Is Dual CRT a Good Idea?

[MOUKIE007]

I am thinking of getting 2 of
THESE on the cheap since I have space. Will the space between the monitors be annoying for movies and games? I have dual screen at work and never used dual screen in that way. Will I need a special graphics card? Or will anything that has dual display work? I currently have 9800xt and will probably get a 1900xt and may go crossfire if deals are abound on black friday.

 

[BassBomb]

USING CAPS MAKES PEOPLE NOT WANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING BECAUSE YOU SOUND LIKE YOU ARE YELLING OR RAMBLING ON SO WTF?

 

[MOUKIE007]

Thanks, will edit. I am at work and need caps for what I normally do.

 

[dguy6789]

If you were to use dual CRTs, I would have one in the middle, and then the other on the left, or right, depending on preference. Splitting a single "screen" onto two monitors may or may not work out for you. All I can say is to try it and see if you like it. You do not need a special video card. A 9800XT should have no problem at all with two monitors.

 

[MOUKIE007]

Thanks,

Have you ever tried that setup with a movie?

 

[stelleg151]

Originally posted by: MOUKIE007
Thanks, will edit. I am at work and need caps for what I normally do.

Spammer? jk.I would not recommend splitting a movie or a game over 2 screens unless the say the game is an RPG and you put your inventory on the second screen.

 

[jiffylube1024]

I'd say no - dual screen CRT is a pain. They're very large, hot, and consume tons of power. I'd get at least one LCD for a dual screen config, if not two.

 

[lifeblood]

I use 2 17" CRT's on a single 6600GT at home. I can only watch a movie or play a game on one monitor at a time. However, thats still good. I can have a game on one CRT, and a game map, or chat, or just be browsing the web while levels are loading on the other screen. Just one suggestion, some monitors induce interference on the power line (running a hair dryer causes static on the TV). You may need a UPS or put the monitors on different circuits IF that happens to you. Also, putting two CRT's side by side touching each other MAY cause screen distoration as the magnet in one effects the other (this doesn't happen in LCD's).

At work I use one 18" LCD flanked by two 15" LCD's using two video cards (1 AGP, 1 PCI - both nvidia). I don't play games or watch videos at work so I can't speak about that. However it works great for multi-tasking. Word open on one LCD creating a document, pulling data from excel open in the other LCD, with email open on the third LCD.

Good luck!

 

[ElFenix]

i used to use 2 20" CRTs, one right in front and one a bit to the left. the space between them was really annoying and so i almost never used the second one.

 

[SKoprowski]

If you live by a MicroCenter you can get refurb 21inch CRT's for $89.99. They have a one year warranty. I got a 19inch flat Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 920 for $79.99 right before X-mas from MicroCenter.

 

[MOUKIE007]

Thanks guys. Sounds like a no go to me. I never thought about the magnet issue. Are there any large CRT's out there? I have been considering getting a 24in LCD v.s. my 19" CRT (it may be 17" I forget) and I only have a 19" TV (yes living in stone age, don't even have cable) but figured I could save a couple hundred with the CRT and get an uber video card.