Please help with dual crt video card selection [Archive]

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Rumjungle

29th of March 2006 (Wed), 11:27

Can anyone help me find a cheap dual-head vid card to run 2 crts on my photoshop computer. Don't need 3d performance and don't even care if it's an old skanky PCI card.:lol:

I really just need the 2nd display to hold my tools/palette.

Ronald S. Jr.

29th of March 2006 (Wed), 11:28

How much you looking to spend, and other than dual display support, is there a minimum you'd like? (256, perhaps?)

Rumjungle

29th of March 2006 (Wed), 12:54

I'm thinking of spending the bare minimum so it only needs to have enough memory to support 2 displays (one at 1280x1024 and the other at 1024x768). I think anywhere between 32-128mb should be plenty for that, considering these are 2D only.

OdiN1701

29th of March 2006 (Wed), 13:39

AGP?

http://www.matrox.com/mga/workstation/cre_pro/products/gseries/g450.cfm

That is what I would recommend. Here's an ebay auction for one. (http://cgi.ebay.com/MATROX-G450-2xMONITOR-32MB-AGP-VIDEO-CARD-G45FMDHA32DB_W0QQitemZ8785617920QQcategoryZ40160QQ rdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Matrox has arguably the best 2D graphics quality.

That is an older card though. Their newer ones are going to run around $100.

Ronald S. Jr.

29th of March 2006 (Wed), 14:10

Their newer ones are going to run around $100.

...and for that price, you could get a dandy 256 ATI. I agree. 128 should do it if you never want to do gaming or 3D anything. I'm not familiar with older graphics cards or "no-brand" stuff, so I wouldn't be able to help you out there.

OdiN1701

29th of March 2006 (Wed), 14:15

...and for that price, you could get a dandy 256 ATI. I agree. 128 should do it if you never want to do gaming or 3D anything. I'm not familiar with older graphics cards or "no-brand" stuff, so I wouldn't be able to help you out there.

Well the P650 I have is only 128MB.

The 2D quality on the ATI isn't as good as the Matrox.

Rumjungle

29th of March 2006 (Wed), 14:16

Thanks guys. I definately want a cheapie, so the old Matrox is probably the way to go. I remember then when they were the bomb-@ss name in 2D cards.:)

Ronald S. Jr.

29th of March 2006 (Wed), 14:20

So my X850 XT 256 is lower quality than your P650? Gosh...I gotta change my video card! :p

Rumjungle

29th of March 2006 (Wed), 14:21

Actually, probably so if you're only talking about 2D performance.

OdiN1701

29th of March 2006 (Wed), 14:24

So my X850 XT 256 is lower quality than your P650? Gosh...I gotta change my video card! :p

When talking 2D quality, yes mine is better.

3D - yours is better. But I don't play any games so I don't need 3D.

My only concern is with my editing and it's all done in 2D.

jbkalla

29th of March 2006 (Wed), 17:08

I use an ATI AGP 9000Pro in my mac at dual 19" 1280x1024. It's gotta be pretty cheap for dual digital out, but the matrox sounds good...

Zepher

31st of March 2006 (Fri), 09:50

what resolution are you going to run at on both screens? I run 1600x1200 @ 32bit color on my CRT's at 87.4Khz with a 70hz refresh rate.
I am running an old Nvidia GeForce 6800 128meg card.
I used to have a Matrox G400 or G450 sitting around that I'd sell cheap, if I can find it.

Rumjungle

31st of March 2006 (Fri), 10:51

How cheap is cheap? I was thinking of 1280x1024 and 1024x768.

rlhphotos

31st of March 2006 (Fri), 10:51

I have an older Matrox G550 Dual Head Video Card. It supports dual monitors at 1280x1024. You can pick one up online for like $50. It works well and I never had any issues with it before buying my newer DVI card.

http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductDetail?sku=275702&SourceID=k22350

Zepher

31st of March 2006 (Fri), 11:15

How cheap is cheap? I was thinking of 1280x1024 and 1024x768.

Like $25 shipped cheap. :) I've got to find it first.

Rumjungle

31st of March 2006 (Fri), 13:13