Dual Monitor card?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mike_Jandreau
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Mike_Jandreau

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Can anyone recommend a video card that'll support two monitors? I've been reading all day about them, and most of the GeForce stuff says "dual monitor support", but it's only got one VGA out.

I found a 'splitter' cable, but it just displays the same image on both monitors. And that's not what I want. I want to be able to say, on one monitor have Cool Edit open, and the other monitor have something completely separate.

Want to try to stay around $100-$150.

Or if there's some adaptor that'll take my stock video card and split that accordingly, that'll work too.
 
The one I use is a Matrox G450 DualHead. I got it on EBay for about $40. Works great in all versions of Windows.

Ed
 
There's a thread on the Digidesign forum that has "approved" machines. It's worth a look since they are pretty picky with hardware. They recommend the ATI Radeon 9200 64Mb DDR 8x Dual Video Card , and the Matrox G550.

Check it
here .

Andrés
 
Matrox seem to be very well used for most applications other than gaming. I've used a dual-head one for video editing using Windows 2000 and it seemed a very stable environment ... my home PC has an nVidia card in and there does seem to be a certain amount of dual screen support built in to its driver and/or Win XP Pro, but if you're not a gamer my *guess* would be that it would be benefical to have a dual-head card rather than two cards or one card utilising the composite TV out.
 
I have tried all 3 approaches, and the dual head card is the best for me.

Ed
 
GeForce FX5200. Comes with an analog adapter for the Digital out...
 
Which one of the GeForce FX5200? I see there's an INNO 3D, an Asylum, and a regular? Will they all do the same?

I didn't think this would be so complicated. Thanks for your help.
 
Sweet! And that'll let me put two different things on the two different monitors? A lot of the other ones I've been reading about make it sound like when you use two outputs, it displays the same thing on both.
 
You'll have to set up the dual display on Windows. Once you have the card installed and the drivers installed it will display the same thing on both monitors by default. From there you can right click on the desktop, select properties, select settings and select which monitor is your primary and which is your windows extension...

The Nvidia software will allow you to set specifics for your software. For example I have some software that when I start it I have it take up both monitors, others start on display 2..etc.
 
Awesome, thanks for your help. I'm gonna order one as soon as I can find a good deal in the states.

Thanks again.
 
Cool - but I just thought of something. Better make sure that the one that you order does in fact come with the DVI to Analog adapter. I was just thinking that maybe mine was packaged special or something.
 
You can get a dual monitor card anywhere from 40 dollars to 400 dollars. Even the 40 dollar one works like a charm if you are not too much into gaming. Here are some links in different price range
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-318&depa=1


http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-301&depa=1


http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=14-131-201&depa=1


http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-268&depa=1
 
I keep saying it.
For DAWs the Matrox G400/G450/G550 is a no brainer.
 
Yup, I agree. But loadsa people want to play games on the same machine, so they go for a middle way.
 
christiaan said:
I keep saying it.
For DAWs the Matrox G400/G450/G550 is a no brainer.
Click to expand...

I went with what was available at the time. I guess I could of ordered the Matrox online and waited, but I needed something right away....
 
Jeeez, and you're from Canada, like Matrox. Support your country! :D ;)
 
what software will support dual monitors?

Very seriously looking into this, I've got the dual monitor graphics card (PNY 128mb $120) plus two existing Viewsonic 15" LCD monitors, BUT what software will recognize the dual monitors? I want piano roll on on one and the synth on another. Cakewalk Sonar Producer (way above my price range at $300) shows multi-monitor support option; what else is "out there" more in a "home recoding" not professional studio price tab? Maybe I'm asking to much!
 
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