Dual LCD displays? Anybody have experience with 'em?

[bchalker]

I'm getting ready to get a desktop ($1500 to spend for DVD/video transfer and editing. I'm wanting to get the AIW 7500 as well as a GeForce4 64 card to drive two monitors. I'm wanting two 15" LCDs rather than CRTs though. I've never used LCDs, except on my laptop.

Will the 2 video card setup work with no problem? Will I need a special adaptor to run two LCDs (or even 1)?

Also, does anyone advise against a dual-LCD setup?

Thanks

 

[Shagga]

Why not get a card with dual display facility? Like the GF4 Gainward 750XP GS or similar. You can then run both LCD's off one video card. You can then spens a bit more on a Hitachi CML174 or the Samsung version that was just reviewed on AT.

I'd get 17" LCD's though. If you don't you will regret it.

 

[bchalker]

I need the AIW so the dual-display card is out. I would prefer a dual-AIW card.

Budget doesn't allow for two 17"...that would be nice, though..

 

[bchalker]

bump for opinions?

 

[Pariah]

For the price of 2 15" LCD's and the extra video card, you can get a very nice 21" CRT which will give you about equal screen real estate with better resolution meaning more can fit on the screen. CRT's are better for things like video editing and image editing which require more accurate coloring anyway.

 

[bchalker]

thanks Pariah. You're right about the CRT being better for video, but the slim LCDs fit soooo nice on my desk Actually, you've got me rethinking the LCDs, since they are stuck at one resolution. A 21" or even two 17" CRTs might do better.

 

[SUOrangeman]

Once you've gone to two screens, it is VERY, VERY, VERY hard to go back to one.

Q: How much did you want to spend on the dual-LCD+video card(s) side of the house? To rephrase, how much of you budget has been committed to the rest of the system?

As someone previously mentioned, a single-card solution is very nice. However, I understand that you are locked to the AIW. For what it's worth, I just got a Dell at work with a Radeon VE (equivalent to a Radeon 7000 or 7200, I think). It is a single card, but supports two independent displays ... all through one connector on the card (looks like a DVI connectoer, but it seems to be EVC). I don't know if you AIW secretly supports two displays as is (worth checking out, right?).

-SUO

 

[bchalker]

Totally agree. I've been one two screens a work for the past 6 months, and it's frustrating coming home to one. I had about half set aside ($750-800) for the card and two displays. I want the AIW for the video capture and video input features. I don't know or a comparable Firewire or USB2 device which has the same features at the same quality. If there where one, I might change my mind about the AIW.

 

[ChefJoe]

I had a VE, I couldn't get a good refresh rate at 2 x 1024x800.... kept going to 60 Hz and there was no solution in sight for that. I wound up picking up a 64 mb ddr Radeon 7000 PCI ($40 AR in a hot deal) and now I don't have any problems with refresh rate. My opinion is to let the OS handle the multiple monitors and just have two vid cards.

Were you planning on DVI interface? Just curious because whenever I think about getting LCDs I always end up telling myself "I'm not investing in VGA connectivity, I need a DVI based monitor solution".

 

[bchalker]

I was wanting a DVI interface (using an adaptor). I think a 64MB AIW 8500 + 64MB ATI 9000 will be the route I take. I'm leaning toward the two 17" CRTs, now, though my desk might not handle the weight ;-)

 

[Pariah]

Originally posted by: SUOrangeman
Once you've gone to two screens, it is VERY, VERY, VERY hard to go back to one.

Q: How much did you want to spend on the dual-LCD+video card(s) side of the house? To rephrase, how much of you budget has been committed to the rest of the system?

Sounds like the SMP arguement. In an ideal world, we would all be using 2 or 3 24" Sony CRT's with a desk capable of not collapsing under them or multiple Apple Cinema displays. However, when budget comes into the picture, things change a bit. As with SMP configurations, is it worth getting 2 lower end pieces over 1 high quality piece? For the vast majority of people the answer is no. I would not recommend a dual 1900+ over a single 2800+ to most people, nor would I recommend dual 15" LCD over single highend 21" CRT. If all you're after is the "cool factor" then the whole arguement is moot, as rational thinking goes out the window.

I'm leaning toward the two 17" CRTs, now, though my desk might not handle the weight ;-)

If your desk can handle the weight, for the cost of 2 15" LCD's you can get 2 nice 19" CRT's.

 

[Stark]

If you're intent on getting an AIW, get one big LCD.

I would only go dual LCDs if the card had dual DVI output. I had a GF4 4400 at work that supported dual monitors (1 in DVI and 1 in analog). Using two identical 15" monitors, the DVI was sooooo much more crisp and clear. Half the time the analog monitor had screen artifacts (lines down the screen). I ditched the setup for one 18" LCD with DVI. I use that setup both at home and work.

I would be very cautious about trying to get the AIW to work with any nvidia card. I'm sure the AIW has a boatload of drivers that go along with it and getting it to play nicely with another manufacturers card may be tricky at best.