Dual Monitors Display

[gmgq]

I've got my old 14" monitor sitting here, and I'm wondering if I should get a second video card (PCI) and use it for a dual display setup.

But I'm just wondering if I can set each monitor to a different resolution? Or do they have to be set to the same resolution? I've also got a TV Tuner card installed, and I'd mainly like to use the 14" as a TV display, so that the TV window doesn't take up space on my regular monitor. But that 14" monitor can't display as high a resolution as my regular monitor. So would it be possible to have the 14" running at a lower resolution?

FYI, my main AGP video card is a Geforce2 GTS Pro 64MB. And I'd try to find a cheapie PCI video card for the 2nd monitor...

TIA

[jadison]

check HERE (http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/reviews/video/3dfx_v3_) for the Voodoo 3 3000 PCI video card. On several occasions this card has been recommended as a low-cost solution for a performance PCI video card. I've used it myself, can't complain.

I'll post some more, soon.

-=jd=-

[jadison]

Here's a great site that has a wealth of PCI cards...Click Here (http://www.dealtime.com/SearchResults/SearchResultsComponen)
There seems to be some really good deals there :)

answer to your Question: Yes, you can have the 2 monitors set to different resolutions. BTW, what is the make and model of your 14" monitor?

hope this helps...

-=jd=-

[gmgq]

Thanks for the links.

The monitor I plan on using is my ol' Philips Magnavox 14", hehe.

I didn't plan on getting a spankin' new PCI video card just to do this setup, so I was hoping that I could shove one of my old PCI video cards into the system. But I tried an ATI and an Elsa card tonight, and both times the Device Manager said it was unable to start the device.

I asked another friend and he said that the 2nd video card has to be compatible to be used as a Secondary video card. He suggested I try a Matrox card.


Originally posted by jadison
Here's a great site that has a wealth of PCI cards...Click Here (http://www.dealtime.com/SearchResults/SearchResultsComponen)
There seems to be some really good deals there :)

answer to your Question: Yes, you can have the 2 monitors set to different resolutions. BTW, what is the make and model of your 14" monitor?

hope this helps...

-=jd=-

[Mntsnow]

Matrox cards and most ATI cards usually play very nicely in Dual montor setups. What model of ATI card were you trying?

[gmgq]

I tried an ATI Mach64. I know the card works by itself. I believe my PCI5 shares irq's with something... so I tried it in PC1 which I know doesn't share anythnig, but I still got the exclamation mark in the Device Manager, saying that the Device was unable to start...? It was detected fine, and the win2k drivers were smoothly installed.


Originally posted by Mntsnow
Matrox cards and most ATI cards usually play very nicely in Dual montor setups. What model of ATI card were you trying?

[Mntsnow]

Products based on the MACH 32/64™, RAGE II™, or RAGE PRO™ do not support multi-adapter and will not function properly when used as the secondary adapter. They will function properly when used as the primary adapter


The Mach64 card is the problem....It does not work as a secondary adapter. Choose a different card.

[gmgq]

Yeah... figured as much. Would you happen to have a link to anywhere that talks about compatible secondary video cards?

Else I'll just try to hunt down a used Matrox Mystique.... TIA.


Originally posted by Mntsnow
Products based on the MACH 32/64™, RAGE II™, or RAGE PRO™ do not support multi-adapter and will not function properly when used as the secondary adapter. They will function properly when used as the primary adapter


The Mach64 card is the problem....It does not work as a secondary adapter. Choose a different card.

[gmgq]

Found a pretty good deal on a Matrox Mystique 2MB. But will 2MB be enough? What colour depth would 2MB allow? TIA

[Mntsnow]

2meg will allow up to 1024x768 at 256 or 800 x 600 at 16bit with no problem

[Axel]

only bad part about the Voodoo product line is that the manufacturer has been absorbed - 3dfx is out of business - they got sold to a compeditor and no longer exist, so I'm not sure how much support you'll find for any voodoo cards out there -

otherwise - I love the voodoo cards and have two of them myself - good card - felt bad when I heard the news -

What happened was they had a great group of engineers - wish some of them had made it to business school.... know what I mean?

[gmgq]

ARgh, it's looking pretty hopeless for me to get a Matrox Mystique card. There's a site that's in washington that's close to me in canada, but they want $47USD to ship a $14.99 video card to me!! (I even called them to verify the shipping rate). Else other retailers won't even ship to canada.

So does anyone know of another brand of PCI video card that will be happy as a secondary video card? (which is more readily available?). TIA.

[Ritalin Kid]

Man I wish I could help you I had a Matrox Mystiq 220 PCI not to long ago but I think I traded it for some memory.. If I come across another one I will let you know..

BTW I thought that you were limited to one video card within a system because I once remember tryin to install two video cards at once in a system and I got an error that said something about two adpaters are not supported by this motherboard or maybe it was windows 98.. *scratches head* I can't remember.... but I do remember it had no AGP just PCI slots we were trying to use the onboard video and that same Matrox Mystiq 220 at the same time.

Could someone explain to me how I would go about setting up a two video cards in one syste,

[jadison]

I could purchase a compatible PCI video card here, and ship it to you gmgq, I'll find out the shipping costs, but let me know if you're still having problems.

-=jd=-

[gmgq]

Jadison: Yeah, that sounds like a plan. I posted this request in a local buy&sell newsgroup, and a few people replied, but they tend to disappear after I msg them back saying I'm interested. So I'm running out of options :\

If you could find a card that's happy to work as the secondary video card, I'd really appreciate it! (at a relatively cheap price of course, no need for a fancy shmancy video card; 4MB is enough). Worst case, maybe I could order it from that place in Washington that has it for $14.99USD and ship it to you, and you could ship it to me...? Even that run-around should cost less than what they would charge me to ship it directly to me -- $47USD!! LMK if you find anything.

For compatibility sake, here's my config:

Intel Celeron II 850
512MB SDRAM
ABIT BE6-II Mobo
Powercolor Geforce2 GTS PRO 64MB AGP
Win2k Pro

TIA!

Originally posted by jadison
I could purchase a compatible PCI video card here, and ship it to you gmgq, I'll find out the shipping costs, but let me know if you're still having problems.

-=jd=-

[gmgq]

Jadison, someone (locally) actually replied to one of my WTB msgs, and I 'should' be getting a Mystique 2mb off them in a week or so. So don't worry about finding me another video card for now (unless you come by one by accident or something). Thanks for now!

[jadison]

No Prob., Let me know if everything turns out OK.
I'll keep my eyes peeled though :)

-=jd=-

[sperf]

I have several Maxtrox Millenium Cards available.
If this is still an issue for you, I think I can help you out.

-Jeff
SiliconPerfection LLC.

"No breasts required to build your perfect pc"