Lyle's latest tech quandary

[Ilander]

Hmmm...Now, let it be known that I do not particularly want to do what I'm going to ask about...so, here goes.

I was thinking about hooking my computer up to both of my monitors, and then it occurred to me to ponder the following:

If a person wanted to hook up more than two monitors, usually it requires an additional graphics card, as most cards I've seen only output to two monitors. So, let us say that I have four monitors. In my system, I already have one graphics card, a nice one that I use to run games and such on my current system. This graphics card I cannot replace, because it is so new and shiny. It runs two desktops, one for games, and one for standard purposes. I merely want a cheap solution capable of rendering two more desktops for the other two monitors.

Is it possible to:

1) Run both PCI-Express x16 and PCI (or PCI-Express x1) graphics cards?
2) Run both an ATI-AMD card and an nVidia card?
3) Run both Forceware and Catalyst?
4) Run both nView and Hydravision?

No, not a practical case (four monitors FTL!), but I'm curious, and it's difficult to find articles via google because of the nature of the phrase "ATI and nVidia," especially with its tendency to summon fanboy arguments.

[Hivetyrant]

This is an often tricky subject, but I can tell you what I know about it:

Originally posted by Ilander: Hmmm...Now, let it be known that I do not particularly want to do what I'm going to ask about...so, here goes. I was thinking about hooking my computer up to both of my monitors, and then it occurred to me to ponder the following: If a person wanted to hook up more than two monitors, usually it requires an additional graphics card, as most cards I've seen only output to two monitors. So, let us say that I have four monitors. In my system, I already have one graphics card, a nice one that I use to run games and such on my current system. This graphics card I cannot replace, because it is so new and shiny. It runs two desktops, one for games, and one for standard purposes. I merely want a cheap solution capable of rendering two more desktops for the other two monitors. Is it possible to: 1) Run both PCI-Express x16 and PCI (or PCI-Express x1) graphics cards?

I gather you mean a video card in the PCI-E x16 slot (I.E your GTO card(I think thats what you had) and a second card in the PCI-E x1 slot or a standard PCI slot?
As far as I know, yes, however it is often difficult and your primary video card will likely not allow you to run any monitors off the second card (Through windows at least)

2) Run both an ATI-AMD card and an nVidia card?

Another tricky one, but i'm pretty sure the answer here is no. Back in the good old days you were able to run many different cards in the PCI slots, but these day's if you want to run multiple cards, it's either SLi or Crossfire and mixing them won't work.
(Feel free to correct me if i'm wrong)

The computer would likely boot and the OS would be fine, but your motherboard is going to select one or the other and that's it. AFAIK

3) Run both Forceware and Catalyst?

Yes, but if only one card is being used then only one program is usefull.

4) Run both nView and Hydravision?

I would choose to use neither [img]smile.gif[/img]

I was using 4 monitors until recently (Stopped using my PC pretty much and stopped playing PC games ) and if you have alot of stuff running, it can be extremely usefull.

On mine, I had A VPN session with my work desktop on one screen, generally and office program (word, etc.) on another, Other documents (adobe, whatever) and sometimes a game or just media player on the last one. There are many ways in which they can be used, however it's obviously not ideal as it puts a strain on your cards and system and takes up a lot of room [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Ilander]

You're right on the GTO bit... (it's an x800 GTO, although, it's about ready for the sale bin...the fan makes rattly noises, and I want an 8800GTS anyway)...

But, most of this was brought on by me reading some comment on newegg about someone buying a PCI x1300 low profile (read: crappy) graphics card so that they could run another monitor.

I've seen PCI-Ex1 cards, so I was thinking, wouldn't it be neat to have an 8800GTS doing the main work, with something low-end and cheap rendering another couple of monitors on the other interface slots.

I don't personally see myself straying above two monitors any time soon, but it's kind of cool to think that for just a little bit more...well, weight, money, labor, you take your pick...I could run four monitors.

Exciting stuff.

It really is a shame the 8800 series is not capable of outputting to four monitors, because I'm sure it could handle it. It could probably handle four player Unreal 2003 DM games on just one computer, if you could associate mouses and keyboards with screens.