Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

I have a Dimension 8200 with an NVIDIA GeForce video card in it driving a  
large CRT.
 
I have several extra Monitors (including another decent-sized Dell CRT) and  
would love to make a 2- (or 3- ?) headed monster.  What's my best bet?
 
I'm also interested in the prospect of a TV tuner card to make things really  
interesting.  However several trips to the store have left me overwhelmed  
with too many choices.
 
I'd really appreciate suggestions on how to approach this.

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"Tim Braithwaite" <tbraithwaite@houston.rr.com> wrote in message  
news:9fZEe.18732$gL1.565@tornado.texas.rr.com...
>I have a Dimension 8200 with an NVIDIA GeForce video card in it driving a  
>large CRT.
>
> I have several extra Monitors (including another decent-sized Dell CRT)  
> and would love to make a 2- (or 3- ?) headed monster.  What's my best bet?
>
> I'm also interested in the prospect of a TV tuner card to make things  
> really interesting.  However several trips to the store have left me  
> overwhelmed with too many choices.
>
> I'd really appreciate suggestions on how to approach this.
>
>
 
OK, two questions.  Your best bet for dual head is an inexpensive ATI based  
AGP card that supports it.  Under $100 at most stores.
 
As for TV Tuners, my personal preference is the Hauppauge WinTV PVR USB2.
 
Tom

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Tim Braithwaite wrote:
> I have a Dimension 8200 with an NVIDIA GeForce video card in it driving a  
> large CRT.
>  
> I have several extra Monitors (including another decent-sized Dell CRT) and  
> would love to make a 2- (or 3- ?) headed monster.  What's my best bet?
>  
> I'm also interested in the prospect of a TV tuner card to make things really  
> interesting.  However several trips to the store have left me overwhelmed  
> with too many choices.
>  
> I'd really appreciate suggestions on how to approach this.
 
ATI and Matrox make dual-head video cards. ATI are probably better for  
3D (games etc.) and Matrox have a reputation for good 2D quality (image  
editing etc.) I have two PCs running examples of ATI and Matrox cards,  
displaying on the same monitors through dual inputs, and I can't  
honestly say I see any great difference. Maybe the Matrox is a tad  
crisper on 2D image viewing.
Don't know about nVidia, but they might do dual-head aswell.
 
Alternatively, you could retain the AGP video card you already have and  
add another PCI video card. Downsides to this are that said PCI video  
cards are less easy to come by, use up another expansion slot, and  
require multiple drivers. It seems like there's scope for problems and  
confusion there, but I've not tried it and it may be fine. I'm pretty  
sure people have done it so it can be made to work.
 
MAtrox make, if I remember correctly, multi-head cards as well. Not sure  
if there's a 3-head, but I'm fairly sure there's a 4-head. Last time I  
looked I think they used slightly older technology for these, which may  
or may not be an issue depending ion your uses.
 
John

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Thanks Tom
 
Can I really just stick 2 new cards in the box and the system would sort it  
all out?
 
Are there any video cards out there that come with an on-board/intergated  
tuner?
 
 
"Tom Scales" <tomtoo@softhome.net> wrote in message  
news:Z8_Ee.25377$mC.5483@tornado.tampabay.rr.com...
>
> "Tim Braithwaite" <tbraithwaite@houston.rr.com> wrote in message  
> news:9fZEe.18732$gL1.565@tornado.texas.rr.com...
>>I have a Dimension 8200 with an NVIDIA GeForce video card in it driving a  
>>large CRT.
>>
>> I have several extra Monitors (including another decent-sized Dell CRT)  
>> and would love to make a 2- (or 3- ?) headed monster.  What's my best  
>> bet?
>>
>> I'm also interested in the prospect of a TV tuner card to make things  
>> really interesting.  However several trips to the store have left me  
>> overwhelmed with too many choices.
>>
>> I'd really appreciate suggestions on how to approach this.
>>
>>
>
> OK, two questions.  Your best bet for dual head is an inexpensive ATI  
> based AGP card that supports it.  Under $100 at most stores.
>
> As for TV Tuners, my personal preference is the Hauppauge WinTV PVR USB2.
>
> Tom
>

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

how are you going to use them? multi-head gaming? programming and  
development? graphics / layout? CAD ?
 
It used to be that the driver implimentaion was the ticket to getting this  
to work. Back in the day, I had NT 4.0 workstations with 2 and 3 displays  
just by having 2 or 3 Matrox Mystique cards. They were great, as long as you  
werent gaming.
 
Matrox still has Dual head AGP cards, and some PCIe cards as well. The have  
a 3 head model as well. The do have awsome 2D performance, but even my G400  
cards would allow me to play untreal tournement, and serious same without  
too much trouble. But, that was a long time ago.
 
Most ATI cards with 2 video connectors will do the trick, as will nVidia.
 
I dont do much gaming, but i have a ASUS Video Suite card, dual DVI, VIVO,  
128M, TI4200 based card and it kicks ass for me.
 
Determine how you are going to use the machine in multi head mode, and then  
find a card that supports 2 displays which is based on the best graphics  
chip for how you want to use it. That way you arent making a huge sacrifice  
in one area or another.
 
- NuTs
 
 
"Tim Braithwaite" <tbraithwaite@houston.rr.com> wrote in message  
news:9fZEe.18732$gL1.565@tornado.texas.rr.com...
>I have a Dimension 8200 with an NVIDIA GeForce video card in it driving a  
>large CRT.
>
> I have several extra Monitors (including another decent-sized Dell CRT)  
> and would love to make a 2- (or 3- ?) headed monster.  What's my best bet?
>
> I'm also interested in the prospect of a TV tuner card to make things  
> really interesting.  However several trips to the store have left me  
> overwhelmed with too many choices.
>
> I'd really appreciate suggestions on how to approach this.
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

No, you just want one card that supports two monitors.  And yes, ATI makes  
cards that are also tuners.  The ATI All-in-Wonder 9800 Pro AGP should do  
everything you want.  Make sure it supports two monitors though, as I am not  
positive.
 
Tom
"Tim Braithwaite" <tbraithwaite@houston.rr.com> wrote in message  
news:EF4Fe.9042$X76.1546@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> Thanks Tom
>
> Can I really just stick 2 new cards in the box and the system would sort  
> it all out?
>
> Are there any video cards out there that come with an on-board/intergated  
> tuner?
>
>
> "Tom Scales" <tomtoo@softhome.net> wrote in message  
> news:Z8_Ee.25377$mC.5483@tornado.tampabay.rr.com...
>>
>> "Tim Braithwaite" <tbraithwaite@houston.rr.com> wrote in message  
>> news:9fZEe.18732$gL1.565@tornado.texas.rr.com...
>>>I have a Dimension 8200 with an NVIDIA GeForce video card in it driving a  
>>>large CRT.
>>>
>>> I have several extra Monitors (including another decent-sized Dell CRT)  
>>> and would love to make a 2- (or 3- ?) headed monster.  What's my best  
>>> bet?
>>>
>>> I'm also interested in the prospect of a TV tuner card to make things  
>>> really interesting.  However several trips to the store have left me  
>>> overwhelmed with too many choices.
>>>
>>> I'd really appreciate suggestions on how to approach this.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> OK, two questions.  Your best bet for dual head is an inexpensive ATI  
>> based AGP card that supports it.  Under $100 at most stores.
>>
>> As for TV Tuners, my personal preference is the Hauppauge WinTV PVR USB2.
>>
>> Tom
>>
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Like you, I'm not much of a gamer.  My focus is on graphics
 
I've been looking at the Matrox line:
http://www.matrox.com/mga/products [...] rhelia.cfm
 
Especially the P750.  However in that case it appears I'd have to add a  
separate TV tuner card.
 
 
"NuTCrAcKeR" <nutcracker@internationalhacker.org> wrote in message  
news:rPmdnRcSLb6cdHnfRVn-pw@speakeasy.net...
> how are you going to use them? multi-head gaming? programming and  
> development? graphics / layout? CAD ?
>
> It used to be that the driver implimentaion was the ticket to getting this  
> to work. Back in the day, I had NT 4.0 workstations with 2 and 3 displays  
> just by having 2 or 3 Matrox Mystique cards. They were great, as long as  
> you werent gaming.
>
> Matrox still has Dual head AGP cards, and some PCIe cards as well. The  
> have a 3 head model as well. The do have awsome 2D performance, but even  
> my G400 cards would allow me to play untreal tournement, and serious same  
> without too much trouble. But, that was a long time ago.
>
> Most ATI cards with 2 video connectors will do the trick, as will nVidia.
>
> I dont do much gaming, but i have a ASUS Video Suite card, dual DVI, VIVO,  
> 128M, TI4200 based card and it kicks ass for me.
>
> Determine how you are going to use the machine in multi head mode, and  
> then find a card that supports 2 displays which is based on the best  
> graphics chip for how you want to use it. That way you arent making a huge  
> sacrifice in one area or another.
>
> - NuTs
>
>
> "Tim Braithwaite" <tbraithwaite@houston.rr.com> wrote in message  
> news:9fZEe.18732$gL1.565@tornado.texas.rr.com...
>>I have a Dimension 8200 with an NVIDIA GeForce video card in it driving a  
>>large CRT.
>>
>> I have several extra Monitors (including another decent-sized Dell CRT)  
>> and would love to make a 2- (or 3- ?) headed monster.  What's my best  
>> bet?
>>
>> I'm also interested in the prospect of a TV tuner card to make things  
>> really interesting.  However several trips to the store have left me  
>> overwhelmed with too many choices.
>>
>> I'd really appreciate suggestions on how to approach this.
>>
>>
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

