screens from a single Graphic card and control the image display on all those eight screens. The graphic card also allows the user to shuttle between independent screen display and Stretched Display over multiple screens.
With a hardcore 2 GB memory on-board, it can cater pleasantly astounding data support making it possible to handle large scale image analysis like multi-access security imaging or financial trading on multiple ends! It appears not so subtly that this graphic solution is more adept for the corporate machinery, which needs wide-screen projection and boosted graphic support. The salient features of the Matrox M9188 PCIe x16 multi-display Octal graphics card are:

• Ø Single slot card with multi-card support –facility to run 16 display units using 2 cards.
• Ø DisplayPort and DVI single link output
• Ø 2GB of memory on-board –to handle large amounts of data single-handedly.
• Ø Native PCI Express x16 performance
• Ø Stretched and independent desktop support
• Ø 2560 x 1600 DisplayPort monitor resolution and 1920 x 1200 DVI monitor resolution (per display) –offering unmatched flexibility for display options.
• Ø OpenGL 2.0 support
• Ø Drivers for Windows 7, Vista, XP, Server 2003/2008, and Linux included with 32-bit and 64-bit support in all cases.
• Ø Edge overlap –to provide crisp images with clearly defined features on-screen rendering a new meaning to 3D imaging, down to the pixels!
• Ø ATX form factor
• Ø Matrox Powerdesk software –which offers easier control over program windows over multiple monitors.

The price may seem a bit high ($2599), but considering the unrivaled and flexible features it offers it’s really a steal!

FirePro V9800 4GB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1×16 Hex Monitor Display Support:

The most advanced addition to the ATI FirePro^TM graphic solutions, this graphic card offers intensive data support and allows you to extrapolate your display to six independent screens at the same time using a single card! It comes boasting a 4 GB data storage capacity that allows you to maneuver through complex computational requirements and renders impeccable performance. Suited for professionals who work with extensive graphic analysis and intense 3D environment, this card offers an edge over others with the ATI EyeFinity^TM support. With a GDDR 5 memory support, it satisfies the high-bandwidth requirement irresistible for working with Medical Imaging or Digital Content creation or Simulation.
Some salient features of this dazzling performer are:

• Ø ATI Eyefinity technology allowing up to six independent displays
• Ø 1600 stream processor that surpasses any existing technology
• Ø 4GB GDDR5 memory
• Ø AutoDetect technology that optimizes performance for multi-application workflow
• Ø Hardware acceleration and support for DirectX® 11 and OpenGL 4.0
• Ø 3D  Stereoscopic support to ensure unrivaled image quality
• Ø Framelock/Genlock support
• Ø ATI CrossFire™ Pro Support
• Ø PCI Express® 2.1 compliant

PNY VCQ6000-PB Quadro 6000 Fermi Graphics Card:
The pioneer of massive data storage, with 6 GB GDDR 5 memory support, this card ushers in a new era of 5X faster speed and performance in delivering broad range of designs, animations and video applications.
The innovative Fermi architecture, this graphic card comes with a 448 NVIDIA CUDA parallel processing core, which gives a rapid data analysis for people who have no time to spare. Powered by Floating Point Precision (64-bit), it offers impeccable results with no scope for error especially for critical applications like simulation and computational fluid dynamics. Enhanced integrity of data and irrefutably reliable processing comes hand-in-hand with the powerful ECC memory. Paving way for revolution, Quadro 6000 Fermi brings in Scalable Geometry Engine^TM technology, which offers a stunning 1.3 trillion triangles per second, breaking through the shackles of previous limitations on 3D graphics.
Here are some features that make Quadro 6000 Fermi the best and the finest in the market:

• Ø GPU Series: NVIDIA Quadro –powerful technology to make your work easier and unhindered!
• Ø Lifestyle: Workstation / GPU Computing
• Ø NVIDIA GigaThread Engine –to provide context switching so seamless that your work flows across the screen, or screens!
• Ø NVIDIA Scalable Geometry Engine –to ensure unrivaled image quality
• Ø NVIDIA CUDA Architecture –for immense and intensive data processing.
• Ø Maximum Digital Resolution: 2560 x 1600
• Ø Video Card Profile: Standard / Dual-Slot
• Ø Memory Interface: 384-bit
• Ø Memory Type: GDDR5
• Ø Video Memory: 6GB
• Ø Stream Processors: 448
• Ø Memory Bandwidth: 144GB/sec.
• Ø Interface Type: PCI Express 2.0
• Ø Connector(s): DVI (Dual Link) / Dual Display Port
• Ø Multiple Monitors Support
• Ø APIs: NVIDIA CUDA / DirectX 11 / Shader Model 5 / OpenGL 4.0
• Ø Video Output: DVI / DisplayPort

All of these graphic support solutions are designed to deliver the highest and ultimate image analysis techniques that expand the horizons of graphic technology. From cutting edge processing speed to indispensible 3D support, these graphic cards have it all! For all the needs that a user can have, the solution is within here!
As they say, pictures say much more than words!