Best way to run dual monitors ?

[UnatcoAgent]

Hey guys, I want to get a dual monitor set up running for school this year.

Currently I have a Viewsonic P775 17" and a Radeon 9100 AGP. My video card has two outputs, but one is strictly DVI, I don't think that I can get an adapter to let it go to a CRT, which is what I want for my second monitor.

Anyway, that fills my AGP slot on my ASUS A7N8X delux, so I will want to get another video card, yes ?

In which case, does it matter what type aside from it having to be PCI ? I mean like the quality, if I get some Geforce 2 or something, it's only going to be running the second monitor, so it won't affect gaming / other performance right ?

I'm under the assumption that all I will need to do is install the new PCI card, plug the second monitor into it, and then configure it through the display properties once windows starts, right?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks - Rob.

 

[Cannabis]

Who is the card made by? Most the 9100's I' seen support this http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-999-504&depa=1

 

[Steve]

DVI-to-VGA adapters are easy enough to procure.... http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=14-999-504&depa=0

Get one and use your existing card's dualhead capability; spare your PCI bus another card.

 

[UnatcoAgent]

Mine is a Sapphire... I tried one of those adapters once and it didn't fit because the port on the card doesn't have some of the slots for the prongs... it's odd.

 

[Steve]

LOL....ya posted while I was typing

 

[UnatcoAgent]

Look at the DVI end.

You see on the left side there are those 4 slots that surround that gold vertical bar ?

The port on my card doesn't have those 4 slots, it only has that vertical slot, so an adapter like that won't fit.

 

[Cannabis]

Ok, your gonna have to get a pci card. The DVI on the sapphire is DVI-D which cannot be converted to vga with one of those adapters like a DVI-I .

And yes your assumtion was right on how to install and configure the pci card. I think you will also need to go into your bios and select init agp first instead of pci for the video card.

 

[UnatcoAgent]

Originally posted by: Cannabis
Ok, your gonna have to get a pci card. The DVI on the sapphire is DVI-D which cannot be converted to vga with one of those adapters like a DVI-I .

Bingo that's what it is.

Damn !

 

[Steve]

Yep, the adapter you need is a bit pricey....

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/DVI_ADC-converter.html

 

[Cannabis]

For alot less than $399 he could just buy a new card that comes with a DVI-I port. His best bet is with a PCI card if he just wants 2d dual monitor support.

 

[UnatcoAgent]

Oh my word... 399$.

Hah well thanks anyway!

 

[UnatcoAgent]

So any PCI card will be fine right, regardless of the quality / level of the card ?

 

[Steve]

I would try to get another ATi card, for driver compatibility. In fact there are PCI versions of the 9100. Also consider the 9000, 9200, 7500, or the All-In-Wonder VE if you have the $$$.

 

[Sideswipe001]

Any PCI card will give you functional dual monitors. The only concen about quality would be how good of a picture it put out. Some are better at 2D than others, but that's true for any video card.

Matrox has been known for good 2D quality; I'd probably try to find a cheap Matrox G400 or something. If not, get another ATi card.

 

[UnatcoAgent]

Originally posted by: Sideswipe001
Any PCI card will give you functional dual monitors. The only concen about quality would be how good of a picture it put out. Some are better at 2D than others, but that's true for any video card.

Matrox has been known for good 2D quality; I'd probably try to find a cheap Matrox G400 or something. If not, get another ATi card.

You refer to 2D- what would create a 3D setup? If there is one, I'm not sure what the difference would be.

I'll try for another ATI card then, thanks guys.

 

[Steve]

A single card can do 3D. 3D just means how (simulated) 3D-looking a scene or image can be, like in a game. Some cards are better at it than others.