Adding another graphic card to existing 8800GTS for 3 displays

[maiky13]

Hi everyone this is my first post here,

I currently have a 8800GTS 512 in my rig that output to 2 x 24" and want to add another card so that I can output to the 46" LCD TV mainly for 1080p playback, maybe occasionally playing games on the big screen.
I dont have an onboard vga output on my motherboard.
what will be my best option?

I'm currently looking at the 5450, because it has all the hdmi support
however I'm not sure about having 2 display drivers in a system not to mention a nvidia and a ATI card at the same time.
Is that going to give me compatibility issues?

Also I was wondering, as I do play games occationally is there any point getting another card similar to the 8800GTS and not SLI them?
maybe a GT240 or 250?
I've been looking around the forum for some time now, still cant quite figure out what the second card actually do in a system if I dont SLI them apart from giving it more output

Oh btw I'm using EP45-DS3 motherboard and Win 7 64 bit

Cheers

 

[OrphanBoy]

Hello, just a few points based on your questions:
- if you're running Vista you can't mixed ATI/NVIDIA drivers
- if you SLI two cards together, you can't use the display inputs from the second card IIRC

 

[maiky13]

so i should be alright with windows 7?

yea... i kinda figure SLI will useless to me as well

 

[OrphanBoy]

Windows 7 allows you to have mixed drivers, so you'll be fine.

 

[rhys216]

Sounds like your best option is to sell the 8800 and get a 5770 or 5850.

 

[maiky13]

Thanks but 5850 is beyond my budget at the moment
will I see a big difference with 5770?

if not I think I'll be sticking with another budget card if thats the case and save a few quid, I take it 5450 is the best low end card for HDMI with audio?

also I still want to know what does the second card do in a system? for example if i'm playing a game?