Q1: Dual Monitor VGA Video Cards Questions

  • Thread starter Thread starter umair
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umair

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I did some searching on the forum and there are two questions I couldn't find any recent info on. All of it was quite dated and these things change every week as we all know.

Right now, I have a computer that works flawlessly (knock on wood ) with my setup. The video seems to work with no problems whatsoever. The board is one of the newer intel boards with built in video. Like I said, I have no problems but I recently picked up an identical monitor to what I have and I would love to set up a dual monitor system.

A.) What's a good Dual monitor AGP card out there? Under $100? and also under $200?

B.) I'm assuming AGP is better than PCI because I only want my hammerfall in the PCI slot to reduce any PCI load correct?

C.) Will higher MB's really help me in this case since I don't play any games? This computer is mostly for recording although I am starting to dabble into video editing since I bought a new digi camcorder.

D.) If I purchase something like the All in Wonder with the whole TV Tuner, dvd capture, yadda yadda yadda, will that have a negative effect on my recording process or do you think I am will be ok?

The computer is P4 2.8Ghz/800FSB, two 7200 RPM HD's, 2 GB Ram, Nuendo 2.0, Nuendo 96/52 (hammerfall 9652) sound card to two Nuendo ADI-8s.

Any help would be appreciated...
Now for my next question about rackmounted cases on a seperate post....
 
If you don't care for 3D performance (games), check ebay for Matrox G400 or G450 dualheads. You can get one of those for less than $30,- and not just me but a lot of other DAW users swear by them.
 
I bought a Matrox G450 second hand from ebay about 6 months ago and never looked back.


.......well it's hard to look back when you have 2 monitors to stare at instead of 1 :D
 
Video card

Hi, umair.

I agree with christiian and lemontree.

I have a Matrox G400 dualhead which I purchased at Ebay for $25 plus shipping. It's great. I bought it because the folks on this board who know a whole lot more about recording than I do suggested it.

If you'd prefer a dualhead card with a warranty still intact, there's a decent 64MB (perfectly sufficient, but they also come with 128MB) dualhead card made by Albatron. It's a GeForce4 and is also very nice. That card also has TV-out, should that be an interest of yours'.

It has dualhead capacity, one port being set for VGA and the other for DVI (digital visual interface, I believe), but it also comes with a DVI-to-VGA adapter...so you can run two VGA monitors, one VGA CRT monitor and an LCD monitor, or a monitor and a television...very nice. I just built a video editing station and tried one and it seems to be very nice, indeed.

Good luck with your new setup.

Julia
 
Hey Julia,

I remember us discussing videocards. Good to hear that you like your G400. But I didn't expect anything else. :)
 
G400

Thank you, christiian...yes, the G400 seems fine, and I received it in what appears to be excellent condition.

I very much appreciated your guidance on this. I have yet to have the time to do any recording on my new system, but from all I've read, the G400 and G450 are the cards to have on DAWs.

So thanks again. I always appreciate your input.

Right now I am looking into an inexpensive set of nearfields. I'm finding a hard-to-pass-up deal on the Yorkville YSM1p Studio Monitors, but can't find a current (i.e. 2004) review on them. They're an older monitor, I guess.

Any thoughts on nearfields? I'm looking in the price range of the Yorkville's or the Behringer Truths. Nothing fancy.

Happy weekend.

Julia
 
I've been installing Matrox G450 cards in all my client's machines for a long time now. They play well with other children, tie their own shoes, and are not disruptive at all on the play ground.

Highly recommended for driver stability and image quality. IMO, the very best 2D card out there.
 
G450's

Hi, bgavin

That's good to know.

From where do you buy your G450's in general?

I bought my G400 used...Ebay. $25 plus shipping (9 dollars shipping, though! sheesh) :rolleyes:

Julia
 
I noticed that the G450's are 32 MB's.... some of are even 16MBs... is it worth the extra money to get something that is 64 or even 128? Or is it pointless for our usage?

I'm starting to eye that ATI All In Wonder 9600 with this TV tuner and all kinds of gizmos. $200 though... It would be cool to record my TV shows to my computer though since I never get to watch anything on time anymore.

Anyone have that one?
 
umair said:
I noticed that the G450's are 32 MB's.... some of are even 16MBs... is it worth the extra money to get something that is 64 or even 128? Or is it pointless for our usage?
Click to expand...
Pointless. 3D cards mainly use the extra memory to store textures that can me mapped over 3D objects (hope that made sense). Since DAWs don't do 3D, you won't get much use out of it.
Most people can work well with a dualhead with 16MB, you only need more if you're going to use VERY high screen resolutions in true colour. That's two monitors at 1920x1440 and 24 bits colour depth or more.
 
i snagged an Jaton 128MB dual head card for $54. it is dual vga out, no dvi, it also has a passive heatsink so no fan noise which is nice.
 
Matrox G400

I just Purchased the Matrox G400 for 23.80 (that includes shipping) on ebay. I'm pretty excited.
 
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