BlueWeasel
Limp Gawd
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2006
- Messages
- 463
We're looking to upgrade a workstation here from a dual monitor setup to a quad-monitor setup running 4 x 22" LCDs. The current system in question is a 939 4200+ (Neo-F Platinum) with a 7300GS running 2x19 LCD monitors.
From a CPU/video standpoint, the system is still adequate and the 7300GS runs 2 monitors just fine. We're a small engineering company who runs basic AutoCAD 2D, lightweight design programs, Word, Excel. etc. Certainly nothing that requires high-end graphics.
However, we're looking to upgrade the monitors to 4x22" LCDs each running native at 1650x1080. This would require an additional PCI-e 1x or PCI video card. The MB has a PCI-e 16x, 4x, and 1x slot.
Looking at PCI-e 1x cards, all I'm seeing is the Quadro series. Ultimately, I'll probably upgrade the primary 16x card to the Quadro FX370 and use the NVS290 in the 1x slot as the secondary card. Probably somewhat overkill and it's an additional $300 cost.
1) Would it be possible to power monitors 3 and 4 at 1650x1080 with a PCI card?
2) Could a 16x PCI-e card be used in the 4x slot? I've read that the open-ended 4x slot on the Neo-F can support a 16x, but at a lower bandwidth.
3) Ultimately, I'd like to use 2 consumer-level cards. ATI or Nvidia -- doesn't really matter. Is this possible?
From a CPU/video standpoint, the system is still adequate and the 7300GS runs 2 monitors just fine. We're a small engineering company who runs basic AutoCAD 2D, lightweight design programs, Word, Excel. etc. Certainly nothing that requires high-end graphics.
However, we're looking to upgrade the monitors to 4x22" LCDs each running native at 1650x1080. This would require an additional PCI-e 1x or PCI video card. The MB has a PCI-e 16x, 4x, and 1x slot.
Looking at PCI-e 1x cards, all I'm seeing is the Quadro series. Ultimately, I'll probably upgrade the primary 16x card to the Quadro FX370 and use the NVS290 in the 1x slot as the secondary card. Probably somewhat overkill and it's an additional $300 cost.
1) Would it be possible to power monitors 3 and 4 at 1650x1080 with a PCI card?
2) Could a 16x PCI-e card be used in the 4x slot? I've read that the open-ended 4x slot on the Neo-F can support a 16x, but at a lower bandwidth.
3) Ultimately, I'd like to use 2 consumer-level cards. ATI or Nvidia -- doesn't really matter. Is this possible?