Is it possible to have 2 LCD monitors running on DVI? If so how can I do it?

[RussianSensation]

Hi my friend asked me this question and I wasn't sure how to answer it.

He has a Radeon 9700 non-pro and it has 1 DVI and 1 Analog port so he runs 2 Samsung 172T monitors; 1 on DVI and 1 on Analog output. He says the difference in colour and picture quality is distracting and he prefers the DVI much better. I know there is a digital to analog converter but that allows to run 2 analog computers I believe if i am not mistaken. He went to a couple of computer stores and they told him analog to digital doesn't exist so he is thinking of buying a dual DVI videocard.

I am not aware of the dual DVI videocard from ATI or Nvidia (esp the new generation ones?). Matrox Parhelia perhaps is an option but it is slow in games. He also tells me at least once a day his drivers will crash on 2 monitors and when he runs on 1 nothing ever happens any ideas?

What are his options for running 2 lcds on DVI? A new videocard that supports both? add in another PCI videocard? revert to running both on analog and forget about it? And if he gets an add-on PCI card to run both in digital mode, how will the computer specify which card to play the games with?

 

[Viper96720]

Get a video card with dual dvi outputs. A PCI card with DVI would also work.

 

[Alptraum]

The main two options would be to get a single card with duel DVI (there is a big sticky thread about cards that have that on here) or just put in a second PCI card that has DVI. Games will run off the primary display card. So if he gets a cheaper PCI card to run the other LCD it will work fine.

 

[RussianSensation]

Ok so how do you "tell" the computer which card is the primary card? Or is the card in then AGP slot automatically set as thh primary card or what?

Also, I've looked at the list of dual-dvi cards and the list is extensive but not even 1 card is as fast as his Radeon 9700. So i guess the best option is to get a 2nd pci slot graphics card.