Follow My RL QUEST of Hardware Multiboxing ... should be an adventure :)

aliza703 443
gotchoods 5



*** UPDATE *** I have for the most part acquired my set up ... if you go to page two you can see pictures of what I bought and how i am setting it up ... thanks for everyones help that wanted to help ... and to those of you that were rude in my thread to me ... /sticks out tongue :)

Note in my SIG: my other toons are now level 18 and chugging along :)

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I have 6 accounts in LOTRO and it takes 6 to make up a party in LOTRO .... I have one LM and am bringing up 5 Hunters atm to box. ATM I can barely eeek by playing 3 toons as one of my computers just doesnt cut it..

MY setup will be the following

1.) I have decided to build 4 new machines to go with my two good ones that will run only LOTRO on them at at least high settings

2.) I have already bought 5 Samsung p2070 LCD monitors with monitor mounts to go around my Apple 24 inch with mounting bracketts

Here is where I need help...

3.) I read bradsters hardware guide but VETRA has come out with the SWITCH CASTER now that seems to replace 3 of the componets of his setup and make it one unit so I was thinking ... ( doesnt this make the ymouse and other things on there not needed? )

VIP-808-KM-B-DE: 8 port KVM Switch / Multicaster. Switch or multicast one keyboard and PS/2 mouse between eight PCs. PC selection via keyboard "hot-key", or direct entry front panel switches.You will need sixteen 6-pin mini-DIN male-male cables, such as our VIP-300-6MM-06 cables, to connect to the PCs. http://www.vetra.com/808B_text.html


4.) X-KEYS PRO .... I read on a thread that was over a year old I found using search function to get a PS/2 version becuase the USB was buggy ... I am about to pull the trigger on x-keys pro ... after reading about them I would prefer the USB version ... it just seems more functional and not sure how much longer PS/2 will be in comps ... has X-KEYS USB version improived in the last year to become functional? anyone have a USB version care to share? Does the PS/2 version record as well as the USB software version ... can they do the same things?

so X-keys Pro PS/2 or is the USB version of x-keys PRO now a viable option? http://www.xkeys.com/xkeys/xkpro.php

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Am I leaving anything out ? will this be a viable setup? am I correct that VETRAS new SWITCHCASTER replaces needed to use three componets to do the job bradster had to do before the SWITCHCASTER came out ? comment form bradster would be most helpful?



I am buying the PC 's todays ... I would like to pull the trigger on 3 and 4 real soon but do not want to make a mistake and would like to hear from the community... IS EVERYTHING compatable?

You might get better responses from the community if your not making a new topic every 5 minutes.

[quote='Gurblash',index.php?page=Thread&postID=1918 90#post191890]You might get better responses from the community if your not making a new topic every 5 minutes.[/quote]

you must be refering to these ... in which no one answered and were on TWO SEPARATE products thus the multiple threads ... I figured the hardware forum must not get used must so I would consolidate myt thread and experience on starting up a new multibox team into general figuring I Might get some help as a new member of this community .... I am not very technical and I am trying hard to figure this all out and USING SEARCH FUNCTION so sorry if I made you mad I assumed posting on two separate products would be acceptable maybe its not ... nonetheless i thought [color=#ff0000]maybe consolidating my WHOLE EXPERIANCE with PICS and making sort of a journal out of it in general would be more fun and maybe get more people to help me ....

[/color]

thanks for your constructive response though

ryan

[url='http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=20654']Anyone use Vetra products or familar with them... could use some help if you do ...[/url]

Bradster - VETRA has new combined products now ... since you wrote your guide ... please help me choose HARDWARE setup device from VETRA ... or anyone feel free to help please....

X-Keys Pro PS2 or USB? part Deux ( i used search but info was over a year old )

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 'Fursphere',index.php?page=Thread&postID=191909#po st191909

holy fucking extended subject line batman!

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look I am sorry for messing up all the rules of this place apparently ... :( this is only third forum I have ever been to and rarly particpate on any ... I do not know all the rules and such on what makes people mad and what not .. I am sorry to everyone that apparently i have really made everyone mad here ... .... again sorry for the bad forum manners on whatever I did wrong to make people not want to help me ... ill figure out something ...




