Need PCI video card rec

[lansa]

I just ordered an Inspiron 537 which I'll be using as a trading rig with 3 monitors. As with my current pc, I'll be installing a PCI-e card and a PCI card to enable 3 monitors. Can someone recommend a good performing PCI card for this setup?

 

[dguy6789]

Performance isn't really important, pretty much every card has very good 2D performance. The only thing I'd make sure of is that both cards are nVidia or that both cards are ATI to avoid driver conflicts. Any cheap card from either company will work great for running an extra monitor.

 

[lansa]

Thanks for the reply. I'll definitely keep them both Nvidia. Whats the latest and greatest pci card with an Nvidia chip? Do they even make pci cards anymore?

 

[brblx]

he's not lying when he says it really doesn't matter.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...%201069609642&name=PCI

any card from that page should work equally well for running an extra desktop. you needn't spend too much on the pci-e card, either.

edit- also, if that inspiron has onboard video, you may only need one extra card. you can use the onboard out plus the dual outputs of a pcie video card. only problem might be driver issues if it has intel graphics (as opposed to ati or nvidia).

 

[dguy6789]

Although 2D performance is pretty much the same, it would probably be better to get something like the lowest end pci Geforce 8xxx model or pci Geforce 9xxx model just for the sake of driver support instead of something ancient like a Geforce 2 or Geforce FX.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814187041

 

[lansa]

Ok, looking at this one for example:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130466

Would I be able to output to 2 monitors from this card, one DVI and other VGA?

 

[lifeblood]

The 9 series is the latest from Nvidia, but for the PCI card the 8 series is also still good. Try to get two DX10 cards. It will cut down on problems.

What monitors do you have? A quick look at 9 series PCI cards on newegg showed none having two DVI connectors. They had a DVI and an analog, or just a single DVI. If all your monitors are DVI you may have to look a little harder.

 

[lansa]

"edit- also, if that inspiron has onboard video, you may only need one extra card. you can use the onboard out plus the dual outputs of a pcie video card. only problem might be driver issues if it has intel graphics (as opposed to ati or nvidia). "

I just checked and its got onboard Intel graphics....would I be able to use one dual card and the onboard? If so that makes life alot easier.

 

[dguy6789]

Originally posted by: lansa
Ok, looking at this one for example:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130466

Would I be able to output to 2 monitors from this card, one DVI and other VGA?

Yes. The card also comes with a DVI to VGA adaptor so that you can use two VGA monitors with the card.

 

[lifeblood]

Would I be able to output to 2 monitors from this card, one DVI and other VGA?

Unless their is something weird about that card, yes. I've done it before.

 

[dguy6789]

In theory you should be able to, but that depends on how well the drivers and software of the two video cards get along with coexisting. I personally have only tried a combination of integrated graphics and a video card when they were the same manufacturer.

Edit: Replying to the post directly below.

 

[lansa]

"What monitors do you have? A quick look at 9 series PCI cards on newegg showed none having two DVI connectors. They had a DVI and an analog, or just a single DVI. If all your monitors are DVI you may have to look a little harder."

All 3 Viewsonics have both DVI and D-sub inputs, so I should be ok there.

 

[lifeblood]

would I be able to use one dual card and the onboard?

Maybe, but I think it will be troublesome. You can try it then if it doesn't work go ahead and buy another card. With XP the two video cards HAD to both be ATI or both Nvidia. With wddm in Vista/Win7 it is not so important, but I would still be cautious.

*edited because I can't spell.

 

[brblx]

^what he said. i couldn't remember if it was vista or win7 that fixed the driver issue.

if running XP, you'll want to get a pcie card with two dvi outs and a pci card with at least 1 dvi out. i'd want to keep them all vga or all dvi for visual uniformity.

 

[vj8usa]

Originally posted by: lifeblood
With XP the two video cards HAD to both be ATI or both Nvidia. With wddm in Vista/Win7 it is not so important, but I would still be cautious.

You sure? I seem to recall Vista being the one that had trouble with 2 different display drivers, while it was doable on XP and 7.

 

[lansa]

I'll be running Win7 on this. Would I be better off getting a pci-e with 2 dvi out and a single pci?

 

[lansa]

Whats everyones opinion of this card? Can I do better for the price or is this good enough?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130328

 

[dguy6789]

If you're willing to go ATI, this card is much faster.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161259

 

[lansa]

Thanks, I havent been following the vid card wars for couple years and have totally lost track of whos on top. I was just reading on another site that shall not be named that the 4850 was a best buy, so I guess will go with the ATI.

I guess the only reason I wanted to go with Nvidia was beacuse I wanted to use the FX5200 PCI that I already have.....now im confused.

 

[dguy6789]

I've heard numerous testimonies from people on this site(although I don't have first hand experience) that ATI and nVidia cards work just fine together on Windows 7.

 

[lansa]

Originally posted by: dguy6789
I've heard numerous testimonies from people on this site(although I don't have first hand experience) that ATI and nVidia cards work just fine together on Windows 7.

If thats the case then I'm ok with ATI.