Cheapest way to add a third monitor

dangerstat

dangerstat

dangerstat

Soldato
Joined
15 Nov 2008
Posts
5,060
Location
In the ether
Hi

Currently I have 2 19" widescreen TFTs connected to my 9800GT via it's dual DVI ports, I need to add a third monitor to this system - what are my options? I've got a very tight budget for this so cheapest options prefered ;)

Thanks

Dstat
 
Yeah, mixing ati and nvidia cards is clearly the way to go here.

Options are pretty much the cheapest nvidia card available. Otherwise driver issues are apt to drive you insane. Even the 6200 is capable of a 2D display. I'd probably go for MM.
 
JonJ678 said:
Yeah, mixing ati and nvidia cards is clearly the way to go here.

Options are pretty much the cheapest nvidia card available. Otherwise driver issues are apt to drive you insane. Even the 6200 is capable of a 2D display. I'd probably go for MM.
Click to expand...

So if I add another NV card essentially I'd be able to add an extra two monitors? Will it be okay with games, I.e. will it know to use the 9800GT and not the lowe end NV I get?

EDIT just checked and I've only got 1 PCIE slot :0
 
The only advantage to using another nVidia driver would be SLI, but since it's a budget constraint you wouldn't be able to get another 9800.

What i want to know though is why you want a third monitor anyway? If you have a tight budget then it's better spent on better hardware or... food?
 
Superewza said:
The only advantage to using another nVidia driver would be SLI, but since it's a budget constraint you wouldn't be able to get another 9800.

What i want to know though is why you want a third monitor anyway? If you have a tight budget then it's better spent on better hardware or... food?
Click to expand...

I'm doing some development work where I need to have 5 VMs running 2 of which I need pretty much perminatly viewable, which I can use about cope with on my dual screens, but as soon as I remote connect to my mac I use don't have enough real estate.
 
If you had two slots, it would use the one closest to the cpu as the primary, and everything would tend to open through that card before being dragged across to the 3rd screen.

Only one pci-e slot is an issue, I fear pci graphics cards may be so old that the current nvidia drivers don't know what to do with them, but even then windows can probably make a good enough stab at it. I've no idea where you would find one though.

I think the remaining options are:
find a pci graphics card
change motherboard and get a pci-e card
run 3rd monitor through a different computer and remote into it

Moving the mac nearer to this machine might be the way to go, otherwise the only option your budget will like is a pci card. Sorry man
 
JonJ678 said:
If you had two slots, it would use the one closest to the cpu as the primary, and everything would tend to open through that card before being dragged across to the 3rd screen.

Only one pci-e slot is an issue, I fear pci graphics cards may be so old that the current nvidia drivers don't know what to do with them, but even then windows can probably make a good enough stab at it. I've no idea where you would find one though.

I think the remaining options are:
find a pci graphics card
change motherboard and get a pci-e card
run 3rd monitor through a different computer and remote into it

Moving the mac nearer to this machine might be the way to go, otherwise the only option your budget will like is a pci card. Sorry man
Click to expand...

Cheers mate, the MB has a built-in GPU with a DVI socket could I enable that and plug the third monitor into it? Or will I have all sorts of confliction issues :confused:
 
If its an nvidia board there's some hope, I think hybrid sli allows this. If it's a not an nvidia chipset then I think you'll struggle, I spent quite a while trying to get an intel X4500 to output at the same time as an 8800gt with no luck at all.

So my best answer is maybe. If you can persuade the bios to let the OS use both you'll be fine, the problem is that a lot of boards disable onboard video as soon as a graphics card is detected
 
Get a PCI 6200, it will work with the same drivers, I used on with my 8800 GTX. They do cost a bit for what they are at around £40, you may get it cheaper if you look hard. Having a PCI card is very useful.

Don't mix video drivers, it's asking for trouble. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom