Which GFX card for dual monitors

[m1ddy]

Hi Guys,

 

Just wondering which gfx card you are all using to run dual displays. my desktop just isn't big enough anymore!

 

It will be running in a Dell Optiplex 745 so needs to be pci-e x16 and pref VGA outs to dvi as I don't have any dvi cables / adapters lying around.

 

Ta

[kmount]

Depends, do you want to be playing games etc, or have an interest in CAD?

[plexer]

I got one of these

 

MATROX MILLENNIUM G550 PCI-E DUALHEAD DVI 32MB DDR GRAPHICS CARD G55-MDDE32F from MacWarehouse

 

I think.

 

Ben

[m1ddy]

Its purely for extending my desktop. No need for games or CAD.

 

Edit:

 

Ideally needs to be < £35

[ICT_GUY]

Any dual head card with two dvi outputs should work, I did have issues with a radeon card though.

[m1ddy]

i presume dual head cards with 2 x vga is also fine. Although, you are hard pushed to find them these days. Gotta have a dig around for some dvi > vga adapters

[m1ddy]

hmm, a lot of the nvidia cards are 1 x dvi and 1 x vga. I presume this isn't important. A lot of them seem to be pci-e 2.0. Can they still be used in a 1.0 slot but just with less bandwidth?

[PeterW]

Can they still be used in a 1.0 slot but just with less bandwidth?

Mostly a couple of VIA chipsets seem to have problems but on the whole its fully backwards compatible.

 

hmm, a lot of the nvidia cards are 1 x dvi and 1 x vga

As long as the DVI is a DVI-I you can use it with an adaptor, alot of cards will come with an adaptor.

[richardp]

For what you want anything with 2 outputs will work, on my very old work desktop I am using a Radeon 7500 with two TFTs at 1280x1024 each without any problems at all.

[plexer]

I don't suppose that machine has an agp slot does it?

 

Ben

[m1ddy]

I think I need to get a half height card as anything else isn't going to fit in the Optixplex 745 case. :/

 

Any suggestions?

[plexer]

Does it have an ago slot as well?

 

Ben

[m1ddy]

Doesn't look like it, no

[plexer]

The G550 comes in a low profile version.

 

Matrox Millennium G550 LP PCIe - graphics adapter - MGA G550 - 32 MB

 

Ben

[Elky]

Hi m1ddy

 

We can get you a Sapphire HD2400 Pro card. Its PCI-Express x16, 256Mb, has VGA & DVI-I and a low profile bracket. I can get this for you for £22.00+VAT and then you need a DVI to VGA convertor which we have in stock for £4.00+VAT

 

Is this is any use to you then let me know

 

Regards