DUAL MONITORS with 2 Video Cards???HELP

[sianof]

Hey Guys,
I am hoping to use 2 monitors on my computer but don't have the first idea as how to do this. I know that some video cards have dual outputs but I would rather just get a good video card that supports it,and then get a junkier one and use it for a second monitor. Can I do that? use one good one and one lower one and have dual monitors?
PLEASE help me figure this out, or atleast a good card that isn't too expensive that supports this. I am not into too much gaming to keep that in mind
thanks
Frank S

 

[BlueWeasel]

You don't need two high end cards to run dual monitors. It can be done with an AGP card and pretty much any PCI video card as long as you have drivers for each video card. W2K/XP/WinME (and Win98SE I think) have built-in support for multiple monitors.

 

[kursplat]

seems to be less potential for problems if you use 2 of the same brand i.e NVIDIA or ATI . less chance of driver conflict
good luck

 

[ProviaFan]

Getting a good video card for the primary plus a junky card for the secondary is probably going to cost more and offer less 2D performance than getting a single good dualhead card, such as the Matrox G550 (if you want 2D IQ over 3D perf) or ATI Radeon 9000 Pro (similar price and almost unnoticeable lower 2D IQ but much better 3D perf).