Dual Monitors - LCD and CRT?

[MisterMac9]

I just got a 19" LCD monitor and would like to use my old 17" CRT in a dual monitor setup. My graphics card doesn't support 2 monitors so I will need to buy a new card.

I don't game so I don't need a high-end, expensive card. Some questions:

1. Is it better to get one card that supports dual display or to add a PCI card to go along with my AGP ATI All-in-Wonder 8500DV? (I don't use most of features (TV etc.) of the 8500DV, so don't mind giving it up if one dual display card is better/easier to use for dual display.)

2. I would need to run the CRT at a lower resolution and higher refresh rate than the LCD. Is this possible?

3. Any recommendations on which card to buy?

Thx.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: MisterMac9
I just got a 19" LCD monitor and would like to use my old 17" CRT in a dual monitor setup. My graphics card doesn't support 2 monitors so I will need to buy a new card.

I don't game so I don't need a high-end, expensive card. Some questions:

1. Is it better to get one card that supports dual display or to add a PCI card to go along with my AGP ATI All-in-Wonder 8500DV? (I don't use most of features (TV etc.) of the 8500DV, so don't mind giving it up if one dual display card is better/easier to use for dual display.)

It only matters if you want to run 'span' modes. If you have no clue what I am talking about, then no, it doesn't matter.

2. I would need to run the CRT at a lower resolution and higher refresh rate than the LCD. Is this possible?

Of course. You'll have to run them as independent displays (rather than in a spanned mode) in that case, however.

3. Any recommendations on which card to buy?

I'd lean towards a RADEON 9200[SE] in AGP or PCI, or either an X300 or GF6200 in PCIe. Older low-end GeForce cards (especially FX5200s) often had signal quality issues, and their DVI implementation was VERY subpar.

 

[mcmikemc]

At work I have setup over 100 systems for customers with dual display setups. Each time we used Nvidia card with dual view functionality. We never had any issues with them and to this day no customer has called up with any issues. We mainly used Nvidia because my boss is a Linux freak and has a grudge against Ati because of their past issues with Linux drivers.

1) I don't know what issues come with using a PCI and AGP card at once. I do know that a dual view Nvidia card works flawlessly based on my experience.

2) It is 100% possible. At home I currently use a 2005FPW LCD and a 19" CRT at once and have my desktop spanning across both. All running off my 6800GT AGP.

3) Any Nvidia card that is "Dual View" compatible or any Ati card that has the same functionality (I don't know what they call it).

 

[Lord Banshee]

i say one card that has two heads. And use "Dual View"

 

[Matthias99]

3) Any Nvidia card that is "Dual View" compatible or any Ati card that has the same functionality (I don't know what they call it).

"Hydravision".

However, you don't need any special software with either company's products. Any video card that presents itself to Windows as two independent rendering devices can be used to run multiple independent desktops.

 

[MisterMac9]

Thanks for the good information. If it matters in your recommendations, the main use I want to make of two displays is for a program I use a lot (Cakewalk Sonar 5PE) in which I want to be able to see two different windows within the program at once and have both at full screen size. Currently I have to keep switching between the two views on one monitor.

 

[lifeblood]

If you get one card with two heads, no problem. If you get a second card, get the same brand as the first. That way way one driver works for both. Since you have an ATI card already, then a Radeon 9200(SE) should work great. I tried to run an nvidia AGP card with an ATI PCI card and the two drivers were incompatible.

 

[robphelan]

i have a 'ghetto' dual display here at work.. 1 17" CRT + 1 17" LCD.

our vid cards (Nvidia Quatro NVS whatever that is) only have 1 analog output but it has a Y-splitter with one output going to each monitor.

I'm able to move windows across to each monitor, stretch windows to take up space on each window at the same time, choose different backgrounds... etc... it works fine for me.

 

[Steelski]

any desktop card with 2 heads gets my vote. !!!!!!!! make sure its not a piece of crap......stick with ATI or Nvidia as they have great support for dual monitors.