cheap video card for dual monitors...

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fun4stuff

New Member
Does anyone know a cheap video card that I could use for dual monitors (2 vid cards for 2 monitors)? How man mb would it have to be,etc? THANKS!
 
I think the only requirement for having two monitors connected is the video card is to have 2 vga or 2 dvi or 1 of each.

If this is the case and you dont plan on doing any gamming or anything that require a good video card. Then I would just get something like a geforceMX4000. you can proberly get one for around $35
 
any card with two connectors will serve your needs

Dual VGA

VGA & DVI

Dual DVI

(adapters available for DVI to VGA)
 
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Matrox has some old cards that you can find for anywhere from .01$-50$ that do dual, the Millenium and the G4 are a few of the top of my head. Look on ebay for some lots or single cards, fairly cheap.
 
Praetor said:
So which is it? :confused:
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What I meant was that I want to be able to have dual monitors. However, I do not want to have a buy an expensive video card, I would rather just buy a cheap video card to add so that I can run another monitor. Overall this would mean that I would have 2 vid cards for 2 monitors; i one vid card for 1 monitor (not 1 vid card for 2 monitors).

So, basically I was just wondering what the minimal requirements I should look for in a vid card that would be used just for a second monitor for simple windows programs like word, AIM, music, etc (but not for games). I can use my current card for games.


Background- I previously did this with a pci voodoo 32 mb (like 4-5 years old). The card had 2 mini cooling fans on it and required it's own power from the powersource. It was huge- like 10 inches by 4 inches.

Well after about a month of this, my computer was always running warm. So after about a month of running the voodoo, my powersupply and motherboard were fried (luckily Dell lived up to their warranty, although i had to do all the manual work, but free parts). My theory is that this old voodoo card had something to do with this. What do you think?

So basically, I am looking for a safe way to run dual monitors by finding a cheap, cost effective video card that isn't going ot burn out my MB and PS. I would prefer just buying an additional cheap vid card, because this looks cheaper than buying a really good one that will run 2 monitors. Am I even going about this right?
 
You can't just take any 2 video cards and slap them into the computer. That is what Nvidia is doing with SLI (3DFX previously tried) which is what you were prolly running back in the day. When you try and stick in 2 cards you will start getting conflicts between the 2 because the computer is trying to ouput the main graphics through both cards at the same time which isn't possible because of the way the cards are set up (not really sure about all that), Prae would know more than I would. If anything you should stick to the VooDoo's or you could buy a real cheap matrox or Gforce.
 
Lord AnthraX said:
You can't just take any 2 video cards and slap them into the computer. That is what Nvidia is doing with SLI (3DFX previously tried) which is what you were prolly running back in the day. When you try and stick in 2 cards you will start getting conflicts between the 2 because the computer is trying to ouput the main graphics through both cards at the same time which isn't possible because of the way the cards are set up (not really sure about all that), Prae would know more than I would. If anything you should stick to the VooDoo's or you could buy a real cheap matrox or Gforce.
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Are you sure? I did this only a few months ago and I could almost swear I remember reading in multiple places that windows xp had the ability to use another vid card to extend the screen. I could have misread things though...
 
fun4stuff said:
Are you sure? I did this only a few months ago and I could almost swear I remember reading in multiple places that windows xp had the ability to use another vid card to extend the screen. I could have misread things though...
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You're right, its quite possible to use 2 video cards to extend the desktop
 
Yes but I thought it was only with SLI equipped cards and the like. I've tried doing it with 2 cards and have never been able to do it. Graphics are not my strong point.
 
What I meant was that I want to be able to have dual monitors. However, I do not want to have a buy an expensive video card, I would rather just buy a cheap video card to add so that I can run another monitor.
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I bought a 128mb ATI Radeon 9000 Pro off eBay for $53 shipping included (brand new & sealed), and it has dual monitor support. 1 dvi and 1 vga ... also comes with a dvi adapter.
 
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Are you sure? I did this only a few months ago and I could almost swear I remember reading in multiple places that windows xp had the ability to use another vid card to extend the screen. I could have misread things though...
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Yeah you've been able to do that for quite some time ... SLI however is another thing altogether where two video cards work for one "desktop"
 
So if I was to stick in a PCI video card (dual output) with my 9800 pro I could have 4 monitors?
 
So if I was to stick in a PCI video card (dual output) with my 9800 pro I could have 4 monitors?
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Yep, I'm running two monitors from two video cards right now at work and I could add another monitor if I bought a DVI-VGA converter.
 
Wow, someone will definately have to explain that to me or point me in the direction of a thread that does. Cause when I tried it with an AGP and PCI card the computer wouldn't do dual monitors, it would only use the first card I inserted.
 
be careful about how many you do. i am almost positive my motherboard and powersupply were fried because i had that big voodoo and my factory graphics card running at the same time. it's the only reason i can come up with for a 10 month computer going bad....
 
You could do it wither way you suggested and you can also do it with onboard and a card, like I am except when you do it with an old verge dx s3 like I am and are a huge gamer like I am you just want to punch yourself in the face.

EDIT: and loard sometimes you have to turn on both monitors then tunr on your comp and otehr nit picky things like that, well thats what I have to do.
 
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