Dual TFTs with different resolutions

I am trying to choose an AGP graphics card to support two TFTs:
1680x1050 and 1280x1024 under XP (Pro). It doesn't need to be terribly
fast (no games - but a needs to cope with still-photo editing and
Coreldraw)

Can anyone help me understand:

- Am I safe to assume that any card that supports 1900x1200 will
definitely also support lesser sizes (like 1680 x 1050)? Some
manufacturer websites list perhaps a dozen specific resolutions
supported, others mention maximum resolution only.

- Will any card that specifies that it will support two monitors work
properly with a simple DVI splitter cable? Some cards do have two DVI
sockets, but most of the cards seem to have one DVI and one 15-pin VGA
- and it seems daft to degrade to analogue for the connection to a
second DVI display.

- How do I check which cards will support two screens at different
resolutions? - I've read some cards described as only supporting two
screens if they run at the same resolution.

John Geddes
England

wrote:
I am trying to choose an AGP graphics card to support two TFTs:
1680x1050 and 1280x1024 under XP (Pro). It doesn't need to be terribly
fast (no games - but a needs to cope with still-photo editing and
Coreldraw)

Can anyone help me understand:

- Am I safe to assume that any card that supports 1900x1200 will
definitely also support lesser sizes (like 1680 x 1050)? Some
manufacturer websites list perhaps a dozen specific resolutions
supported, others mention maximum resolution only.

- Will any card that specifies that it will support two monitors work
properly with a simple DVI splitter cable? Some cards do have two DVI
sockets, but most of the cards seem to have one DVI and one 15-pin VGA
- and it seems daft to degrade to analogue for the connection to a
second DVI display.

- How do I check which cards will support two screens at different
resolutions? - I've read some cards described as only supporting two
screens if they run at the same resolution.

John Geddes
England


Just some random links:

ftp://download.nvidia.com/Windows/91.33/
ftp://download.nvidia.com/Windows/91...User_Guide.pdf

"FX5200 resolution issue with 2 widescreen monitors"
http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=19854

"Advanced Timing and CEA/EIA-861B Timings"
http://www.nvidia.com/object/advanced_timings.html

With the warning on the last page, I presume the modern 7 series
cards are OK.

For ATI, this is the best manual I know of. You cannot even download
this from ATI themselves, and since this is dated 2005, it is likely
out of date.

http://www.visiontek.com/teksupport/...nter_guide.pdf

That is all I can dig up,
Paul

You generally have to use the SAME resolution on the two LCD's.

--

DaveW

___________
wrote in message
ups.com...
I am trying to choose an AGP graphics card to support two TFTs:
1680x1050 and 1280x1024 under XP (Pro). It doesn't need to be terribly
fast (no games - but a needs to cope with still-photo editing and
Coreldraw)

Can anyone help me understand:

- Am I safe to assume that any card that supports 1900x1200 will
definitely also support lesser sizes (like 1680 x 1050)? Some
manufacturer websites list perhaps a dozen specific resolutions
supported, others mention maximum resolution only.

- Will any card that specifies that it will support two monitors work
properly with a simple DVI splitter cable? Some cards do have two DVI
sockets, but most of the cards seem to have one DVI and one 15-pin VGA
- and it seems daft to degrade to analogue for the connection to a
second DVI display.

- How do I check which cards will support two screens at different
resolutions? - I've read some cards described as only supporting two
screens if they run at the same resolution.

John Geddes
England

Depends on the card and the drivers. I have a 7900GT running in 'Dual-View'
using 93.71 drivers - not recommended by nVidia for MCE BTW - that drives a
37" 1920 x 1080 display and a 22" 1680 x 1050 both at their native
resolutions. Works... but with some quirks :-)

As far as running non-standard resolutions - ie: 1680 x 1050 or 1440 x 900
(16:10 aspect ratio) - some cards natively support them and some don't. My
7900GT supports 1680 but not 1440 (although one could create a custom
'timing' setup using nVidia's control panel applet). Best to research before
you buy.

SoCalCommie

"Behind every great fortune is a crime." - Honore de Balzac

"DaveW" wrote in message
. ..
You generally have to use the SAME resolution on the two LCD's.

--

DaveW

___________
wrote in message
ups.com...
I am trying to choose an AGP graphics card to support two TFTs:
1680x1050 and 1280x1024 under XP (Pro). It doesn't need to be terribly
fast (no games - but a needs to cope with still-photo editing and
Coreldraw)

Can anyone help me understand:

- Am I safe to assume that any card that supports 1900x1200 will
definitely also support lesser sizes (like 1680 x 1050)? Some
manufacturer websites list perhaps a dozen specific resolutions
supported, others mention maximum resolution only.

- Will any card that specifies that it will support two monitors work
properly with a simple DVI splitter cable? Some cards do have two DVI
sockets, but most of the cards seem to have one DVI and one 15-pin VGA
- and it seems daft to degrade to analogue for the connection to a
second DVI display.

- How do I check which cards will support two screens at different
resolutions? - I've read some cards described as only supporting two
screens if they run at the same resolution.

John Geddes
England