Got a 3rd monitor...

[jdoggg12]

I have an Abit IP35-E and a 8800GT with 2 monitors hooked up already (see pic below)

I recently got a 3rd 20" lcd for free from my work. What will i need to get it hooked up? A 2nd video card? it'll need to be pci b/c i'm using the 1 pcie slot already. What about software? Will i need any special software?

Thanks guys

Edit: My happy place

 

[Jax Omen]

what pic below?

 

[jdoggg12]

oops haha

 

[Jax Omen]

Yes, you'd need a PCI GPU for the PCI slot. Should be fairly cheap on newegg. AFAIK it only requires video drivers for that GPU and you're set.

 

[jdoggg12]

Originally posted by: Jax Omen
Yes, you'd need a PCI GPU for the PCI slot. Should be fairly cheap on newegg. AFAIK it only requires video drivers for that GPU and you're set.

So the drivers i have already for the 8800GT should work? I'd only be getting Nvidia since i dont want to have any conflictions

 

[dawza]

I only have experience running a 7800GT + a PCI 6200 for 3-4 monitors, but I was able to use the same driver. IIRC, I plugged the 6200 in, booted up, removed the driver, rebooted, and then reinstalled. It should work equally well if you remove the existing driver, shut down, install the PCI card, boot up, and reinstall the drivers.

Hopefully, your cards will also play nicely with the same driver.

As far as software, I found UltraMon to be highly useful for dual monitors, and absolutely indispensable for >2 displays.

 

[Jephph]

Another card or a Matrox Parhelia. And if you go with a pci vid card, always try to get as close to the original card as possible (ie, same manufacturer, same brand, same series (though it gets more difficult at this point)) And the same drivers you're using now should be fine.

 

[Billb2]

With two cards of the same brand (ie 2xNvidia) you have to use the same driver. It can either be installed by removing the existing driver and reinstalling it, or just reinstalling the driver again in device manager.

You can mix and match brands though. I'm running an Nvidia card and a 3DFX card. I don't know if Nvidia + ATI works, never did that.