Dual CRT: 1600x1200 resolution

[ElusivePeon]

I'm looking into getting a new vid card that can support 1600x1200 for both of the outputs. I've scoured the net looking for this info, but it seems to be posted nowhere. I looked into the GF4 Ti4200 nView, but the tech specs doesn't say what resolutions the DVI connector can output (resolution/refresh rate). Does anyone have any experience running such a high resolution on a dual monitor setup? Would my best bet just be to get a PCI vidcard instead of finding a card that has native 1600x1200 dual monitor output support?

 

[IgoByte]

I don't exactly know which cards do, but I'm sure there are some that offer 1600x1200 on both monitors. I think the Matrox Parhelia may offer 1600x1200 on all three. Check out the ATI Radeon 8500 & GF4 Ti4600 for gaming, Matrox G450/550 for 2D, and the Quadro 4 750/900 for professional graphics. If nothing else, call up the company that makes the card to verify.

 

[ElusivePeon]

I was reading the Gainward spec info for their Ti4200 and it says the DVI is able to output 1600x1200, but doesn't specify at what refresh rate. As for pretty much all the other manufacturers, this information isn't even listed. I want to be able to use the card for some gaming, so a nVidia solution would suit my needs the best. That and the cost issue, the Ti4600 is $300+!!! I guess the best option would to find a 4200 that can do 1600x1200 @ 70+ hz refresh rate on both outputs (VGA and DVI). Does such a card exist?

 

[heliomphalodon]

The Gainward GF4 Ti4600 will do 1600x1200 @60Hz on both of its DVI outputs simultaneously.

 

[ElusivePeon]

Do both the monitors have to be running at the same resolution/refresh rate? For example, can I run one at 1600x1200 @ 85 Hz while the other is at 1600x1200 @ 60Hz? Btw, both monitors would be CRT's so I would be using the DVI --> VGA adapter.

 

[Peter]

Outside Windows 2000 which has a nasty design flaw in that regard, you can do as you please with a dual head capable graphics units. Different resolutions, color depths, refresh rates, no problem.

I got me the simplest possible, a fanless Radeon 7500LE from PowerColor. Currently running an old 14" in 768x576 100 Hz interlaced (for fullscreen PAL TV) and a 17" at 1280x960 85 Hz. Both in 24-bit depth, the latter is on the DVI plug through a DVI-VGA adapter.

At 1600x1200 at 85 Hz, you're looking at a pixel clock frequency of slightly below 230 MHz. THIS is what you must have an eye on, there are cards whose 2nd output has a lower limit than the 1st one.

regards, Peter

 

[geoff2k]

Peter, what Windows 2000 bug are you referring to? My main OS is win2k, and I'd like to keep it that way, but I just bought a Radeon 8500 for dual-monitor purposes. :-(

 

[Peter]

Not a bug, a design flaw.

W2K cannot run multiple outputs from a single graphics chip in an independent manner. The only thing you get is a spanned single desktop across two identical monitors, at the same resolution and color depth.

Matrox made a huge effort to sneak that capability in by means of a highly complicated driver setup (it's a b*tch to set up but it actually works), so you either change OS (Windows XP has the issue rectified), use multiple single-output cards, or buy a Matrox card.

regards, Peter

 

[ElusivePeon]

Peter: Thanks for the advice. Most all of the GF4 Ti4200's have a 350 mhz RAMDAC. I am assuming that in order to drive the second output the video card must have a second RAMDAC. Is this correct? The problem with making sure the 2nd output has an acceptable (albeit lower) refresh limit is that none of the manufacturer list any resolution/refresh rate tables for the 2nd output. They're quite willing to show the capabilities of the primary output, but fail to show any documentation on the secondary.