Intel Desktop Board Question

[Ext User(blank)]

If I buy an Intel D945GCZLKR board and run XP would I still need to buy
a separate video card to run dual LCD monitors?

[Ext User(Damian)]

"blank" <blank@void.net> wrote in message
news:43cc93df$0$1797$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
>
> If I buy an Intel D945GCZLKR board and run XP would I still need to buy
> a separate video card to run dual LCD monitors?

Simply use a video splitter data switch. U may also hav to activate the dual
monitor feature in the 'display properties', tho I'm not sure bout that.
I've never done it, but pretty sure it's simple as above.

[Ext User(Rod Speed)]

Damian <damian_andrews75@yahoo.com.au> wrote
> blank <blank@void.net> wrote

>> If I buy an Intel D945GCZLKR board and run XP would I still need to buy a
>> separate video card to run dual LCD monitors?

> Simply use a video splitter data switch.

That produces the same display on both monitors, not what most want.

And isnt that viable with DVI either.

> U may also hav to activate the dual monitor feature in the 'display
> properties', tho I'm not sure bout that. I've never done it, but pretty sure
> it's simple as above.

Not a great idea commenting on what you dont know anything about.

[Ext User(blank)]

Rod Speed wrote:

> Damian <damian_andrews75@yahoo.com.au> wrote
> >blank <blank@void.net> wrote
>
> > > If I buy an Intel D945GCZLKR board and run XP would I still need
> > > to buy a separate video card to run dual LCD monitors?
>
> > Simply use a video splitter data switch.
>
> That produces the same display on both monitors, not what most want.
>
> And isnt that viable with DVI either.
>
> > U may also hav to activate the dual monitor feature in the 'display
> > properties', tho I'm not sure bout that. I've never done it, but
> > pretty sure it's simple as above.
>
> Not a great idea commenting on what you dont know anything about.


I should have make myself clearer. I don't want the same image on each
monitor. I currently use Maxtor G400 Dual Head software. So my
question is will I still require something like this, or does the
mainboard/XP combination make this unnecessary? (I suspect I will need
a separate card, but just want to check while I am in the process of
costing a new computer setup.)

[Ext User(Rod Speed)]

blank <blank@void.net> wrote
> Rod Speed wrote
>> Damian <damian_andrews75@yahoo.com.au> wrote
>>> blank <blank@void.net> wrote

>>>> If I buy an Intel D945GCZLKR board and run XP would I still need
>>>> to buy a separate video card to run dual LCD monitors?

>>> Simply use a video splitter data switch.

>> That produces the same display on both monitors, not what most want.

>> And isnt that viable with DVI either.

>>> U may also hav to activate the dual monitor feature in the 'display
>>> properties', tho I'm not sure bout that. I've never done it, but
>>> pretty sure it's simple as above.

>> Not a great idea commenting on what you dont know anything about.

> I should have make myself clearer.

The original was obvious enough.

> I don't want the same image on each monitor.

Yeah, few do.

> I currently use Maxtor G400 Dual Head software.
> So my question is will I still require something like this,

Yes.

> or does the mainboard/XP combination make this unnecessary? (

Nope, that motherboard only supports a
single monitor without and addon card.

> I suspect I will need a separate card,

Yep, you will.

> but just want to check while I am in the
> process of costing a new computer setup.)

[Ext User(blank)]

Rod Speed wrote:

> blank <blank@void.net> wrote
> > Rod Speed wrote
> >>Damian <damian_andrews75@yahoo.com.au> wrote
> >>>blank <blank@void.net> wrote
>
> > > > > If I buy an Intel D945GCZLKR board and run XP would I still
> > > > > need to buy a separate video card to run dual LCD monitors?
>
> > > > Simply use a video splitter data switch.
>
> > > That produces the same display on both monitors, not what most
> > > want.
>
> > > And isnt that viable with DVI either.
>
> > > > U may also hav to activate the dual monitor feature in the
> > > > 'display properties', tho I'm not sure bout that. I've never
> > > > done it, but pretty sure it's simple as above.
>
> > > Not a great idea commenting on what you dont know anything about.
>
> > I should have make myself clearer.
>
> The original was obvious enough.
>
> > I don't want the same image on each monitor.
>
> Yeah, few do.
>
> > I currently use Maxtor G400 Dual Head software.
> > So my question is will I still require something like this,
>
> Yes.
>
> > or does the mainboard/XP combination make this unnecessary? (
>
> Nope, that motherboard only supports a
> single monitor without and addon card.
>
> > I suspect I will need a separate card,
>
> Yep, you will.
>
> > but just want to check while I am in the
> > process of costing a new computer setup.)

