PCI Video and 2 Monitors

[muppet]

One of my computers is an el cheapo system with built in everything, and it doesn't have an AGP slot!

I would like to turn it into a two monitor system. I was told that it can be done by installing a PCI video card. That is the built-in graphics adapter and the newly installed PCI video card would run one monitor each. Is this possible?

If it is, anyone know what PCI video card supports 1600x1200 resolution? And is there anything special that needs to be done? Does it just appear as side by side monitor space, or do I need to tell the applications that I open, which monitor or video adapter it's suppose to open in?

Thanks!

 

[bobgote]

you can get double head AGP cards. most of the new ones have two outputs. however a second graphics card - PCI is your other option.

for two monitor setup (in windows) its fairly simple - it's just the desktop settings in control panel (or right click on desktop and go to properties). you choose where the monitors are in relation to each other. any window sized application (ie web browsers) you can drag over to the other monitor. full screen applications only run on the one screen for the most part (ie civ only takes up one monitor and you can have problems scrolling if you have 2 monitors set up )

and in regard to resolution, most cards should (i think) do it, it's more likely to be your monitor refresh rate that will be the weak spot.

 

[muppet]

Thanks for the Help!

One more question. You mentioned dual head AGP adapters. I've asked around about them, and they're all single VGA output, with the alternate output being TV-Out, DVI, or both. I'm told I need an adapter to change one of the other ones to a VGA output.

Does it make a difference if I get a card with TV-out or DVI? One computer store tells me it's no different, and a guy at another store told me that there is a noticeable quality difference if I go with a TV-out to VGA adapter.

 

[Kuningas]

DVI has better image quality. IMO, DVI is ment to flat screens and tv-out to TVs.

 

[bobgote]

@muppet: yup, it requires an adapter but that usually comes with the card. did for me anyway.

what kuningas said about the flat screen is probably right too, as when i put it onto a tv, the image was rounded at the edges.