also @ TechSpot: Toshiba abandons netbook market in US, focuses on Ultrabooks instead

TechSpot
Register now for a live online demo to see how the Office 365 suite of tools
- professional email, calendars, video conferencing, and file sharing -

triple monitors???

Discussion in 'Audio and Video' started by dannic, Jul 6, 2004.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

  1. dannic Newcomer, in training

    I am helping a friend who got a new computer, system is good but he wants to hook up 3 monitors. I know how to do 2, can you hook up 3? What graphics card do you recommend? He isnt a gamer, just needs basic function for 3 monitors. I also thought it might be better to get a card that he can hook up his TV to instead of so many monitors. Any suggestions or advice is appreciated. Thanks
    dannic, Jul 6, 2004
    #1

  2. Mictlantecuhtli TS Special Forces

    Welcome to TechSpot Forums

    There are basically three choices:

    1) One graphics card with three outputs
    - Matrox Millennium P750
    - Matrox Parhelia
    - Colorgraphic Xentera GT4
    - Appian Phoenix
    etc..

    2) Graphics card with two outputs + graphics card with one output

    Either AGP + PCI or PCI + PCI (unless the mainboard is the latest with PCI Express)

    - too many to name

    3) Three graphics cards with one output each

    AGP + PCI + PCI


    Most new operating systems should be able to handle multiple graphics cards easily. Some drivers might get confused though if the computer has two or more identical cards.

    My choice for basic function, three displays, would be Matrox G550 AGP (dual DVI) and just about any PCI card, like GeForce2MX.
    Mictlantecuhtli, Jul 6, 2004
    #2

  3. dannic Newcomer, in training

    I had come to the same conclusion. 2 dual monitor cards, one agp one pci, however, you said something that I hadnt thought of. The computer is new, what would I look for to see if the original driver will work with an added card? Thanks.
    dannic, Jul 6, 2004
    #3

  4. DigitAlex TechSpot Paladin

    You have to be sure that if you use 2 cards, the PCI one or the AGP one can disable VGA. If it does not, then you have to set the primary BIOS display to the card that cannot (AGP or PCI in the BIOS). The primary BIOS card can be different from the primary in Windows. If you do not follow that, the card that cannot disable VGA will not be present once windows is up.
    DigitAlex, Jul 7, 2004
    #4

  5. dannic Newcomer, in training

    How will I know if one of the cards can disable vga? I know how to switch in the bios, just dont know how to know if I need to. Thanks.
    dannic, Jul 7, 2004
    #5

  6. Phantasm66 Newcomer, in training

    I have 3 monitors. Seriously. I don't know how people manage without it.

    The Nvidia AGP card has dual-head, and then there is a second Nvidia PCI card as well.

    You really need to try to get the same model and size of monitor in all cases. Also, curve the end ones in to a slight angle.

    If done properly, your days of pressing alt-tab are over!

    I would find it hard to go back now to a single or even dual monitor setup.
    Phantasm66, Jul 7, 2004
    #6

  7. Phantasm66 Newcomer, in training

    No mercy for the bandwidth impared!

    [IMG]
    Phantasm66, Jul 7, 2004
    #7

  8. DigitAlex TechSpot Paladin

    Usually any middle price card can disable VGA. Those who cannot almost dissapeared (mainly simple 2D PCI cards with 4-8 MB of memory)
    DigitAlex, Jul 8, 2004
    #8
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.