Dual Monitor options.

[Eaglestrike]

So after reading a few times about how dual monitors are super pro and such I've been thinking about doing it. Issues I'm having though is that my video card has two DVI slots and all the extra monitors in the house have VGA connections. So my options seem to be either go to radio shack and get a VGA-> DVI cord or to put an extra graphics card into my computer. I think I have two somewhat decent (256 Mb 5ish years old) cards that hopefully still work. Should I put one of them in to connect a second monitor or go with the cord? If I connect a second card, what resources will it take away from my current card, if any that might decrease performance (I'm thinking it could have some IRQ issues but Windows 7 might have fixed that stuff, haven't taken a computers class since 2000 was being taught)

So anyway, what should I go with and anything else I should know about doing this before trying something?

[Kaisha]

Your best solution is to go out and grab a DVI->VGA adapter. It's cheap, and works fine.

Multiple video cards is never a good idea unless it's an SLI/CrossFire setup being done, at which point would make no difference for you since you need matching models for that (which would grant you two more DVI ports ;/ )

[Minions]

You can have 2 cards in a pc and really have no problem. I am currently using a gtx285 and some gimpy gforce.

[mootsfox]

Win7 doesn't let you mix and match as far as I know.

Just go buy a DVI->VGA adapter, they are like $5.

[Minions]

Win7 doesn't let you mix and match as far as I know.

Just go buy a DVI->VGA adapter, they are like $5.

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/5965/videocards.png


Mix and match what? If you are talking about cards i'm currently doing it with no problems....

[mootsfox]

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/5965/videocards.png


Mix and match what? If you are talking about cards i'm currently doing it with no problems....

Are you using Windows 7?

I'm talking about ATI & nVidia anyways. (Yes people do use both)

[Kaisha]

I'd have figured the drivers would explode if you mixed nVidia/ATI.......

[Minions]

I didn't even think anyone would try that, but now that you mention it yes, that would cause some amazing driver conflicts I imagine. Yeah I'm on win7 retailish, got it with a MSDN subscription.

[mootsfox]

It doesn't actually (usually).

Win7 doesn't let you though.

[fishstix]

for some irrelevant info, nvidia used to allow ati cards to be used as a physx card, but now denies it from the driver versions 185.xx and above lol

[Amastacia]

Not the cheapest option... but I'd say scoop up a 4850 and call it a day. 2 DVI outputs, and a hell of a lot of video card for $99.

[ClassicRed]

As a random question and instead of starting a new topic ~ The Dual Monitors do not need to be the same size? Never even looked into this but I assume you can set resolutions separately for each monitor? (Will be using a 19" and 23" on one pc hopefully)

[Ksandra]

just wanted to say, dual monitors own, but made me suck at mmos. (too much forum browsing during events!)

[mootsfox]

As a random question and instead of starting a new topic ~ The Dual Monitors do not need to be the same size? Never even looked into this but I assume you can set resolutions separately for each monitor? (Will be using a 19" and 23" on one pc hopefully)

Assuming you have Dual link DVI ports (and cables) you can run any size.

I run with a 30" next to a 22". For panels 24" (1920x1200 is the important part here) and under you just need two DVI or VGA connections.

[Arrmani]

Is there an easy way to tell if you can run SLI with two video cards for dual monitors? I have a NVIDIA GeForce 6150 motherboard GPU on a Dell Inspiron 531s. Its a cheap computer my dad bought me, but I saw the video card I bought went down in price, so I'd like to run 2 if its possible.

[Amastacia]

Assuming you have Dual link DVI ports (and cables) you can run any size.

I run with a 30" next to a 22". For panels 24" (1920x1200 is the important part here) and under you just need two DVI or VGA connections.

You can do 26" panels with single link too, their native resolution is still 1920x1200.

It's 27"+ with 2560x1600 where you absolutely need dual link.

[fishstix]

Is there an easy way to tell if you can run SLI with two video cards for dual monitors? I have a NVIDIA GeForce 6150 motherboard GPU on a Dell Inspiron 531s. Its a cheap computer my dad bought me, but I saw the video card I bought went down in price, so I'd like to run 2 if its possible.

idk if it's possible to run video off of both the onboard gpu and a video card at the same time, but to answer your question, the easy way to tell is looking at your motherboard. If there's 2 of the PCI-e x16 or x8 slots (not the mini ones) then you can usually run SLI, unless it's an ATI crossfire only board. Big named brands like Dell, Gateway, HP generally don't allow SLI since the mainstream doesn't use it.

[Arrmani]

Okay, thanks. That's what it seemed like from the looking around I did. I'm pretty sure everything about my computer is mini, and I hate it. I've been thinking about building a new one, but I'll prolly wait closer to FFXIV before I go getting expensive stuff.

[mootsfox]

You can do 26" panels with single link too, their native resolution is still 1920x1200.

It's 27"+ with 2560x1600 where you absolutely need dual link.

I tried to make the point that it's about resoultion, not screen size.

The only 2560x1600 panels are at 30".

Dual link is needed for above 1920x1200 (it's actually higher then that, but not important to now).

The next common size is 2560x1600 which is only supported with dual link.

[Sonomaa]

Im triple monitoring atm, loveeee it