Dual monitor question

[Adrian Tung]

I am planning to do a dual monitor setup next month, and I'd like to know whether it is better to have a single video card with two video outputs (I was considering a dual-head GeForce2 MX card), or two separate video cards (which in this case I considered adding a Voodoo 3 PCI to my GeForce1 DDR).

What do you guys think?

I'd also like to know, do both my monitors need to support the same resolution and refresh rate?


Thanks,
atwl

 

[SUOrangeman]

The dual-display set up will depend on what OS you are running.

My credentials: I ran a Savage4 PCI + ATi Rage128 AGP for 18 months in WinME, Win2K, and Linux (XFree86 4.0). I recently upgraded to a Leadtek GF2MX DHPro. Same functionality in WinME (and likely Win98, if I ran it) and Linux (with nVidia's drivers). The difference seems to be in Win2K.

With two cards, I could use different resolutions, refresh rates, and color depths. With the new card, Win2K treats it as one display. (Win2K does that for all "dual-head" cards by default.) nVidia's drivers totally control the dualheadedness, so standard Win2K multi-head features (like different resolutions, color depths, and refresh rates, maximizing to a single display) are out of the Window. On the other hand, nVidia's drivers add things like mirroring that aren't typically available with two-card setups. They've also attempted get the maximizing to a single display working in Win2K, but it isn't quite there yet.

I've also had a lot of crashes since installing the card, but I cannot exclusively blame the nVidia card. I was getting a few crashes just before I installed the card, but some of the ones now explicitly list nv4_disp.dll (or similar; that's the nVidia driver) on the BSOD. I am using USB more, so that may play a factor.

As far as DH cards go, Matrox brings their A-game in DH features. I think they are the only manufacturer that has (claimed to have) defeated Win2K's behavior (one video chip to one display) so that it acts in the same manner as it does under Win98-ME (sees every individual display regardless of how many video cards). nVidia's only advantage in the DH game is 3D horsepower. No other DH card can put out the frames like nVidia (mind you, all games thus far use one screen for 3D). I think ATi's offering is somewhere in the middle. Appian and other special setups are typically too expensive to consider.

I'll right now, but the gf is looking over my shoulder. PM or e-mail me.

-SUO

 

[Adrian Tung]

Sent you a PM.... and I forgot to mention, I'm using Win2K.


atwl

 

[Tweakin]

Like SUOrangeman said...In Win2k I think dual Video cards are the only way to go. It's nice being able to change color depth and resolution on each monitor seperately. If not, you need to look at the Matrox G450 DH. I have a Leadtek GForce 2 MX DH and the quality and features are not as nice as my G450 at work.

 

[CADbad]

I build CAD machines with multimonitors-I have used Matrox G400, G450, and G400MAX,-I have had very little problem with the cards or the drivers-just make sure you have a good power supply-You can look at the forums on Matrox site, and see any issues. I have been picking up G400MAX at EBAY as they are no longer produced-but without question, I find them to be a seamless solution to the duel head need. Once you go there, you are hooked.
Good Luck
Howard

 

[Adrian Tung]

Thanks for all the replies, guys. After messaging SUOrangeman, I figured that the dual monitor setup wouldn't help me do what I wanted to do. I'll need to think about it more first, and perhaps even consider maybe getting a larger monitor instead.


atwl

 

[SUOrangeman]

(KNOCKING ON WOOD)

Well, I installed the 14.20 drivers for Win2K 75 minutes ago ... and Win2K has yet to crash. I haven't seen this type of stability in a month or longer. THIS IS TOTALLY MAKING ME GIDDY. TwinView is minding its own business. Other than a few rogue web popups that like to maximize to both screens, I'd almost swear that I was running two separate cards as I had been over the past 18 months!

-SUO, quite happy with nVidia and TwinView at the moment

 

[Raspewtin]

i am running matrox g400 millenium max on winxp. runs perfectly (2 independent monitors with diff resolutions, color depths, refresh rates) with drivers that came with xp.