Quad Monitor Setup

[hannpark]

Hi all,

First timer ;-)

I need some input in a hurry.
I must order few items tonight because I must have them by Monday.

I am trying to setup 4 monitor system and may add more later if needed.
I'll be using this setup for:
*Open 3-4large spread sheets with 2 or 3 word files.
*Financial data streaming off the internet
*Play avi file using windows media player mostly.

*I want to play large avi file on one monitor
while open spread sheets on two monitor, word
files on last monitor and receive streaming data from internet.


What I have now:
System
* ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Mother Board
* AMD Athlon 64 x2 3800+ (Dual Core) 64 Bit Socket 939 1024K Cache
* 2GB PC 3200 DDR400 Dual Channel
* GeForce 6600 256Mb DDR PCI EXpress
* 400 GB SATA Hard Drive
* Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000SWA Silver 600W
* Windows XP Pro.

Monitor
Dell 2405 FPW - 24" widescreen 1920x1200
Samsung - 19" 1280x1024

I ordered three dell 2405FPW and it's on it's way.
I should have them Monday.
I paid $889 each + $56.12 (shipping), total $2,723.12

Ordered Ergotron DeskStand 100 - 4 Monitor Configuration, total $319.24
Should have it By Monday.

I need to order:
* Good enough graphics card - 2 pc
Thinking ASUS EN7800GTX GeForce 7800 GTX PCIe - $500.00 or
ASUS Extreme N7800GT - $390.00
Xentera GT8 PCI - for 8 monitor or
Xentera GT4 PCIe - for 4 monitor

* Seagate Barracuda 500GB SATA 7200RPM w/16MB Buffer - $345.00

* Corsair TWINX2048-3200C2 2GB Kit DDR400 XMS3200 - $236.00


Question:
* Is above system will be sufficient with new stuff I am getting
to do what I intend to do?

* I hope I don't need to change processor and/or mother boards.
It would be more than I can handle.

* Which graphics card will be best?
Xentera will accomodate most monitors, but not enough memory
and I want to utilize monitor's maximun resolution (1920x1200).


So...
Any input or advice will be greatly appreciated ;-)

Jonathan

 

[Wreckage]

A pair of 7800GT's in non-SLI mode should work just fine.

 

[imported_Rampage]

You will want to go Nvidia for their excellent multimonitor support, I would suggest either two 6600GTs not in SLI mode or two 7800GTs not in SLI mode.

Either way you will be able to game, but if you plan on gaming on the 2405(s) I'd suggest the 7800GT route.

Nview

 

[TecHNooB]

Ahh ASUS 7800GTX.... no good! Go for the eVGA 7800GTX KO for the best single slot solution or Leadtek 7800GTX Winfast extreme for the best dual slot solution, that is, if you decide on a 7800GTX.

 

[JEDIYoda]

I think the ASUS 7800GTX is a fantastic choice!!

 

[hannpark]

Different opinion about ASUS 7800GTX ;-)

However, I did hear it produce rather high temperature, like over 70C?

 

[hannpark]

It's so time consuming to choose items, find fairly ok price and then ordering.
Man, I am so tired.
My wife loves shopping and I really don't understand how!

I've been up since last night :-(
I am going to bed after this post ;-)

I ordered following items and I should have all of them by Monday.

* 2 pc of ASUS EN7800GTX GeForce 7800 GTX PCIe - $500
* 1 pc of Seagate Barracuda 500GB SATA 7200RPM w/16MB Buffer - $345
* 1 pc of WD Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB SATA 10,000RPM w/16MB Buffer - $289
* 1 pc of Corsair TWINX2048-3200C2 2GB Kit DDR400 XMS3200 - $236

I am going to use WD Raptor as C drive just for main programs.

I have another question:
Now, I have spare video card - GeForce 6600 256Mb DDR PCI EXpress.
Is there any way I can use this card on other computer with AGP video card?
Some sort of plugin card for this purpose?
Or, do I need to sell it ?

Jonathan

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: hannpark
It's so time consuming to choose items, find fairly ok price and then ordering.
Man, I am so tired.
My wife loves shopping and I really don't understand how!

I've been up since last night :-(
I am going to bed after this post ;-)

I ordered following items and I should have all of them by Monday.

* 2 pc of ASUS EN7800GTX GeForce 7800 GTX PCIe - $500
* 1 pc of Seagate Barracuda 500GB SATA 7200RPM w/16MB Buffer - $345
* 1 pc of WD Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB SATA 10,000RPM w/16MB Buffer - $289
* 1 pc of Corsair TWINX2048-3200C2 2GB Kit DDR400 XMS3200 - $236

I am going to use WD Raptor as C drive just for main programs.

I didn't see anything in your original post about gaming... why are you buying two top-end gaming cards when a pair of GF6200s would do the same thing? You also don't need super-overclocking RAM or a Raptor hard drive...