/hands over peace offering to community

I am just an old married guy that never learned much about computers that happens to liek the idea of multiboxing a game I play LOTRO ... I was referred to this site for help ...



P.S. I used SEARCH function on here for HOURS on end just so everyone knows ... its kind of hard ot navigate through it all for me at least ... I got what I could out of the searching some of it most revlevent to me was over a year old

I don't hardware box, so cannot help.
The wiki has some information on both hardware and software boxing.
You'll need to ensure your individual systems are capable of running the game smoothly enough on the settings you desire.
If your new hardware accomplishes everything the old stuff mentioned in stickies/wiki does, it will be fine.
If there are things it does not do, then I'd just go with the hardware mentioned in the stickies, because that will work.
Search is your friend, but someone with hardware knowledge might respond.

The thing is, you're asking a very specific question, and you're not likely to get a good answer outside of "not going to know until you try it". Not that we wouldn't like to help, we really would, its just that most of us are software boxers. Those of us who are hardware boxers have gone through a myriad of methods doing so, from KVM switches to wireless broadcasting to network transmission. Unless someone has managed to already have fiddled with what you're asking, none of us can answer your question without doing a fair bit of research on our part, and at that point, you honestly should be just researching the thing yourself.

http://www.videodetective.com/photos/1009/042382_43.jpg

Ya, I would call Vetra and get the skinny on it before you make a purchase. Best to be safe and make sure you are getting the appropriate hardware for the job. Also, I don't know that many of the currently active participants on this board actually use hardware to mutlibox. Some definitely do (do a search for Vyndree's blog or website or whatever it is), but I am pretty sure most don't.

As for the USB vs. PS/2 thing. I think PS/2 was preferred because USB requires software drivers while PS/2 did not???? Something like that. There is definitely a software component to the USB hardware which might be buggy or just slower. I'd look around at other hardware like the Logitech X15 (or whatever the new keyboard/gamepad is called) and see if that meets your requirements first. It seems to be that many people buy the Xkeys and don't end up really using it....could be wrong on that though.

Does Keyclone work with LOTRO??

Your in a very small minority with a full hardware multiboxing setup.

On your current setup with one box, are you able to broadcast keystrokes to each client or are you manually going to each client when you want them to do something?

My first setup was 5 boxes, but I used synergy with a keystroke broadcast to control it all. now im trying to do it all on one box, but mostly I do it on 3 boxes with synergy to pass the mouse, and keyclone to push keystrokes. I dont know of a hardware solution that will push keystrokes or mice positions to more than one client per machine, so I think any box that is running more than one client you will still be manualy controling.

Most people software box because its just cheaper to get one good box for $2k than 5+ ok boxes for $700.

Edited the title to something more manageable.

Cheers,
S.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 'Stealthy',index.php?page=Thread&postID=192001#pos t192001

Edited the title to something more manageable.

Cheers,
S.

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okay thanks .. sorry was long still getting used to forum life ... never did it much

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 'Starbuck_Jones',index.php?page=Thread&postID=1919 99#post191999

Your in a very small minority with a full hardware multiboxing setup.

On your current setup with one box, are you able to broadcast keystrokes to each client or are you manually going to each client when you want them to do something?

My first setup was 5 boxes, but I used synergy with a keystroke broadcast to control it all. now im trying to do it all on one box, but mostly I do it on 3 boxes with synergy to pass the mouse, and keyclone to push keystrokes. I dont know of a hardware solution that will push keystrokes or mice positions to more than one client per machine, so I think any box that is running more than one client you will still be manualy controling.

Most people software box because its just cheaper to get one good box for $2k than 5+ ok boxes for $700.

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my current setup is 6 accounts but only 3 comps ... so i just started playing 3 at a time ... i went a bought a couple of wireless keyboards and synced them which is doing okay for the extra 2 im playing now...



i am buying the other comps this week ... and already have all the lcd monitors

I need to get some brackets ordered though...

