3 monitor setup for gaming

[thelankymatt]

Ok, it's nearing the end of the month and I have £300 to upgrade with. What I want to do is move from my two 17" TFT monitor setup and go to 3 using my 32" HDTV for some big screen gaming.

PC specs are:
AN8-SLi mobo
x2 4400 cpu
2GB Ram
Ati x800
XP64 Pro
2x Hitachi CML174SXB TFT's
LG 32LX2R HDTV


I want to use my existing monitors for work, browsing, remote desktop etc and have games output onto the TV. Do I go SLi? Keep the existing x800 & get a x1900? Matrox triple head? I'm looking at getting the best performance for my cash and also not be worrying about xp64 driver issues & lack of support.

So what would you do?

Ta

thelankymatt

 

[Darkwave]

I'd put an X1800XT or X1900XT in there and grab a Triplehead for your monitors.

 

[thelankymatt]

Good good, I've been thinking a 1900XT and keeping the x800 to output to one of the 17" TFT's. I am right in thinking it's ok to run 2 PCI-E cards at the same time?

 

[Darkwave]

Good good, I've been thinking a 1900XT and keeping the x800 to output to one of the 17" TFT's. I am right in thinking it's ok to run 2 PCI-E cards at the same time?

I'm not sure how that would work for two different Radeons in an SLi motherboard, to be honest. But if it did work, you'd get 3/4 monitor output assuming the X800 is dual-head too. I know two Geforce's running together but not in SLi mode will do it, just not sure about ATi cards in that config.

 

[thelankymatt]

I'm not sure how that would work for two different Radeons in an SLi motherboard, to be honest. But if it did work, you'd get 3/4 monitor output assuming the X800 is dual-head too. I know two Geforce's running together but not in SLi mode will do it, just not sure about ATi cards in that config.

I will have to keep searching to see if it is possible with 2 different ATi cards as I know it's possible with nVidia cards in a SLi Mobo. If it doesnt work then I can always sell the x800 on and get a pci gfx card for the 3rd monitor. Sadly the Matrox Triple Head seems to only support 3monitors of the same size/resolution so wont be any good for the TV.

Cheers for the help Exsomnis

 

[Rick_Barnes]

sell the x800, get an x1900XT for gaming.

Any regular PCI card will hapily display on 2 17" TFTs, even an ancient Geforce2 or similar.

You only need the 3d performance for games.

 

[MichaelHo]

agreed, need a top range gfx card.
your going to love playing games on your HDTV, COD2 looks awesome.

 

[The Mad One]

Ah crap i've just seen this thread and i need some help related to this ive just bought a cheap x300 to sit along side my x1900xtx for a third monitor output. I've fitted them in my Asus A8N SLI Premium but windows doesnt detect the x300 which is sat in the 2nd pci-e slot. Has anyone found any info with using 2 ati cards in an sli board? or have i just wasted 30 odd pounds?

 

[FrankJH]

Ah crap i've just seen this thread and i need some help related to this ive just bought a cheap x300 to sit along side my x1900xtx for a third monitor output. I've fitted them in my Asus A8N SLI Premium but windows doesnt detect the x300 which is sat in the 2nd pci-e slot. Has anyone found any info with using 2 ati cards in an sli board? or have i just wasted 30 odd pounds?

No there shouldnt be an issue as you are using the cards seperately ( however I would have tried to get a PCI card instead) There might be an issue with where you have both cards, try taking out both and reinstalling your XTX in the other slot and rebooting to test its all ok then putting the X300 in slot left over and see if that works?

 

[The Mad One]

I've just tried that and this is where it becomes weird, seperately both cards work fine and they work fine in either slot, but when they are both plugged in and whether the x1900 is in slot 1 or 2 only the x1900 seems to work. It seems to me sli boards dont like 2 ati pci-e cards plugged in.

If this is case am i within my rights to take this card back and exchange it for a pci one? also the problem is i bought this card on the 8th, i've only just tested it now cause ive been on holiday, will this be a problem? Thanks