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Got 2x213T's - How setup Dual??

C

CompilerDude

Weaksauce
Joined
Jun 28, 2004
Messages
109
So I have just purchased to Samsung 213t's from Best Buy. I would like to set them up as dual screens. I have one 9800pro currently. What are my options? Should I buy another video card or should i get a dual output card? What software should I use for dual display?
 
If you have the all-in-wonder radeon 9800 pro, you probably won't have the extra vga output. I haven't seen a regular 9800 pro without two VGA outputs. By VGA I mean a mix of DVI or 15pin VGA. Either can be converted to DVI/VGA.

If you have the all-in-wonder, you could probably trade it for a dual-header card on the "for sale/trade" forum.
 
He said he has a 9800 Pro. I dont see anything about a A-I-W 9800 Pro.

Just hook one to the VGA and one to the DVI.
 
Actually I do have an allinwonder card. So no VGA. Can I buy another 9800 pro and run one output from each?
 
Not unless you have a non-existant dual AGP motherboard, unfortunately.
If you want a regular VGA adapter, you can get an old school PCI-based graphics card.
 
So basically my options are a PCI(ie no AGP) video card or buy a dual output card. What is the performance tradeoff between the two? In otherwords I would have two separate both DVI or one card with DVI and VGA.
 
I'd recommend just getting a new video card.

I'd say go with a 6600GT with dual DVI.
 
I was wondering what was better as well...
A PCI video card or a dual output video card. Won't the dual output card share the memory while adding a PCI card will have its own memory to use?
 
I believe that would be the case. I was just wondering what the downside is to have two video cards?
 
No real downside to having two cards, as long as your primary card is your speedy agp card and your second pci video card can render a decent resolution. It'll work fine for you, but shouldn't you have checked out your video card before buying two monitors? ;)
 
I knew I would need another video card. But this was an impulse buy since BestBuy added the extra 100 off the 213t. I didnt want to wait. So now I am doing the research. So the question is should I get a 6800GT or another Video card with one dvi?
 
If you can get your hands on an extra pci video card try that out first. Ask around with some tech friends, you're liable to find one. Before spending a few hundred dollars try that out. As long as you're not looking to play games on the second monitor it should be fine.
 
Those screens are naitive 1600 x 1200 so make sure if you go pci it supports that. Get a matrox g550 or something or a dual head card as has been suggested. Idealy a 6800Ultra . I ran dual 213Ts with one of those. You see the 213T real likes DVI it is much betterthat way.IF you do any gaming use the one thats got the dvi input
 
Scheizekopf said:
I'd recommend just getting a new video card.

I'd say go with a 6600GT with dual DVI.
Click to expand...

Good suggestion. I was in the same position when I got my second screen. I had one hooked up with DVI and the other with VGA and side by side you can tell a big difference - at least I could. The VGA looked really washed out compared to the DVI.

I went with the XFX 6600GT with dual DVI and it works fantastic. However, if you're gaming at 1600x1200, you may want more horsepower. XFX makes a 6800GT dual DVI, but it's hard to find. You may have to cough up the cash for an Ultra. Read over some benchmarks and see if the 6600GT will handle what you want to do.
 
I would say he should go with a pci radeon 128mb 9200se with dual display (DVI/VGA).

Reasons:
- You get four outputs: 2 DVI and 2 VGA
- Better driver support: only one driver for the two cards (9200 and 9800pro)
- Cheaper than buying a new dual DVI card (9200 is $46 shipped on pricewatch only)
- That's what I am doing for my 2 dell 2001fps and my 19" CRT (triple monitor goodness) :)
 
Howdy all. Well thank you for all of your input. I have the dual display up and running and I will post a few pics in an hour or so. I appreciate your help. Right now I am running them off of my work computer(I work remotely). It has a nvidia quadro4 900 xgl. It seems to handle them quite fine. I am still looking into video cards. I am debating getting the 6800gt when I get in my $400 in mail-in-rebates. If you have any other suggestions for video cards let me know! Thanx!
 
6800GT w/Dual DVI from XFX is an excellent choice. 6800Ultra from anyone is also a great choice.

I don't think you'd be nearly as happy with a DVI + VGA solution, especially since the screens are identical.

A dual-DVI 9600XT can also be found if you don't need lots of gaming horsepower.

Adding a separate PCI card would probably be the most cost effective, but ultimately result in the least stable configuration.

In any case, remember to disable your secondary monitor when gaming.
 
rcolbert said:
Adding a separate PCI card would probably be the most cost effective, but ultimately result in the least stable configuration.

In any case, remember to disable your secondary monitor when gaming.
Click to expand...


Well, the configuration I mentioned above is very stable.
Also, remember that you game on only one monitor. So, the card whose DVI is going to the second monitor does not have to be very fast.
Last, by having two cards, you are taking some weight off the main card, which is good.
You also won't have to disable the second monitor every time you want to game.
 
EnderW said:
why? I don't have to
Click to expand...

In some games like doom 3, having the second monitor enabled hurts the performance to a great degree.
Yeah, I also play all my games with the second monitor enabled except for doom 3 where I had some problems.
 
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