Need help w/ setting up 3-4 Monitors + New Comp

[FishyMan]

Hello All,

Haven't been here in ages, but I recall some techie guys w/ tremendous insight.

I am trying to buy a new computer, primarily for work, and to have the capacity to display 3-4 monitors (20+ inches each).

I am caught between buying a DELL + adding to it, and building my own. I'm not too familiar anymore w/ technology, but believe if I bought the right pieces, I can put it together. I'm not in a rush, but I am pacing myself.

Something like this but running off of 1 computer. LOL


My question is, would I need 2 graphics card? And is Vista capable of this?

[CustomLowz]

for best results, you will want to run 2 graphics cards

[FishyMan]

for best results, you will want to run 2 graphics cards

So pretty much, 2 powerful graphics cards can allow me to plug in 2-4 monitors?

Do you thinK I can get 1 powerful graphics card to hookup 2, then get another card for the additional 2?

FWIW, are these called the crossfire, sli system? IN which the 2 graphics cards have to support this?

[foamypirate]

So pretty much, 2 powerful graphics cards can allow me to plug in 2-4 monitors?

Do you thinK I can get 1 powerful graphics card to hookup 2, then get another card for the additional 2?

FWIW, are these called the crossfire, sli system? IN which the 2 graphics cards have to support this?

Crossfire/SLI is a system that uses two cards to render one game. It has nothing to do with dual (or quad, haha) monitors, really.

You should be fine with two mid-range cards. I'd say any pair of 9800GTs with dual DVI outputs would probably be fine.

You'd need a motherboard with two graphics PCI-express slots though. Most of these ARE SLI or Crossfire motherboards, but some Intel mobo's have two graphics slots without SLI.

[lokuputha]

do you need openGL support? if so I suggest you build using the ATI FirePro solutions. Be ready to pay though

ATI FirePro™ V3700, ATI FirePro™ V3750,
ATI FirePro™ V5700, ATI FirePro™ V7750,
ATI FirePro™ V8700 Workstation Graphics Accelerators

otherwise, you can go with their FireGL units, which work extremely well.

I suggest a really good chipset. Quad Core Duo? Dual Xeon?

we might need more info as to what software programs you will be running. This will most likely determine how you setup your computer.

[FishyMan]

do you need openGL support? if so I suggest you build using the ATI FirePro solutions. Be ready to pay though

ATI FirePro™ V3700, ATI FirePro™ V3750,
ATI FirePro™ V5700, ATI FirePro™ V7750,
ATI FirePro™ V8700 Workstation Graphics Accelerators

otherwise, you can go with their FireGL units, which work extremely well.

I suggest a really good chipset. Quad Core Duo? Dual Xeon?

we might need more info as to what software programs you will be running. This will most likely determine how you setup your computer.

Thanks.

I don't want to spend too much, but basically would want the capacity and ability to eventually run about 3 monitors. I've been stuck w/ XP and just wanted to venture into VISTA and more multi media.

I'm not running anything particular, so I don't need heavy graphic cards.

I see this behind these 24+ inch LCDs



Most PCI EXP 2 have 2 DVID ports right? But I came across something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102809

Does this mean, 1 each to my LCD?

-Btw, how come some require 2 connections into 1, for just a 20 inch LCD?