I have another question:
Now, I have spare video card - GeForce 6600 256Mb DDR PCI EXpress.
Is there any way I can use this card on other computer with AGP video card?
Some sort of plugin card for this purpose?
Or, do I need to sell it ?

Jonathan

No, you can't use a PCIe card in an AGP system.

 

[rbV5]

Ouch, that alot of video card(s) for streaming data, financial pages and media file playback...OUCH.

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: rbV5
Ouch, that alot of video card(s) for streaming data, financial pages and media file playback...OUCH.

That's just what he's telling his boss.

It's really for some sort of FPS Deathmatch.

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: Wreckage

Originally posted by: rbV5
Ouch, that alot of video card(s) for streaming data, financial pages and media file playback...OUCH.

That's just what he's telling his boss.

It's really for some sort of FPS Deathmatch.

LOL, By Boss, you mean wife..right.

 

[hannpark]

I didn't see anything in your original post about gaming... why are you buying two top-end gaming cards when a pair of GF6200s would do the same thing? You also don't need super-overclocking RAM or a Raptor hard drive...

I had GF6600 with 24" monitor running 1920x1200 and experienced freezed screen
for few seconds. Sometimes more than that and then unfreeze itself.
And I can see modem freeze too.

I thought it must be video card.

So, this time, I wasn't about to take chance ;-)
It may be over kill for now, but, I am going to use this for at least 5 years
and I wouldn't need any upgrade ;-)

No, you can't use a PCIe card in an AGP system.

I guess I'll sell it ;-)
I wonder how much I should ask for...

Thanks,
Jonathan

 

[rbV5]

I had GF6600 with 24" monitor running 1920x1200 and experienced freezed screen
for few seconds. Sometimes more than that and then unfreeze itself.
And I can see modem freeze too.

I thought it must be video card.

So, this time, I wasn't about to take chance ;-)

You understand that the cards you just bought basically have the same functionality displaying 1920x1200 over DVI as your GF6600...right?

 

[hannpark]

Originally posted by: rbV5

Originally posted by: Wreckage

Originally posted by: rbV5
Ouch, that alot of video card(s) for streaming data, financial pages and media file playback...OUCH.

That's just what he's telling his boss.

It's really for some sort of FPS Deathmatch.

LOL, By Boss, you mean wife..right.

You got me ;-)
Actually, my wife don't care as long as I give her $6000/mth as living expense.
Remainder of my income is mine and I can do what ever I want with it.

I used to do heavy gaming when I was early 20s, but, now, I just don't have time
and energy for it :-(

WAIT!
Maybe I should buy couple games JUST to see what my system can do ;-)
Any recommendation that can push the limit?

Jonathan

 

[rbV5]

Maybe I should buy couple games JUST to see what my system can do ;-)
Any recommendation that can push the limit?

FEAR, COD2

 

[tony4704]

you rich sonova b#$%

 

[hannpark]

FEAR, COD2Q]
I'll take a look.
It's not online game, is it?
I need internet connection for streaming data download.

Jonathan

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: hannpark

FEAR, COD2Q]
I'll take a look.
It's not online game, is it?
I need internet connection for streaming data download.

Jonathan

You could probable spare some bandwidth for net code, but both games are playable as single player first person shooters, so you'd be good.

 

[hannpark]

Originally posted by: tony4704
you rich sonova b#$%

Rich?
Hardly.
My share could be only a crumb ;-)

 

[theMan]

fear and cod2 are not internet games, but you can play them on the internet. do you like FPS games, or what?

 

[five40]

<splooge>4x2405fpw</splooge>

 

[hannpark]

Finally...

I found time to put it all together.


For anyone care to see...

4x dell 2405FPW with one wall paper
It's rather large. About 2 meg.

Here is another.
4x dell 2405FPW with four wall paper
Samsung monitor in the picture is 19".
Notebook is Acer Ferrari 4000 - 15.4"?

I haven't had chance to play any game, yet.
I need to buy the game called "FEAR" to see what this can do ;-)

Jonathan

 

[bearhug]

 

[bearhug]

Sorry about that fist post. My question is you can do for different things on eah moniter? do you have a start menu in every moniter or is it dedicated to one? If you maximize the window does it contain itself in one screen?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I am going to start out with a dual and see if I need a quad, but it seems like a great Idea. Lemme know if your performance has lagged any. thanks

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: bearhug
Sorry about that fist post.

Welcome to AT.

FYI: Don't bump two-month-old threads to ask a different question. Also, we have an 'edit' button here.

My question is you can do for different things on eah moniter?

Yes. I think. I'm assuming your question is actually "can you do four different things at once, one on each of your four monitors?".

do you have a start menu in every moniter or is it dedicated to one?

Just one start menu/taskbar. Ultramon will give you a taskbar on each monitor, but still just one start menu.

If you maximize the window does it contain itself in one screen?

Yes. Although you can stretch windows so that they span multiple screens (will not work well with video windows or 3D applications).