After looking over the NEW switchcaster though which is like 3 things in one ... it only comes PS2 so that makes my choice for me on the X keys ... PS2 version



So this will be my setup

1.) 6 PCs that can handle LOTRO on high settings ( main is on 24 inch apple and is ultra high DX10 )

2.) 1 APPLE 24 inch LCD surrounded by bracketted 5 Samsung p2070 LCDs kinda of a 3 on the bottom row 3 on the top row thing

3.) the 8 port PS2 Switchcaster that allows pushbutton switch to single comps or all comps of mouse and keyboards

4.) x-keys pro PS2



I cant think of anything else Ill need to control 5 toons on 1 keyboard mouse and 1 main on another keyboard mouse ... I dont think ill need any software to do this efficiently .. i think the Switchcaster handles what software is needf or right?



Ill post so PICS as I progress ... this will be first time messing with computers much other than gong to best buy and picking one out heh ... I am going to try to build these extra rigs ... will be first time build a comp

Sounds good then, I dont know if your multicaster has a hotkey to enable/disable broadcasting. I know with my hybrid setup when im not playing wow, its nice to just have a single mouse and KB that acts just like one big extended desktop so its not always trying multicast when your not playing. It may work perfect in game for you, but make sure it will do what you want out of game as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 'Starbuck_Jones',index.php?page=Thread&postID=1920 04#post192004

Sounds good then, I dont know if your multicaster has a hotkey to enable/disable broadcasting. I know with my hybrid setup when im not playing wow, its nice to just have a single mouse and KB that acts just like one big extended desktop so its not always trying multicast when your not playing. It may work perfect in game for you, but make sure it will do what you want out of game as well.

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well it says on this new switchcaster ... you have 8 buttons on front of you ... ( ill only need 5 ) and you can either have them all ON and multicasting mouse and keyboard ... or you can just push the buttons to tuen all off but one of your choice for however long you need then go right back to multicasting all ... so sounds like itll work good

these are the systems I think im going to order ... I think they should do good for under $1000

Motherboard: EVGA LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813188026

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115017

VIDEO: EVGA 5 GeForce 9800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130435

MEMORY: OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227289

HD: Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10000 RPM SATA 1.5Gb/s Hard Drive -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136033

CASE: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021

POWER SUPPLY: KINGWIN Mach 1 700W ATX / BTX SLI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817121025

Optical Drive: Sony Optiarc
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827118030

O.S.: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116488

Way more power than you need, but it's all good if you want it. At least you should be able to run 25+ toons if you ever wanted to.

I don't see the need to go for 64 bit if you're not going up to 8G of RAM...unless you want upgrade options.

Personally, I don't know if the Raptor is worth it vs. a Seagate 500G/1T etc. I have one on one of my machines and don't think I ever really noticed any difference. Might be worth researching some SSD instead.

I don't know if you need 1066 RAM unless you OC (someone else can clarify, don't recall the calculation off the top of my head)....but, RAM is usually based on what's available so you might not have any other cheaper options.

What is the reason for the SLI board?

However, overall that is a good price point to aim for IMO.

I often follow the guides on these sites:
http://anandtech.com/guides/
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/fea...rts_march_2009

Is this SDW v2.0?!

[quote='heffner',index.php?page=Thread&postID=19203 9#post192039]Way more power than you need, but it's all good if you want it. At least you should be able to run 25+ toons if you ever wanted to.

I don't see the need to go for 64 bit if you're not going up to 8G of RAM...unless you want upgrade options.

Personally, I don't know if the Raptor is worth it vs. a Seagate 500G/1T etc. I have one on one of my machines and don't think I ever really noticed any difference. Might be worth researching some SSD instead.

I don't know if you need 1066 RAM unless you OC (someone else can clarify, don't recall the calculation off the top of my head)....but, RAM is usually based on what's available so you might not have any other cheaper options.

What is the reason for the SLI board?

However, overall that is a good price point to aim for IMO.

I often follow the guides on these sites:
[url]http://anandtech.com/guides/[/url]
[url]http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/1000_budget_pc_buyers_guide_updated_prices_and_par ts_march_2009[/url][/quote]
based on your advise I altered my build a little bit and shaved off almsot 150 dollars each .... and managed to upgrade my graphics ... but remember im playing LOTRO a lot more intensive in graphics and textures ETC

What do you think ... total cost each machine now = $ 844 plus $30 in shipping

Motherboard: GIGABYTE LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
[url='http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128372']http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128372[/url]

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115037

VIDEO: EVGA GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130370

MEMORY: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231166

HD: Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10000 RPM SATA 1.5Gb/s Hard Drive -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136033

CASE: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 Black Aluminum Bezel
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119068

POWER SUPPLY: Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power SLI Ready Modular
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371016

Optical Drive: Sony Optiarc
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827118030

O.S.: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116488

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 'Gurblash',index.php?page=Thread&postID=192133#pos t192133

Is this SDW v2.0?!

