Dual Monitor Setup - Video Card Questions

[Tom33]

Looking to build a new system. I want to be able to run 2 - 19 or 20" LCD's.

No Gaming at all.

Most of the Motherboards that I'm looking at have 2 PCIx16 Express slots.

What is the difference between running a couple of $75-100 video cards, as opposed to getting a single more expensive dual output DVI card ?

Can I run 2 video cards together ? Pro and Cons ?

Any recommendations for cards, preferably a "fanless" card ?

Thanks.

 

[letdown427]

No gaming at all? 2xGfx cards is (probably) completely irrelevant for you then.

I'd say get a silent 7300GS/GT, whatever your budget fancies.

Interestingly (well, I say that...) SLI[/Crossfire?] graphics cards don't support dual monitors at the moment.

Either way, depending on your budget, a low end passively cooled Nvidia 7300 will do you fine.

To answer your "Can I run two cards" question:

Pros:

If it's in SLI/Crossfire, you will see a performance increase in places (Gaming. Which you don't do)
You can say you use 2 graphics cards. E-penis ++

Cons:

If it's in SLI/Crossfire, you can't run two monitors
It'll take up more room
Produce more heat
Use more power
Probably cost more
If not in SLI/Crossfire (which it won't be, as you want 2 monitors), it won't give any performance increase (not that you'll be gaming anyway)
You will have one superfluous card


The dual monitors aren't really an issue, any gfx card you get today will have two useable outputs, so unless you suddenly fancy two 30" screens, one card will do fine.

Hope that helps.

 

[Aikouka]

You know they do make dual-PCI-E motherboards that can run two graphics cards that aren't in SLi and can use all the ports on each monitor.

The benefit you'll get from this is that each monitor has its own renderer, which can come in handy if you're doing something relatively graphic intensive (even watching a DVD or something) and want a little bit of graphic prowess on the other side.

Although you could just get a single 7300GS since they come with two monitor ports (only VGA and DVI though.. no dual-DVI that I saw =\). Gigabyte has some passive cooling models as well.

 

[Tom33]

Thanks for the replies.

The motherboard that I'm leaning toward is the
Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3

So I'm looking for a way to hook 2 DVI LCD's to this.

Again No Gaming, I'd prefer passive cooled, price is not that important.
But I don't want to spend $400 on a video card that I won't need.

 

[Aikouka]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150170

Looks purdy and will work with that board.

 

[Tom33]

Thanks, that looks like a winner !!!

Whatever search criteria I was using on NewEgg didn't ever come up with that one.

Thanks Again.