Low profile dual display card for Dell Dimension C521

[Fardringle]

One of my small office clients recently purchased a couple of Dell Dimension C521 computers. They want to be able to use dual monitors with these computers but the only video option when the computers were purchased is onboard single display ATI.

Since the cases are very thin I cannot use a normal dual display video card in them so I either need a low profile video card (of any brand) that will fit into the case and allow me to use two VGA (no DVI) outputs with low profile brackets, or else I need a low profile ATI card that I can use in conjunction with the existing onboard ATI adapter.

I found a few low profile cards at various vendors but they are all Nvidia and all have one VGA and one DVI output which won't work for me unless I spend even more money to get a DVI/VGA adapter or I run ATI and Nvidia drivers on the computers at the same time (which I would rather not do). The boss wants to spend as little as possible on this since they are just going to be using dual 17" CRT monitors ($50 or less per card is preferable).


Edit: I forgot to mention that the card needs to be PCI or PCI-E. Thanks.

 

[imported_romank]

I have yet to see a DVI/VGA card that did not come with a DVI to VGA adapter. Check the cards you found and see what comes in the package.

 

[Fardringle]

Most of the low budget cards I was looking at did not have an adapter included, but I did finally find a card that will work. I'll have to break out the Dremel to modify the bracket so that it fits in the low profile case, but it's a very inexpensive card and it has a DVI/DSUB (VGA) adapter included so it should work nicely.

 

[Manic1]

Or just get this:
http://www.matrox.com/graphics...dh2go/digital/home.php
No cutting required.

 

[Fardringle]

That's an interesting device, Manic. If it was anywhere remotely close to my budget of $50 (instead of $230) it might be worth another look. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

 

[BernardP]

Maybe one of these 8400GS?

They will all have a DVI to VGA adapter to give you two VGA outputs. I would go with the Gigabyte or Biostar because of the passive cooling, although I also like the MSI's cooler

 

[SolMiester]

Hi, I had the same problem with Lenevo SFF pc's. However the Nvidia Winfast Low Profile only had DVI-I/VGA and no adapter would convert the DVI-I signal to VGA, so watch that one, as they dont convert, it has to be DVI-D or just DVI.

With the Matrox dual/triple head go devices, make sure they work with the onboard video chipset......cause they dont with SIS!!

 

[Viper GTS]

Look into the Nvidia Quadro NVS285. You can pick up new, HP branded OEM cards on ebay for under $30, & you have your choice of dual DVI or dual VGA via dongle (card is DMS-59).

Cheap, silent, and reasonably powerful for office work (about the equivalent of a GeForce 6200).

Example Auction

Viper GTS