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no clue what SDW v2.0 is ... sorry

I remember reading that one of the vetras had a keybind shortcut you could program into your keyboard or x-keys. I think xzin mentioned it on his write up also. What it did was allow you to quickly switch your keyboard/mouse flow to a specific harware output/computer with a keypress instead of reaching over to the switchbox to do it. It has been a while since I researched those items and the features.

Remember the Ymice was for individual controll of each machine (or maybe only the main?) should you need it outside of the multiplexer. The Ymice would allow one input at a time from the 2 with some kind of dead time for inputs to override each other.

I hope you are running a dedicated 20A electrical outlet (or 2) for your new rigs. Wouldn't want to burn the place down. :P



Oh yeah. SDW=Samdeathwalker. I don't think you are anywhere near that level of annoyance. :D

You are just a little bit excited about getting the new gear up and running, and who wouldn't be?

Have fun!

It seems to me you're complicating this setup.

I run 6 computers, 6 LCD's, hardware multiboxing.

You simply need the computers, the monitors, whatever keyboards/XKeys you desire (I have 3, including 1 footpedal), the Vetra multicaster, and a 2 port KVM, not an 8. Then on the computesr, you run software such as Octopus or Interbox to do your keyboard mouse sharing simply by moving your mouse to another screen, which is better than an 8 port KVM because you need to keep switching all the time. This way, 1 port of the KVM is a broadcasted keyboard, the other is a single routed keyboard directly to my main computer.

When I want to control just one, I hit the KVM hotkey, then move the mouse to whatever computer I want to control. Then when I'm done, I move my mouse to the main computer, switch the VKM to broadcast and go on my merry way.

You can see the setup I'm talking about here:

Pics of my 5 computer setup (now 6 computers as of 04/10)

Quote:

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no clue what SDW v2.0 is ... sorry

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http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&n..._nhi=&safe=off

My stuffs:

4G 800speed ram, Nvidia 9600 video, asus m2n32 premium vista MB (adds 512M ram), AMD duel core 6400's, raptor. Running 6 toons on each NP. 31 accounts total. 6 computers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 'Sam DeathWalker',index.php?page=Thread&postID=192240#p ost192240

Quote:

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no clue what SDW v2.0 is ... sorry

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http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&n..._nhi=&safe=off

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LMFAO...I love dual-boxing.com

Okay I made some changes becuase I am a Want it now kind of guy heh and it seemed liek a good idea taking up less space ... So here is my Current setup and it actually does pretty darn good with exception of mouse control to be fixed soon...

With this set up I can now 6 box effectvely although ive been jsut 4 boxing the low level hunters atm catching them up while not making the content too trivial so i can use their skills and gain deeds on them





My Main PC - http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1218017465909

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US...9081325_ra.jpg



2nd RIG - http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1218043606827



http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US.../9172511le.jpg





3rd / 4th / 5th rigs - http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1218044029168

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US...9173262_sa.jpg

My 6th computer is a crappy p4 job that actually cost me 5 grand 6 years ago and is terrble now a days heh --- I am going to build one computer for 6th repacement just so i can say i built a computer :) but the p4 is actually working atm

MONITORS

main is a 24 inch apple cinema dispay

http://images.apple.com/displays/gal...2_20081014.jpg



other 5 monitors i picked up at best buy - Samsung p2070's http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1218063394199

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US...9229701_sa.jpg



Note: at the moment i am only playing with the apple and two samsungs to each side and 3 of the laptops opened using the laptop screen ... I am ordering bracketts to put the other three on top of the 1st three



Keyboards ... LOGITECH s520 ... I bought these x 5 to hold me over http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1218006410484

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US...8910583_ra.jpg

NOTE: I am only using one of the keyboards but 5 of the recievers ....

