Dual Display thoughts and ideas

[stebesplace]

OK. I am trying to map out a dual display system here. Currently I have a Nvidia Quadro 2 Pro card. Can I use that card with the Nvidia Nview software for multiple display's etc in a configuration which would avoid me needing to buy a new card like the quadro 4 xgl that could support dual display? I am also trying to avoid having a pci video card installed to provide dual output.

I am currently running Windows XP SP1, with the lates deton. drivers for the card installed.

I'm just looking for a dual display output here. I do not think its possible to plug a DVI to VGA adapter in so that i could have two VGA comming out, hence two monitors, but I am not sure about this.

Thank you,

-Steve Place

 

[Anubis]

im runnin dual moniters on my GF4 TI4600. it has a DVI out and a VGA out. i use a DVI - VGA adapter to connect 2 CRTs to it and its fine. if the quadra pro has 2 outs 1 VGA and 1 DVI it shold work fine.

if you have to buy a PCI out it will still work also. yull be able to stretch you desktop across the 2 moniters or have each displaied seperetly

 

[stebesplace]

That I can see, but you are using the geforce engine, and I'm not sure how on my semi old card I could do it, or wether it is just there for extra use and versatility.

Anyone else have thoughts?

Actually, since i know that a pci card is a solution, I am curious if the nview or nvidia drivers with the multi display compatibility would allow me to do it with the card, where as when drivers were not around at first for the quadro 2 pro, which did not enable dual display output.

-steve

 

[Anubis]

does the Quarda pro 2 have 2 outputs on it?

if it just has 1 you can run 1 off that and 1 off the mobo VGA output. nview software shoudl work fine for that. as for it conflicting with a PCi vid cards drivers i dont know. but seein as a lot of peopel due that to have a dual display i woudl say no

 

[stebesplace]

The Quadro 2 Pro has two outputs, a DVI and VGA, as well an S-Video. So, in essence, one would think that the VGA and a DVI->VGA adapter would allow for two monitors using the NVIEW Software in the detonator 40 drivers. (2.0).

I think. . .


-Steve

 

[Anubis]

yea that should work fine

 

[stebesplace]

Well I'm not sure if it will or not. Basically. . .I mean that there is no second ramdac, and i don't belive that it would work since you need two for dual output. I read some whitepapers from nvidia and i guess only the MXR and Go have that ability. Twin view they call it, and the geforce 2 MX. I don't understand why on the pro card they would not have it, but on the less equal not near as powerful card, then would not. Ohh well, I think I am going to get a pci nvidia card to fill the bill tomm. . .

Thanks,

-Steve

 

[Peter]

You don't need a 2nd RAMDAC if one of the outputs is digital. However, DVI-VGA adapters try to use the analog part of the DVI-I connector, and then you'll need it.

 

[stebesplace]

No one seems to know if the DVI is digital or analog. If that be it the case and it is digital, then it should work, yes, but i do not belive that it is. I have not even found a digital DVI to VGA adapter. Only analog.

-Steve

 

[Jeff7]

Hey Steve.
I was under the impression that DVI connectors are digital, that that was the point of having them, so that LCD's could get a digital signal that would prevent the introduction of visual noise caused by converting from an analog signal to digital.
I thought that you can get DVI->VGA adapters somewhere; isn't that how the Matrox Parhelia lets you run 3 displays? Peter did say "DVI-VGA adapters try to use the analog part of the DVI-I connector", so I guess they thought ahead and included analog-carrying connectors in the DVI connector.

Ah, things like this maybe. Might want to shop around for something a bit cheaper; don't know what the average price for something like that is.
I just searched on Google for DVI VGA Adapter. Google is your friend.

 

[stebesplace]

This is from a web site, and seems to be common with all of these adapters. . .

DVI to VGA Adapter
DVI-A 24-pin male to VGA 15-pin HD(3 rows of pins) female.
If you have a video card with 24-pin DVI flat panel connector and want to connect it to a standard VGA monitor this is the adapter you would use.
Please keep in mind that you will receive an analog signal, not a digital one.


Since they say that i would recieve an analog signal, not digital, then it would seem that the 'digital' signal spoken of, does not exsist. I do not understand how if a flat panel needs a tru digital signal, but has a vga connecting end, would work? It should have a DVI if it is truly a digital flat panel, hence the need for the second connector on the video card.

-Steve

 

[Jeff7]

In all probability, the digital signal does exist - it just uses different wires than the analog signal. Peter would probably know more about this though, he's very good with real technical stuff.

I do not understand how if a flat panel needs a tru digital signal, but has a vga connecting end, would work?

LCD's do need a digital signal. All of them. Thing is, most integrate a converter to translate the standard analog signal into a digital one. This can introduce visual artifacts, though it has gotten better lately, so I hear. They only use this convertor when they're connected to an analog video port; if the DVI connector is used, the LCD just uses the raw digital signal.

 

[stebesplace]

I think i am slowly piecing this together. So i could hook up a digital flat panel, and an analog monitor, and that might work well, since one is digital, and one is analog, hence the no need for a second ramdac, however, since i will not be using a digital flat panel, the concept here would not work, since the two vga monitors will not be uspported via a connector / hardware twinview, which is on the other quadro 2 MXR card.

-Steve

 

[Peter]

Originally posted by: stebesplace
No one seems to know if the DVI is digital or analog. If that be it the case and it is digital, then it should work, yes, but i do not belive that it is. I have not even found a digital DVI to VGA adapter. Only analog.

-Steve

Well of course you didn't. DVI-I connectors (as found on graphics cards) carry both the digital and the analog version of the same picture. DVI-VGA adapters merely take the analog part and present it on a legacy 15-pin "VGA" connector. Nothing in there except a bunch of wires and two connectors.

DVI connectors on graphics cards being a fairly recent thing, most LCD panels still use an analog VGA input, and convert back to digital internally. Yes that's stupid, technically, but marketing wise, it makes sense. You wouldn't believe how many old graphics cards are out there (see related thread ).

 

[stebesplace]

Well, putting all of this aside. . .

I may or may not sell the quadro 2 pro, and perhaps get an xgl 550 or 700 that could support dual display. Its just the cost thats the issue. I payed 250 for the quadro2 last year around august, and do not feel that I need to spend 300+ for a card of similar archetecture, unless i got an xgl 900. . .which would be major kick a$$.

So i will wait and see.

-Steve

 

[rbV5]

My understanding on these GF2/GF3 cards is you can use one or the other, but not both. The TV-out works the same way, enable TV-out and you get no display on your monitor...one or the other, not both.

 

[RelaxTheMind]

I have a GF4 ti4200 and I use the dual outputs. I use the VGA and dvi-vga adapter of course (sometimes the tv-out when i watch DVDs very easy switching). Digital outputs on cards (DVI) do have an analog and digital output. If you have TV-out you can also use as part of a dual monitor setup. The only catch is that your card has to have Dual output display enabled on the card. I personally think its a marketing thing. As many cards come capable of everything but they just arent enable with like a capacitor and a chip or two not on it. Read up a lot on certain cards because many of them actually do support it.

I also suggest not using all of the Nview features and goodies because lots of software glitches can happen that cause lockups or crash explorer. So far Geforce4's are the most stable at using dual display setups without problems.

my two cents

rtm

 

[stebesplace]

In my options for the card with the new detonator drivers, i can only select either vga, digital, OR tv.

So i guess there in lies my answer. . .


-Steve