Which multimon solution shoud I choose?

[Neurotox]

Here's what I'm using in my current single monitor setup:

emachines w/ a 2.66 Ghz Celeron D, 533 Mhz FSB,
512 DDR RAM, no AGP slots (yes, this sucks, I didn't buy it tho)
Geforce FX 5500 128 MB PCI (grr) with dual (analog) heads and tv-out
19" analog monitor

I also have a spare 15" (might even be a 14" it's so old) analog monitor,
a Geforce 4 MX PCI left over from my last vid card upgrade,
and the onboard Intel graphics which I believe to be "emulated" AGP.

As far as I know, these are my options:

Geforce FX/onboard AGP
Geforce FX output 1/output 2
Geforce FX/Geforce 4 MX

The answer that jumps right out at me (of course) is to utilize the two outputs of the GFX. However (correct me if I'm wrong), using this method you have to use the same resolution on both monitors - since the old one won't go above 1024x768 and I'm used to working in 1600x1200 on the 19', this poses a problem. I also wasn't able to get independent desktops, only cloned and extended, but after some reading I think that's solved (unckecking the "extend desktop onto this monitor" box - haven't tried it yet though).

If I am correct and this cannot be done, I have to either re-enable onboard AGP, which I have heard will drain some cpu cycles and RAM; or install the second PCI vid card, which I have heard is bad if you are using your computer for audio (the whole reason I want dual monitors) because it's just that much more competition on your PCI bus, where your audio card is located.

I would LOVE for someone to tell me that I'm doing something wrong and that one video card CAN produce two different resolutions (and in this case bit depths, too), but if not, I guess my question is: which of the two alternative solutions is the lesser of two evils? I play 3D games and make music mostly,
with a slight emphasis on audio (I can always reduce graphic options for games but need all the juice I can get for audio).

Thanks in advance for any advice on this, I just don't want to spend all day tomorrow mixing and matching configs, installing and uninstalling vid cards, etc.

nTox

 

[Neurotox]

btw... hey everyone!

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Um ... Is selling it an option?

Welcome to the forums BTW.

- M4H

 

[Neurotox]

I wouldn't do that to anyone.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Neurotox
I wouldn't do that to anyone.

Surely you must have an enemy. Or a sibling.

In all seriousness, look for a way to ditch the AGP-less system, and build one bottom-up. You'll be much happier with your multimonitor exploits, and gaming will be a night-and-day difference.

In your current situation though, disable the onboard Intel Extremely Sucky Graphics and use the FX5500. Yes, you can drive the displays individually at different resolution/refresh rates.

- M4H

 

[Neurotox]

Awesome. That's what I wanted to hear.

As for the upgrade: I wish. In my current monetary situation I'm lucky to even HAVE a computer (two actually), let alone one that can run Doom 3 (8x6, no AA, medium vid settings: about 25-40 fps)!

Plus I just (irresponsibly) just spent +$120 on my GFX, even if I DID build a new one I'd have to buy another vid card too. My secondary comp has AGP, but it's a 550 MHz P3. If I were to get the fastest P3 chip I could find (I think it's about 1.8 GHz), upgrade it, and get a good card for it, do you think it could be faster than my 2.66 GHz Celeron D with PCI graphics? Without spending $400 on the card? For that price I could get an Xbox AND a PS2.

peace,
nTox

 

[bunnyfubbles]

You'd be better off buying a new motherboard and CPU than buying the fastest P3 your mobo could take.

 

[Neurotox]

That would be great if that was all I would need - buy a p4/mobo combo, all of a sudden you need completely new RAM. Have an AGP slot, suddenly you need a $400-$500 AGP video card. Before you know it, you've basically just bought yourself a new computer (which is great if you can afford it).

It's really kinda crappy the way everything worked out - my Celeron D machine's mobo will support a P4 chip, but only has a FSB of 533 MHz, and no AGP slot. My P3 rig has an AGP slot but will not take a P4. Bah. I can't even Frankenstein the two together in any way that would be beneficial. My biggest gripe about building a P4 rig is almost everything (minus the drives) would have to be BOUGHT, and I have SOO many parts laying around (and in machines) that will be completely worthless to the new rig.

I have actually done fairly well considering this machine started out as one of those $50 sell-your-soul-to-msn-for-four-years deals at Best Buy. I BELIEVE the stats were something like ~600 Mhz Celeron II, 32 MB RAM (with XP installed, makes NO sense - barely booted), 20 Gig HD. Rolled it over like three times (gotta love that extended warranty policy at BB), traded with mom one time and here I am. Mid-range for less than $500 TOTAL in the last 6 years.

nTox

 

[Neurotox]

Update, got multimon with different resolutions working. Took awhile, but I figured it out. Turns out the display settings were letting me go higher than the monitor could handle. Now I realize I have to get a newer monitor somehow. This POS is maxed out at 8x6, 16 bit. :disgust:

Thanks to MercenaryForHire for reassuring me that it could be done.

nTox