Things I am oordering to make it a little easier particularly mouse control ....

1.) VETRA SWITCHCASTER - http://www.vetra.com/wow.html

VIP-808-KM-B-X-DE: Expandable 8 port KVM Switch / Multicaster. Switch or multicast one PS/2 keyboard and PS/2 mouse between eight or more PCs. PC selection via keyboard "hot-key", or direct entry front panel switches. You will need 16 6-pin mini-DIN male-male cables, such as our VIP-300-6MM-06 cables, to connect to the PCs.
$489.00 http://vetracom.ipower.com/store/med...button_add.gif

http://www.vetra.com/808_angle40.JPG



2.) x-keys Pro PS/2 - http://www.xkeys.com/xkeys/xkpro.php

http://www.xkeys.com/pigraphics/grxkeys/xp576.jpg

Monitor MOUNTS - http://www.ergotron.com/Products/Mul...S/default.aspx

http://www.bradster.net/img/mount.jpg http://www.bradster.net/img/mount.jpg http://www.bradster.net/img/mount.jpg

Quote:

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main is a 24 inch apple cinema dispay

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If you do some research you will find that the EXACT same panel as used the the Apple 24 inch cinema display is used in the HP2335 (WAY CHEAPER), of which I have 4 of .... And the same kind of panel (but smaller) is in the dell's 2005fpw whcih I have 2 of.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 'Sam DeathWalker',index.php?page=Thread&postID=194392#p ost194392

Quote:

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main is a 24 inch apple cinema dispay

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If you do some research you will find that the EXACT same panel as used the the Apple 24 inch cinema display is used in the HP2335 (WAY CHEAPER), of which I have 4 of .... And the same kind of panel (but smaller) is in the dell's 2005fpw whcih I have 2 of.

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thanks for the heads up that is actually good info to know ... however my apple is almost 2 years old and I only bought the Samsungs this past week and for 209 dollars i think i got a decent pricpoint for what they are going to be used for ... but for others this might be great info to know before buying a new apple

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 'Trushot',index.php?page=Thread&postID=194363#post 194363

MONITORS

other 5 monitors i picked up at best buy - Samsung p2070's http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1218063394199

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US...9229701_sa.jpg

Monitor MOUNTS - http://www.ergotron.com/Products/Mul...S/default.aspx

http://www.bradster.net/img/mount.jpg http://www.bradster.net/img/mount.jpg http://www.bradster.net/img/mount.jpg

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Hope you kept the receipt for those monitors - I don't' see VESA compatible mounting options listed anywhere on BestBuys sites or Samsungs for the P2070. There is a reason they are so cheap - they lack a lot of the advanced options found on the more expensive options.

Those Ergotron stands require VESA mounts... 100mm x 100mm, 75mm x 75mm, or 200mm x 100mm mounting bolts. (I have two)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 'Hairball',index.php?page=Thread&postID=194521#pos t194521

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 'Trushot',index.php?page=Thread&postID=194363#post 194363

MONITORS

other 5 monitors i picked up at best buy - Samsung p2070's http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1218063394199

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US...9229701_sa.jpg

Monitor MOUNTS - http://www.ergotron.com/Products/Mul...S/default.aspx

http://www.bradster.net/img/mount.jpg http://www.bradster.net/img/mount.jpg http://www.bradster.net/img/mount.jpg

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Hope you kept the receipt for those monitors - I don't' see VESA compatible mounting options listed anywhere on BestBuys sites or Samsungs for the P2070. There is a reason they are so cheap - they lack a lot of the advanced options found on the more expensive options.

Those Ergotron stands require VESA mounts... 100mm x 100mm, 75mm x 75mm, or 200mm x 100mm mounting bolts. (I have two)

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your correct ... ill post the end result when im finished .. luckily i like to fabricate things and happen to own a few car dealerships with body shops and great fabrication tools :) ... ill male them work :) but you are right .. .... i just didnt see the point in spending another 1500 on monitors i will not look at that often ... i have the disposable income but i am frugal and thrifty on certain things ... drives my wife mad heh

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 'Trushot',index.php?page=Thread&postID=194526#post 194526

ill post the end result when im finished

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Looking forward to it. :) Sounds like you've got the determination to make it work. :thumbsup: