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Dual Head Question

T

ToddW2

2[H]4U
Joined
Nov 8, 2004
Messages
4,017
Hey Guys,

I have been out of the hardware loop for awhile as I built my comptuer ~3yrs ago so I`m not 100% current on all the new hardware.. I know the basics but not the nitty gritty like I new when I built my system..

Currently I`m running an XP1800+, 768mb, EPOX 8KHA+, GF3 64mb non-TI

I just got another LCD so I can watch movies while using my desktop, and am looking for newer video card that has dual head capabilities, and is able to play games good still.

I am looking at the Radeon 9800SE
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-131-236&depa=1

But i`m not sure if that's the best bang for the buck or if it supports dual head?

I`m looking for greater performance than my GF3, MUST support 2 monitors, and cost $150 or less.. (If its $159 or $154 I can make exceptions, I can make exceptions if for $19 more i get a LOT better card).. Remember 4x AGP is the limit on my motherboard too.

Thanks!!
 
Dual head?

Im gonna run with what you had described as far as being able to use 2 monitor's with the card at the same time. As long as the card has 2 jacks on it, then you are fine, and the card you listed above has both. The functionality your looking for should be built into both nvidia's and ati's drivers.

That card isnt the best in the world. I would usually say stay away from SE versions of any ATI product. What is your price range, im sure we can give you some suggestions.
 
Just because the card has DVI and ANALOG outputs does not mean it can output to both at the same time with different pictures on each monitor.. I don't know where you read this.

What I mean by dual head capabilities is that output to 2 displays with different things on each display, not identical, not stretched (even though I believe this is an option for dual head compatible video cards)

Also my entire last paragraph was about my price range.. I`m not sure you read my entire post :confused:

Please let me know why the SE isn't a good value? I`m wanting something better than my GF 3 with dual display capabilities w/different things on each. I don't think I want to much for the price I`m looking for either...

Thanks
-Todd
 
sorry m8, but i must contest here....

basically the only cost effective reason of adding 2 dvi's or 1 analog/1 dvi is for dual monitor support or "dual head" as you refered to it. There are adapter's (dvi to analog and analog to dvi) that cost like 2 bucks. its much more cost effective to throw an adapter in a box, then to manufacture a card with both ports... Besides the both are active and are capable of out putting video so it only makes sense to go the extra inch and make them out put at the same time and list it as a feature for increasing the price no? This would be the case where you only be able to output to one monitor.

Can you tell me one card that has 2 outputs that doesnt support dual monitor support m8? again i could be wrong, but im almost 99% sure i am not.

different things on each monitor? again thats based on the drivers. do you mean that you have your main desktop on one card and an extended desktop on the other? or a full screen movie playing on one monitor and your normal desktop/xfire on the other? that would be as i mentioned above. DRIVERS. I have a 6800 ultra and it has options like "Clone" "vertical" etc that allow me to do what i think your are describing.

as for the videocard, sorry i must have read the first problem and called it quits there, but i see 150 was your range. I found a 9800 pro 128 mb card for 149. check it below, way better then the SE eddition your found and cheaper too i think. THis is the card for the 150 range. it has EZ tapped on the end, im not sure what that means and maybe someone else can enlighten us on that, but the clocks are 380/600 which is a stock pro card correct?

http://www.gameve.com/gve/Store/ProductDetails.aspx?sku=VC-POWERC-132

Remember 4x AGP is the limit on my motherboard too.
Click to expand...
understood, just to make sure (you probably already know this) but you can have an 8x card and use it in a 4x motherboard, not gonna hurt a thing 8) might help future proof you for the future if you decide to buy new mobo/processor combo or some thing 8)
 
Xenozx ;"Dual head" old marketing term, copywrited of course, I think used by matrox, a couple 3 years ago. ati nividia don't use it but it means what you guessed; 2 monitors with: stretch screen, duplicate output, or a different program on each monitor..... Toddw2; If you are not into serious gaming, the 9800se aiw will do what your wanting.. But so will a non aiw 9600 or 9800 I think. You may want to head over to ATI and check their faqs out. All in Wonder cards tend to be more expensive than the regular cards. Unless you really need or want the tv tuner, of course.
 
yea i believe ATI calls it hydrovison or something, and nvidia builds it into drivers (check when i get home from work) but basically if you have 2 ports on an ati or nvidia card and it was made in the last 2 years it should do what you are asking. my 9700 pro did and my 6800 ultra did so anything in between should be pretty safe, especially on ATI's side since its all off the same core/chipset...
 
I belive ATI calls their dual monitor support 'HYDRAVISION' if I am not mistaken.

Look for this on the detailed spec sheet.

I am pretty sure all of their new cards have it.

It will do what you want it to just by going to display properties and searching through the display options to find it. You dont have to get a special 'Driver' . Just check a checkbox.
 
Xenozx, the geforce 3 and before for the nVidia side are NOT dualhead cards. They have dvi and vga, but will ONLY clone the outputs. With the GF4+ line, you can do span (useless) and other modes.

Go with the 9800SE. It's better than your GF3 is, and has what you want.
 
Hey Guys,

Thanks for the suggestions!

I`m not a hardcore gamer but do enjoy playing games now and then.. SOF and similiar games not really into the Doom3 type games (Was back in the day)..

Looking for the best Gaming Card that supports dual monitors and has TV-Out and is most cost efficent. So something in the $150 range is what I am after.. The best 'deal' for waht I need.

So does the 9800SE sound like it will do what I want?

Quoting.. Xeonxz "understood, just to make sure (you probably already know this) but you can have an 8x card and use it in a 4x motherboard, not gonna hurt a thing 8) might help future proof you for the future if you decide to buy new mobo/processor combo or some thing 8)"

It's my understanding that not all 8x AGP cards are backwards compatible meaning some only work for 8x mobos, whilet he 8x/4x cards work for both.. Is this not true.. ?

Thanks again !! :)
 
Yea like i said, the last 2 years, or from the geforce 4 family and 9700 pro family and above.

It's my understanding that not all 8x AGP cards are backwards compatible meaning some only work for 8x mobos, whilet he 8x/4x cards work for both.. Is this not true.. ?
Click to expand...

well why would some 8x be backwards compatable, but not all of them, again, i just want to throw this out there, but when they advertise them they only ever say 8x agp or whatever on the videocard, the reasoning behind that is because it can go into a 1x agp slot if need be, your not going to get the performance you want from it in that case, but you can still do it. 8x and 4x dont have a huge diff, so i would def recomend an 8x card for upgradablity in the future.

ALSO MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT THAT CARD i linked you too, and hopefully others will check it out and ?back it up? as being better then the SE version?
 
Ah, thanks.

The Pro EZ means the MEM. BUS WIDTH is 128bit while the card I linekd to is 256bit.. So not sure performance wise but I believe the 256 would out perform?
 
I have yet to see a 128 bit card come anywhere near the 256bit version. It has half the bandwidth of its bigger brother.
 
Pro 256-bit memory 340Mhz (8 pipelines)
Pro EZ 128-bit memory 300Mhz (8 pipelines)
SE 256-bit memory 340Mhz (only 4 pipelines, not 8)
 
Ok, so the 9800SE I linked to would be best then for what I want? Or is there something better? With similiar price.
 
xxaaqq said:
Pro 256-bit memory 340Mhz (8 pipelines)
Pro EZ 128-bit memory 300Mhz (8 pipelines)
SE 256-bit memory 340Mhz (only 4 pipelines, not 8)
Click to expand...

Todd if what he is saying is true then i would spend the extra money and get a regular 9800 pro. I found one here for 171 bucks, Its ATI brand, not any other... shipping might be extra but heres the link

http://www.xtechnology.com/scr/xtcat.dll/prw?Item=ATI-R9800-128&Opt=PW

you dont want a 4 pipe card, hell 6800 ultras and x800xt's are 16 pipes, you dont want a 4, that probably hurts worse then the 128 bit memory controller. the pro (linked above) has 8 pipes and 256 bit mem controller and its only 30 bucks more, so i would spend the money, you will thank your self when you do...

I know you said you dont want to play doom 3 or what not, but with this card you would be able too, and you wont need to upgrade as soon as either of the others.
 
Xenozx said:
Todd if what he is saying is true then i would spend the extra money and get a regular 9800 pro. I found one here for 171 bucks, Its ATI brand, not any other... shipping might be extra but heres the link

http://www.xtechnology.com/scr/xtcat.dll/prw?Item=ATI-R9800-128&Opt=PW

you dont want a 4 pipe card, hell 6800 ultras and x800xt's are 16 pipes, you dont want a 4, that probably hurts worse then the 128 bit memory controller. the pro (linked above) has 8 pipes and 256 bit mem controller and its only 30 bucks more, so i would spend the money, you will thank your self when you do...

I know you said you dont want to play doom 3 or what not, but with this card you would be able too, and you wont need to upgrade as soon as either of the others.
Click to expand...

Thanks and even though it says 8x I can still use it in my 4x slot right?

-Todd
 
Yes... I would make sure atleast one person backs that up, but the way i see it to be is that that card operates in both 8x 4x and 2x mode. So it should opperate in a 4x mobo without a problem. ID say "EVERY" card that say's 8X is backwards compatable with atleast 4x mode no?
 
Xenozx said:
Yes... I would make sure atleast one person backs that up, but the way i see it to be is that that card operates in both 8x 4x and 2x mode. So it should opperate in a 4x mobo without a problem. ID say "EVERY" card that say's 8X is backwards compatable with atleast 4x mode no?
Click to expand...

you'd be correct...
 
Sweet! I`ll be ordering that card then unless anyone has any different ideas / suggestions?


Thnaks!
 
well, i have a 9800pro and i can say that i can use dual displays really well...if that helps you in any way :p
 
All I know is last night when I went to a girlfriends house and she had a friend and and I got duel head I loved it. I was saying to myself 2 heads working at once are better than one.
 
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