Video card question...Please help !!!

[SHKJ]

Hi All,

I am in the process of upgrading my AMD64 machine..It is a Asus A8V-Deluxe runnig a Dual Core X2 4400+ with w/ 2 GiGs of Patriot low latency memory and a 74 GIG Raptor for the boot drive..It does very well in Photoshop !!

My last up grade is the AGP video card...what card would be the one to get to eventually run (2) 30" Apple Cinema LCD's ??

lastly how much video memory is required and what about dual link DVI ??

Currently I have a 4 year old Leadtek Nvidia Ti4200 128 MEG card..!!!

I DO NOT PLAY GAMES !!!

Thanks in advance....Stu

[stupot]

why dont you just get an apple to tie in with your screens:P hehe sorry... cant help you

[benhasajeep]

I was looking at new video cards the other day and found out something that kinda pissed me off. I don't know if its all cards but I found 2 ATI cards that say 256mb, but in actuality the card only has 128 and it used another 128 from the computer to make up the 256. So you have to look closely at the cards you are buying. There are some tricks out there.

As for DVI I just started thinking of getting a second flat panel. Currently I just use a 19" Dell Ultrasharp. I was looking at cards as I was not sure my current ATI would handle 2 cards. But there were so many choices and then I read the fine print on the ATI's I just left the store. Dell has their 24" widescreen on sale and I also have an email coupon they sent me. So was really looking into it.

[JCR]

Unless things have changed very recently you will need a quadro based card fx3000 fx4000
to run that display.

[NickC]

what card would be the one to get to eventually run (2) 30" Apple Cinema LCD's ??

If you really are going to eventually run two 30" Apple displays, find out the minimum requirement for video cards (link to Apple's Cinema Display page (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wo/0.RSLID?mco=955BB9EF&nclm=AppleDisplays)). When Apple first came out with those, a $599 card was required to drive it (probably not as expensive now)! One card cannot drive two of those large displays: one card per monitor.

[CyberDyneSystems]

To run one 30-inch Cinema HD Display

- Power Mac G5 (PCI-X) with ATI Radeon 9650 or better or NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT DDL or better with Mac OS X v10.3.9 or Mac OS X v10.4.2 or later
- Power Mac G5 (PCI Express), all graphics options

- Windows PC and graphics card that supports DVI ports with dual-link digital bandwidth and VESA DDC standard for plug-and-play setup

As mentioned,. to run two you'll need two cards,. and I don't think your Mobo is in the best condition to do so.
If it's AGP you only have one AGP port.. and the second card would be a PCI card.

Ideally you'd have a Mobo that would support two graphics cards with two slots that are designed for high end cards,. ie: Dual x16 PCI-express.


One card at least that I know of will run a 30" and another monitor,. though not a second 30",. is the Matrox Parhelia.. since it can drive three monitors,. it can also drive a 30" and say a 20" or 24" display or TV

http://www.matrox.com/mga/workstation/audio/news/reviews/apr2005/parhelia_dl256pci.cfm

[JCR]

I was under the impression to run the correct display resolution for pixel aspect with one monitor you would need a card with 2x TDMS transmitters/recievers, that would be the quadro range only. Otherwise your resolution will be limited.
maybe it's changed?

[SHKJ]

what about (2) 24" dell flat panel LCD's instead ???

[StevenRaith]

Hmm. I'm sure the Parhelia PCI 256mb card will run two 21" NEC Multisync UX's at 1600x1200 , not sure about the Apple screens tho - does one of those screens require two DVI inputs to run at full whack or what?

[Zepher]

Is your Processor a 939? If so, I would recommend swapping to a new motherboard and get a PCI-Express video card.
It will end up being a lot more cost effective as fast AGP cards are getting expensive and scarce.
I am stuck with AGP (I'd need a new proc and mobo)and I bought a 7800GS for $318, and for the same money I could have gotten a 7900GT which is twice as fast and I believe will run the Apple 30". It will definately run the 24"'s ones.

I've built 2 machines with these boards for my friend and his father.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131524

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131569

This is a great card right here,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130282

[StevenRaith]

Just a quicky to say I agree with Zepher about getting a PCI-E compatible board - GPUs are easier to source for them now, it was the other way around even just a year ago.

AGP is on the way out, simple as.

RIP AGP, I will miss locking your bus speed, pumping more volts thorugh you and clocking your card up to the nines, fo sho :cry:

[Zepher]

Just found this for $200, not bad, runs the monitors but not sure how well it performs,
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/ATI%20Technologies/100435060/

[StevenRaith]

9600 pro? Archaic!

If it does the job tho....

[Rumjungle]

Wow, $200 for the 9600 pro?

[jbkalla]

Just found this for $200, not bad, runs the monitors but not sure how well it performs,
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/ATI%20Technologies/100435060/

Wow! I didn't think the 9600 would run the 30". That's outstanding! So for $400, you could run dual 30", though I'm not sure why you'd want to! Have you seen one of these monsters in person? I think two widescreen 30" displays would be too much (did I actually say that??) desktop space. Ergonomically, it wouldn't be ideal.

[Zepher]

Wow! I didn't think the 9600 would run the 30". That's outstanding! So for $400, you could run dual 30", though I'm not sure why you'd want to! Have you seen one of these monsters in person? I think two widescreen 30" displays would be too much (did I actually say that??) desktop space. Ergonomically, it wouldn't be ideal.

Nope, unless you can find a dual AGP motherboard (which I beleive has never been made, or if it has it never gained popularity).

[JCR]

Not possible to have 2x agp slots due to bus architecture.

[jbkalla]

Ooops! Forgot the 9600 was AGP-only...

Still, 2x30"? For that much money, I'd buy just one 30" and a really nice computer! :-)

[roman_t]

i've heard good reviews about twindvis from matrox and ati.
i'v got almost the same video card from prolink. did you tried your old card with two panels? i wont wonder if it work normaly.