Dual/Triple Monitors

[sparka]

Well, I was considering trying out dual/triple monitors. I know that a lot of people would say to get three instead of two.
If that is the case, then I would need a new PCI video card (My current video card supports 2 monitors)

1. What would be the best PCI video card for the job?

I currently have a 17" Envision CRT monitor.

2. What other cheap 17"-21" CRT monitors do you recommend?

Thanks!!!

 

[dug777]

Three is overkill imo unless you REALLY multi-task. I can;t stand using a single monitor now (like i have to at work right now), but i rarely find myself wishing that i had a third monitor at home. I guess it would just seem unnatural moving something to the far left of me when i'm right handed and tend to sit in front of the left monitor (out of two).

I'd grab another monitor and try duallies (you'll never go back to a single, trust me!) first...

 

[L00PY]

I'd like to point out that PCI cards probably aren't the best choice for this. If you meant PCIe, that'd be different of course. And CRTs are rather large and bulky to have crowding your desktop.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: L00PY
I'd like to point out that PCI cards probably aren't the best choice for this. If you meant PCIe, that'd be different of course. And CRTs are rather large and bulky to have crowding your desktop.

most people have to use a PCI card as their 2nd card for multi monitor solutions (since it will only be for 2d the 3d capabilities don't matter squat).

 

[L00PY]

I read his first post as him having a PCI card now, and needing a new one for a third monitor. That was my basis for suggesting that another PCI card (aka PCI cards) wasn't the best choice. I suspect I misread that. AGP / PCIe + PCI works well enough. I don't think PCI + PCI would be ideal.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: L00PY
I read his first post as him having a PCI card now, and needing a new one for a third monitor. That was my basis for suggesting that another PCI card (aka PCI cards) wasn't the best choice. I suspect I misread that. AGP / PCIe + PCI works well enough. I don't think PCI + PCI would be ideal.

Ya i get ya

 

[jiffylube1024]

An ATI Radeon 7000 PCI should do the job; you should be able to find one for less than $50 and it has a DVI and a VGA port.

But as others have said, unless you're into heavy HEAVY multitasking, two monitors should suffice.

 

[LED]

PCI Vid cards will work just fine as the 2ndary Cards are basically for 2D...I use Matrox as there 2D is superb...right now I'm running a Matrox G450 but they also make a G100MMS and G200MMS which you can find at a great price sometime from Ebay...A very important part of the puzzle is to acquire Monitors that match up as it'll give you (@ least it did for me) headaches if they don't match... You can find good deals on Monitors @ Accurateit and there's a couple of coupons floating around.

IMO the best 2D cards are:
Matrox
ATI (after they acquired TSeng Labs)
NVidia (after the acquisition of 3DFX)