Dual Monitor set up help (pc with mac display)

[IIIMik3]

Hi, so i'm considering picking up a 20" Apple cinema display LCD. I'm currently running a generic 15" LCD wit my PC, and would like to run both the 20" and this 15". Right now i've got an old 3dfx VooDoo3 (i know it's ancient these days), so i was wondering, will i need a new vid card? if so, what would you guys suggest? I don't do any 3d gaming or anything. I use my computer mainly for photo editing, and internet surfing, so i don't need anything too serious, but i would like to run the 20" monitor at the max resolution of 1680x1050 and the 15" at 1024x768. Also, from what i've gathered, i shouldn't have any problems hooking up an Apple display to my PC, is this correct? Any help would be great, thanks.

Mike

[PacAce]

Hi, so i'm considering picking up a 20" Apple cinema display LCD. I'm currently running a generic 15" LCD wit my PC, and would like to run both the 20" and this 15". Right now i've got an old 3dfx VooDoo3 (i know it's ancient these days), so i was wondering, will i need a new vid card? if so, what would you guys suggest? I don't do any 3d gaming or anything. I use my computer mainly for photo editing, and internet surfing, so i don't need anything too serious, but i would like to run the 20" monitor at the max resolution of 1680x1050 and the 15" at 1024x768. Also, from what i've gathered, i shouldn't have any problems hooking up an Apple display to my PC, is this correct? Any help would be great, thanks.

Mike

If your current video display card does not have the dual display capability then you'll definitely need to replace that card with one that does (you can get another single display video card and run two video cards simultaneously but I wouldn't recommend it). Both my PC and my G5 have the ATI 9600 series video cards installed and they work very well with dual monitors, even of different types and resolutions.

The 20" Apple Cinema Display has a DVI port so whatever video card you get needs to have a DVI output port. But I'm sure all the current crop of video cards supports DVI except maybe for the really cheap ones.

[John_T]

It is a waste having an outstanding monitor for graphic work and not having the equivalent graphic card. While not to dispute Leo, because ATI make decent cards, I would have to recommend one of these because of their specialty in multi-monitor cards with the highest quality 2D display. The graphic card does make quite a difference.

http://www.matrox.com/mga/workstation/digital_design/products/home.cfm

Incidently, playing some games on a calibrated system will wreck your calibration. Many games take over your graphic card, rewrite the LUT and don't return it to it's previous state when exiting. Bad_Boys!

[Belmondo]

I have a slightly different situation...I have two computers and two monitors, and I run both monitors off each computer. I have a Radeon 9600 in one PC, and a Matrox in the other. Both monitors have have two inputs, switchable on the monitor, and both graphics cards have dual outputs. Sometimes I get a little confused (normal for me), but it is possible to have one monitor from each system running at the same time, or both monitors running on either system. I also have a KVM switch so I can share keyboard, mouse, and speakers.

[John_T]

Tom, you are definitely not getting old. Just doin' better with what's relevant and learning to not bother with what's not relevant. It's not called getting old, it's called growing more efficient.

Some call it lazy. I call it easy is right. :wink:

[PacAce]

I have a slightly different situation...I have two computers and two monitors, and I run both monitors off each computer. I have a Radeon 9600 in one PC, and a Matrox in the other. Both monitors have have two inputs, switchable on the monitor, and both graphics cards have dual outputs. Sometimes I get a little confused (normal for me), but it is possible to have one monitor from each system running at the same time, or both monitors running on either system. I also have a KVM switch so I can share keyboard, mouse, and speakers.

So, tell us, Tom, since you have both video cards, IS there a difference that you can see between the 9600 and the Matrox, comparing apples for apples by having the monitors connected up the same way (either both analog or both digital)? :?

[Belmondo]

Leo:
The problem is, it really isn't an apples/apples situation. I'm running a LaCie 22" Electron Blue monitor (CRT) and a 19" Sony Flat panel side-by-side. I can really think of no good way to make a meaningful comparison of the two. I'm still trying to figure out how to calibrate both monitors independently of each other, and so far I haven't come up with a way. The calibration software that came with the Matrox card allows it, but when I try to use the calibration device that came with the LaCie monitor, it makes changes globally. So, I correct for the CRT, and take whatever I get on the flat panel. I do all my color correction on the CRT, so it's okay that way, but it would be nice if they both displayed things similarly. I don't do any photo work on the other PC (with the Radeon card), so I don't really care what things look like there.

If my wife ever wins the lottery, I'll get another LaCie monitor and ditch the flat panel. Of course that will mean adding another circuit to the house to cover the extra current draw. As it is, I'm running everything in my office off UPSs; otherwise the circuit breaker would pop every time my copier, laser printer, or fax machine lit up. As it is, I generally keep the lights and everything else non-essential turned off.

[John_T]

The dual head calibration limitation is a Windows limitation. On Mac you can do it by simply sliding the calibration window over to the second monitor. If you try this with Windows with a dual head card, it will only rewrite the same LUT for the second monitor ruining that of the first monitor. The Matrox card has a LUT on each head, so there is no limitation on the Matrox card. You can do it on a Windows machine, but then you need two cards, one AGP and the other PCI. Hopefully in Longhorn, whenever that is, Windows will work with dual head calibration.

ColoReal is a sofware "calibration" more intended for web color matching and isn't really suitable for photo work. Better than nothing and probably as good as Adobe Gamma, but colorimeter or spectrophotometer calibration is the only way to go for photo work.

Last week I gave up on Spyder Pro with Optical and got a Monaco Optix XR Pro. What a difference! The Optix XR is much more precise than the Spyder, gets the blues and greens right, which the Spyder doesn't, measures everything including ambient light and produces a calibration and profile that can't be called anything but spot on. It is really worth the plunge.

[Aylwin]

I, too, am thinking of hooking up an Apple cinema display to my PC. I still can't decide though if I should get the 20" or go for the 23". Has anyone actually tried this combination yet? There shouldn't be any problems but you never know.

Mike, if I'm not mistaken, the Voodoo 3 has no DVI support so you'll need a new graphics card. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[John_T]

CORRECTION! :!:

I have now successfully calibrated both my monitors on dual head using the Monaco Optix XR Pro. This new puck and the software is so good, so precise and so clear to use, it is really a pleasure. I had tried and tried this with the Spyder Pro for a couple of years, but no cigar.

BUT, due to the Windows limitation, you can only profile one monitor, which is my primary monitor of two identical monitors. The net of this is, that the primary monitor is about as perfect as it can get, and the secondary is only a hair different, and for most intents and purposes equally usable.

Whooof! Finally!!! :D :mrgreen: :D 8) :D

[Aylwin]

Hmmm... I'd never heard of the Monaco Optix until now. This would've been good to know a week ago, before I ordered the SpyderPro. :roll:

Congratulations though! :D

[John_T]

Sorry about that.

Since X-Rite took over Monaco they are really the best. Costs more, but more than worth it.

http://www.monacosys.com/