Finally leaving AGP.

[chrome0011]

Ok, I currently have a x1950pro AGP running a Dell 24" and a Viewsonic 19". A second 19" is being run by a x1550 in the PCI slot.

Anyway, I'm about ready to go to C2D, and PCI-e. Does anyone have advice about how I should go about choosing a video solution? From what I can tell, if I set up SLI then I'll be able to run all 3 screens, but I don't think I can afford to run 8800s or anything like that, which kind of sucks.

The other option would be to sell off the two 19" LCDs and get a second 24", which would totally sidestep this whole problem.

So what do you guys think?

 

[Rottie]

I guess we all AGP users are going to miss you

 

[chrome0011]

Thought of another option... if I go with one 8800, can I drop an old 5200 in the PCI slot to run the 3rd lcd? They're a few generations apart, but I think they use the same drivers...

 

[Inspector Jihad]

ohhh...sell me your x1950 pro

 

[chrome0011]

PM me if you really want to make an offer.

So this is what I'm looking at:

EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB

Patriot Extreme Performance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800

EVGA 122-CK-NF63-TR LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz

...and reusing case, raptor, dvd-rom, PS, etc. Any qualms, suggestions?

 

[betasub]

Originally posted by: chrome0011
Anyway, I'm about ready to go to C2D, and PCI-e. Does anyone have advice about how I should go about choosing a video solution? From what I can tell, if I set up SLI then I'll be able to run all 3 screens, but I don't think I can afford to run 8800s or anything like that, which kind of sucks.

SLI mode is designed to run a single display accelerated by multiple GPUs: it's not intended to run multiple displays, and usually will disable all but a single video output.

Ignoring expensive multi-headed/Hydra solutions, you are on the right track with two independent graphics cards on PCIe and/or PCI, as long as together they supply at least the three outputs you require.