Need advice in buying a video card for dual monitors

[propellerhead]

I just got a new computer at work to replace an old one that had two video cards driving two 21" monitors. It had an AGP and a PCI video card and everything was great. The new PC is running a single monitor using the onboard video card. <ugh!> It has what seems to be a PCI Express 16x slot and two regular PCI slots. I transfered the PCI video card from the old machine to the new one but the new machine only recognized the PCI video card. I suppose it automatically disabled the onboard one. I don't have access to the BIOS so I can't really mess with that. It seems my only option is to get a PCI Express 16x video card that supports dual monitors.

How do I know which PCI Express 16x video cards will support two monitors? Is there some bla-bla-bla compliant thing that I need to look for? Is there some version x.y of some driver I need to check? Do all PCI Express 16x video cards with two outputs (DVI and VGA) support two monitors? I'd like to have two monitors work independently and not one just mirroring the other.

Thanks.

(Wow! I haven't posted here in years. Literally, years. Last post must have been like 2002 or something)

 

[Farmer]

All of the Geforce 7xxx and ATI X1xxx series cards have dual-DVI outputs for 2 monitor support, and they are all compatible with PCI-E 16x (and if I were buying a new video card, I wouldn't look beyond these two series). However, if you decided to run SLI (on nVidia) or Crossfire (on ATI) setups, you can't run more than 1 monitor.

Welcome back.

I'm not sure what you do, sounds like either some engineering application or maybe finance/ticker app. Regardless, there's a card in every price/performance bracket.

 

[propellerhead]

Here's a twist... I'm not sure if my monitors will run off the DVI ports. Both were hooked up to the regular VGA port. These are black NEC 22" monitors.

What about the ones that have one DVI and one VGA port? That's what I see on Newegg. Would those work for dual monitors?

You guessed right. I'm a software engineer for a large aerospace defense company. It is common to have multiple documents and files open. Having multiple monitors helps a lot. Almost everyone in our group at work has them.

 

[Farmer]

propellerhead:

Don't worry about that. All these video cards come with one or two DVI-to-Dsub dongles so that your analog monitors will work the the DVI-outs. You can also purchase these yourself for a few bucks. In fact, if you go to a local computer shop, they might even give you a few for free.

 

[dawza]

If your monitors do not have DVI inputs, you will need to hook them up via VGA. I don't know of any dual VGA-out cards in PCI-e, so your best bet would be to either get a DVI/VGA card and use a DVI-VGA adaptor (often included with the card) for the DVI-out, or purchase a dual-DVI card and use two DVI-VGA adaptors. Adaptors are cheap enough if you need more.

I would recommend a dual-DVI card, as you would then be able to run two DVI-enabled monitors in the future, should you need/want to- more flexibility, basically. Beyond that, it all depends on how much money you want to spend, whether you want passive or active cooling, processing power, etc.

 

[Farmer]

dawza:

Much more eloquent than my response.

 

[propellerhead]

This is my work computer so I don't need to look at future upgrades of monitors. I think I'll order a DVI/VGA one. I've seen them for under $50. That's about all I want to spend on it. Anything above that, I'd rather go through the proper channels at work for a real upgrade. The only downside to that is it may take six months for anything to happen.

I just hope this slot is indeed a PCI Express 16x slot. No cameras allowed. Is there a website that shows pics of the different slots?

Thanks guys.

 

[unfalliblekrutch]

what chipset does the computer have?

 

[propellerhead]

I don't know what chipset it has. It's an HP Compaq dc7600 with a 3.4 Ghz Intel CPU.

I did find a straightforward discussion on the current video card interfaces on Tom's Hardware Guide. It's nice to know that THG is still doing what it does best. I'm pretty sure my computer has a PCI Express slot.

I'm down to this one on Newegg for $47.99 free shipping.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814131415

Or, this one on Tiger Direct for $51.98 shipped with a $10 rebate.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications...etails.asp?EdpNo=2111226&sku=P450-8599

 

[JK27]

I am also interested in this setup. However, I am a bit concerned that the dual outputs (dvi and vga) will only output the exact same thing. Do I really need 2 cards to create the dual monitor effect -- or can it be done with one of the cards propellerhead has listed above? Thanks in advance!

Newbie to Dual Monitors

 

[TeacherTim2]

Probably should be in its own thread, but thought I'd add to this one...

I want to do the same thing, but in an education environment. Desktop computer to show on a CRT as well as a LCD projector. Difference is, I have an AGP slot.

I will need the VGA/DVI adapter with them, so suggestions that include those adapters (or where to get several) would be great too.

I need 4 of these, so any advice would be great!

Thanks!
Tim

 

[propellerhead]

Originally posted by: JK27
I am also interested in this setup. However, I am a bit concerned that the dual outputs (dvi and vga) will only output the exact same thing. Do I really need 2 cards to create the dual monitor effect -- or can it be done with one of the cards propellerhead has listed above? Thanks in advance!

Newbie to Dual Monitors

When I first got it set up, the two monitors had the exact same image. Like two TVs watching the same channel. Once I got past all the driver stuff that Windows did automatically, I went into the Desktop Properties and clicked the box that said to extend the desktop onto the second monitor. I hit Apply and I'm rocking with dual monitors. It was really easy.

Originally posted by: TeacherTim2
I have an AGP slot.

Same thing. Just get an AGP video card that has two heads. One will drive your CRT. The other will drive the projector. However, the projectors we have here at work don't require you to add anything. The single video output from the computer goes into the projector then the monitor plugs into the projector. So the projector is in series, basically.

 

[JK27]

Originally posted by: propellerhead

Originally posted by: JK27
I am also interested in this setup. However, I am a bit concerned that the dual outputs (dvi and vga) will only output the exact same thing. Do I really need 2 cards to create the dual monitor effect -- or can it be done with one of the cards propellerhead has listed above? Thanks in advance!

Newbie to Dual Monitors

When I first got it set up, the two monitors had the exact same image. Like two TVs watching the same channel. Once I got past all the driver stuff that Windows did automatically, I went into the Desktop Properties and clicked the box that said to extend the desktop onto the second monitor. I hit Apply and I'm rocking with dual monitors. It was really easy.

Thanks for the info. Btw, which card did you go with? Are you happy with it? Did it come with a DVI to VGA adaptor?

 

[propellerhead]

I got the one from Newegg and it's working great. Lots of good feedback on it on Newegg.

No, it didn't come with a DVI to VGA adapter. Ask around. They had a drawer full of them at the IT desk at work. Don't buy the $30 one from Compusa.

 

[TeacherTim2]

OK, just broke open the Compaq Evo 500 at the school where I teach, and it's one of those low-profile desktops. It won't fit a standard-size AGP card, so I can't use the AGP card that I just received from NewEgg...

Question: Can I use a PCI VGA card along with the AGP card that is already installed? If so, any suggestions?

 

[Peter]

There are low-profile AGP cards that have the DVI port on the card, and the VGA output on a cable. Some of them (PowerColor's, if I remember correctly) even come with LP brackets.

If you look at newegg's assortment of VGA cards, you'll find that the cheapest ones almost all are like that. Browse them for one that has the LP bracket(s) in the box.

 

[TeacherTim2]

Well...doesn't seem to be any available with the LP bracket in the box. I can only find one accessory at Newegg that will adapt the card to a Low Profile bracket, and it's not available anywhere.

Anyone know where to get the brackets and short little VGA cable?
Thanks!

 

[propellerhead]

Yes, you can use a VGA video card along with an AGP. That's what I have in my home computer. 1 AGP + 2 VGA for a total of three monitors. My old computer at work had one AGP and one VGA. The new one has one double-head PCIx.