4 Monitors: Silly Question

[nightelph]

I've got two monitors running off my primary video card. I still have a x4 PCI-e slot free. Can I buy a cheapo card for that slot and add another two monitors?

[bchur83]

yep

[nightelph]

Thanks. I assumed as much but I've never done it and wanted to check before I spent money.

[thideras]

I'd suggest getting a card that can use the same driver, otherwise you are going to have some conflicts.

[nightelph]

Thanks one more. :)

[Mother Goose]

My god, people actually use four monitors? To think 4-5 years ago, I was using my 15" CRT with the massive screen curve.

[hellzarmy]

i currently run 3 LCDs right now.
i use a ATI 4870 to power a 32 inch LCD
then use a 4850 to run 2x 19 inch LCDs.

just make sure you get a 2nd card that uses the same driver set.

hence both my ATI cards use the same 8.7 CCC drivers.

im running vista Ult 64 bit

[burningcpu]

How is gaming with two video cards?

I have two monitors hooked up to my 8800 GTS, but because games require focus, I can't use the other monitor while the game is active. I can see it, but the moment I click on something over there, my game in the main monitor minimizes. If you have two cards can you avoid that whole focus thing, or is that just something necessitated by the OS?

[thideras]

How is gaming with two video cards?

I have two monitors hooked up to my 8800 GTS, but because games require focus, I can't use the other monitor while the game is active. I can see it, but the moment I click on something over there, my game in the main monitor minimizes. If you have two cards can you avoid that whole focus thing, or is that just something necessitated by the OS?That is because the game is requested to be full screen. If you click off of it or another window takes focus, it minimizes.

[smokie mcpott]

i run 4 lcds on my computer at work. 2-24" gateways and 2-20" dells...on a pair of 6800's.. im about to toss the 20's for some 22's..

i couldnt work with less now. i have to have 1 screen monitoring servers, 1 screen monitoring my underlings, 1 screen for email, and 1 screen for VMware server

[moto211]

1 screen monitoring my underlings

god complex? jk

[smokie mcpott]

god complex? jk

lol, nope, but its my job to keep them busy with work. if i dont keep an eye on their work, i get my ass chewed...i prefer to keep my whole ass, thank you

:beer:

[nightelph]

im about to toss the 20's for some 22's..

You could toss 'em my way.. :)

I went to a trade show this morning, didn't find a good deal on a monitor so I'll keep looking.

I'll probably pick up a HD 3650 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102725). The card won't be pushing anything 3D.

I've got a 24 as my main, and a 15 on the side for music and downloads. I intend on picking up a 19 for now.

[nightelph]

I went for a 3870. :) :) Heres the setup:

http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t342/whitelight64/IMG_0378.jpg

From left to right: 24", 19", 15"
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t342/whitelight64/IMG_0381.jpg

I was debating throwing that little 15" onto the wall above the 24".

Hmm, I've got one more DVI port..... Monitor 4?

Hey also theres an led on the mobo for the pci-e x16 slot that lights up when my 4870 is present. However the led for the x4 slot and 3870 doesn't light up, what gives?

[Jim Morbid]

I'm about to do this with 4x19's but I'm looking at the video cards and they have this 'Max Dual Link Resolution 2048x1536'. What does that mean? Can I only have a combined resolution on the two monitors that are plugged into that card of 2048x1536? Cause that would fail...

NM I now see that dual link is just a different standard and is able to support higher resolutions. Is that right?

Thanks,

JM

[smokie mcpott]

thats a max resolution per connection