Need graphics card recommendation - Two monitors connected to one PC

On Wed, 09 Nov 2005 03:27:11 GMT, DaveJohnson12@nomail. wrote:

It's a Small Form Factor computer so it needs a narrow card. I'll be connecting two 17"
CRTs so I probably also need a way to connect at least one of them (maybe both) to a DVI
output. The computer has a PCI Express slot.

I want a Dual Head card, not a second card with one monitor connected to each card.

I'd like to keep the cost down, under $150 if possible. I need it mainly for text so I
assume it doesn't have to be a powerful graphics card. It just has to be fast enough to
display text on two monitors without making me wait for anything to appear on the screen.

Clear text is important.

The OS is Windows XP Pro.

Thank you.

The size of your CRT's isn't important... It's the resolution and
refresh rate you wish to run them at that matters. That and the
quality of your CRT will also determine the clarity of text. Nearly
all modern video cards are indistinguishable in 2D performance. It's
3D performance that people pay for in a high quality video card.
Since your system is PCI Express, that kind of limits you to the next
generation of cards which are mostly high performance gaming oriented
cards with external fans and such. The Dual DVI outputs are usually
only on full size cards. I've seen slimline versions of the ATI X300
SE with one DVI and one DB15 (VGA) connector. You're probably not
going to have a lot of selection though.

DaveJohnson12@nomail. wrote:
On Wed, 09 Nov 2005 03:21:16 -0800, Ian East ian.east@gmail wrote:

On Wed, 09 Nov 2005 03:27:11 GMT, DaveJohnson12@nomail. wrote:

It's a Small Form Factor computer so it needs a narrow card. I'll
be connecting two 17" CRTs so I probably also need a way to connect
at least one of them (maybe both) to a DVI output. The computer has
a PCI Express slot.

I want a Dual Head card, not a second card with one monitor
connected to each card.

I'd like to keep the cost down, under $150 if possible. I need it
mainly for text so I assume it doesn't have to be a powerful
graphics card. It just has to be fast enough to display text on two
monitors without making me wait for anything to appear on the
screen.

Clear text is important.

The OS is Windows XP Pro.

Thank you.

The size of your CRT's isn't important... It's the resolution and
refresh rate you wish to run them at that matters. That and the
quality of your CRT will also determine the clarity of text. Nearly
all modern video cards are indistinguishable in 2D performance.

I don't really know much about it but I did see someone saying his
Asus
ATI X300 didn't display text clearly.

It's
3D performance that people pay for in a high quality video card.
Since your system is PCI Express, that kind of limits you to the next
generation of cards which are mostly high performance gaming oriented
cards with external fans and such. The Dual DVI outputs are usually
only on full size cards. I've seen slimline versions of the ATI X300
SE with one DVI and one DB15 (VGA) connector. You're probably not
going to have a lot of selection though.

Thanks. Do you think the X300 is fast enough for two monitors at 1024
x 768 and 70 Hz?



Take a look at the Matrox P650 for excellent 2D.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814106153

--
If linux is the answer, it must have been a stupid question.