video card?

[garbagelarge]

i want to get a dual head video card so i can run 2 monitors. does the quality of the card matter? - there are many REALLY cheap ones available. what am i sacrificing. what should i look for.

 

[ez_willis]

Check the system requirements on whatever editor you're using, i.e. pro tools, Logic, etc..

 

[tylerxxx]

i'd try to go for one with two DVI outputs (the wider, white ones).

 

[ThaArtist]

Pay attention to your outputs on the card. CRT and LCD monitors use different attachments.

I got a cheap $80 video card that supports DVI and VGA so I had to get a DVI > VGA attachement for my second CRT monitor. And..... I am that pleased. For one because the drivers suck! I updated once and NOTHING WOULD WORK! I had to do some magic with the boot file in order to get the computer to run and install the OLD drivers again. Rediculous right?

Anyway... video cards are one of the most known to cause problems that I've been seeing. I would spend $150 or so personally.

Also you want to get the highest possible built in ram that you can afford which will make the screen pop up faster etc.

 

[bgavin]

The Matrox G450 dual-head in AGP are rock solid. I run a large number of these in my clients' custom built machines. The drivers are very stable.

 

[mixmkr]

I use a Matrox PCI card, and it has worked flawlessly. I think I spent about $40 for it on Ebay...a 450, I think...

 

[Agent47]

I use an ATI PCI-express card: Dual-DVI, driving 2 x 17" TFT monitors, and it's rock solid.

Go for dual-DVI if you can. Having one crystal-clear DVI-connected monitor and one fluffy-looking VGA is just pointless.

 

[Minion]

I use an "XFX Gforce 6600GT" which has Dual (2) DVI Ouputs and also comes with 2 DVI to VGA Adapters.....The Nvidia Drivers also give you many options on how you want the display to be on both monitors.....

The Card is also very fast (500mhz GPU/1000mhz GDDR3 Memory) so you can Play all of the Newer Games like "Doom 3" , "Half Life 2" and "FarCry" ect....

The card is probably only about $100 US now as I paid $140 Canadian about 6 months ago...the card also comes in AGP or PCI-E Flavors....

Cheers

 

[pepsifx357]

I use an "XFX Gforce 6600GT" which has Dual (2) DVI Ouputs and also comes with 2 DVI to VGA Adapters.....The Nvidia Drivers also give you many options on how you want the display to be on both monitors.....

The Card is also very fast (500mhz GPU/1000mhz GDDR3 Memory) so you can Play all of the Newer Games like "Doom 3" , "Half Life 2" and "FarCry" ect....

The card is probably only about $100 US now as I paid $140 Canadian about 6 months ago...the card also comes in AGP or PCI-E Flavors....

Cheers

Man I love the 6600GT! I've got the AGP version and the Dynamic overclocking is awsome! Super easy Dual monitor support.