I prefer the ATI cards, as they're better for gaming and video.  You can get  
them with an integrated TV Tuner too.
 
$138
 
Dual VGA
TV Tuner
 
http://www.buy.com/retail/product. [...] dwt=0&sp=1
 
This is their lowest end, so the prices go up from there
 
Tom
 
"Tim Braithwaite" <tbraithwaite@houston.rr.com> wrote in message  
news:3BpFe.33148$gL1.31254@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> Like you, I'm not much of a gamer.  My focus is on graphics
>
> I've been looking at the Matrox line:
> http://www.matrox.com/mga/products [...] rhelia.cfm
>
> Especially the P750.  However in that case it appears I'd have to add a  
> separate TV tuner card.
>
>
> "NuTCrAcKeR" <nutcracker@internationalhacker.org> wrote in message  
> news:rPmdnRcSLb6cdHnfRVn-pw@speakeasy.net...
>> how are you going to use them? multi-head gaming? programming and  
>> development? graphics / layout? CAD ?
>>
>> It used to be that the driver implimentaion was the ticket to getting  
>> this to work. Back in the day, I had NT 4.0 workstations with 2 and 3  
>> displays just by having 2 or 3 Matrox Mystique cards. They were great, as  
>> long as you werent gaming.
>>
>> Matrox still has Dual head AGP cards, and some PCIe cards as well. The  
>> have a 3 head model as well. The do have awsome 2D performance, but even  
>> my G400 cards would allow me to play untreal tournement, and serious same  
>> without too much trouble. But, that was a long time ago.
>>
>> Most ATI cards with 2 video connectors will do the trick, as will nVidia.
>>
>> I dont do much gaming, but i have a ASUS Video Suite card, dual DVI,  
>> VIVO, 128M, TI4200 based card and it kicks ass for me.
>>
>> Determine how you are going to use the machine in multi head mode, and  
>> then find a card that supports 2 displays which is based on the best  
>> graphics chip for how you want to use it. That way you arent making a  
>> huge sacrifice in one area or another.
>>
>> - NuTs
>>
>>
>> "Tim Braithwaite" <tbraithwaite@houston.rr.com> wrote in message  
>> news:9fZEe.18732$gL1.565@tornado.texas.rr.com...
>>>I have a Dimension 8200 with an NVIDIA GeForce video card in it driving a  
>>>large CRT.
>>>
>>> I have several extra Monitors (including another decent-sized Dell CRT)  
>>> and would love to make a 2- (or 3- ?) headed monster.  What's my best  
>>> bet?
>>>
>>> I'm also interested in the prospect of a TV tuner card to make things  
>>> really interesting.  However several trips to the store have left me  
>>> overwhelmed with too many choices.
>>>
>>> I'd really appreciate suggestions on how to approach this.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Tim Braithwaite <tbraithwaite@houston.rr.com>:
 
> I have a Dimension 8200 with an NVIDIA GeForce video card in it
> driving a large CRT.
>
> I have several extra Monitors (including another decent-sized Dell
> CRT) and would love to make a 2- (or 3- ?) headed monster.  What's my
> best bet?
>
> I'm also interested in the prospect of a TV tuner card to make things
> really interesting.  However several trips to the store have left me
> overwhelmed with too many choices.
>
> I'd really appreciate suggestions on how to approach this.
 
ATI RADEON 9600 256mb AGP8x, for a dualscreen system (1 DVI and 1 VGA)
 
or
 
ATI RADE...etc + a PCI video card (min 16 mb) for a 3screen system.
 
--
http://polygen.org/web/Cavallo_Goloso.656.0.html