Bummer. But thanks Rod.

I like the Maxtor dual head card I have, but it just isnt up to the job
since I got the pair of (Samsung 913N) 19" LCD monitors. So a couple
of queries come to mind regarding my new dream machine:

1--I'm thinking of a Silverstone LC15-C case and a micro BTX mainboard
such as the Intel D945GCZLKR. Do I need to match these with a
particular style of video card, or do all cards match up with this
hardware?

2)--do all the modern main brands (Nvidia, GeForce) support dual
monitors on a single card or is this something else I have to watch out
for?

3)--I never play computer games, but want a card that will provide
excellent fine detail and colour reproduction of photos and web images,
good video CD and whatever else might be worthwhile for a bit of
future-proofing. I think I need minimum 128MB VRAM to support dual
monitors but don't really know if this is true or not. What models
should I be looking at in the $300 or less price range?

[Ext User(Rod Speed)]

blank <blank@void.net> wrote
> Rod Speed wrote
>> blank <blank@void.net> wrote
>>> Rod Speed wrote
>>>> Damian <damian_andrews75@yahoo.com.au> wrote
>>>>> blank <blank@void.net> wrote

>>>>>> If I buy an Intel D945GCZLKR board and run XP would I still
>>>>>> need to buy a separate video card to run dual LCD monitors?

>>>>> Simply use a video splitter data switch.

>>>> That produces the same display on both monitors, not what most want.

>>>> And isnt that viable with DVI either.

>>>>> U may also hav to activate the dual monitor feature in the
>>>>> 'display properties', tho I'm not sure bout that. I've never
>>>>> done it, but pretty sure it's simple as above.

>>>> Not a great idea commenting on what you dont know anything about.

>>> I should have make myself clearer.

>> The original was obvious enough.

>>> I don't want the same image on each monitor.

>> Yeah, few do.

>>> I currently use Maxtor G400 Dual Head software.
>>> So my question is will I still require something like this,

>> Yes.

>>> or does the mainboard/XP combination make this unnecessary? (

>> Nope, that motherboard only supports a
>> single monitor without and addon card.

>>> I suspect I will need a separate card,

>> Yep, you will.

>>> but just want to check while I am in the
>>> process of costing a new computer setup.)

> Bummer. But thanks Rod.

> I like the Maxtor dual head card I have, but it just isnt up to the
> job since I got the pair of (Samsung 913N) 19" LCD monitors.

True.

> So a couple of queries come to mind regarding my new dream machine:

> 1--I'm thinking of a Silverstone LC15-C case and a micro BTX mainboard
> such as the Intel D945GCZLKR. Do I need to match these with a
> particular style of video card, or do all cards match up with this hardware?

Yes, with all addon video cards, you do need to ensure
that you use one that suits what the motherboard can use.

> 2)--do all the modern main brands (Nvidia, GeForce) support dual monitors
> on a single card or is this something else I have to watch out for?

Yes, dual monitor support isnt universal, particularly dual LCD monitors.

> 3)--I never play computer games, but want a card that will provide
> excellent fine detail and colour reproduction of photos and web
> images, good video CD and whatever else might be worthwhile for
> a bit of future-proofing. I think I need minimum 128MB VRAM to
> support dual monitors but don't really know if this is true or not.
> What models should I be looking at in the $300 or less price range?

I'm no expert on the full range of dual head video cards available.

[Ext User(MJT)]

blank wrote:

> I should have make myself clearer. I don't want the same image on each
> monitor. I currently use Maxtor G400 Dual Head software. So my
> question is will I still require something like this, or does the
> mainboard/XP combination make this unnecessary? (I suspect I will need
> a separate card, but just want to check while I am in the process of
> costing a new computer setup.)

I have a basic 128 mb video card (PCI Express based) in my PC. It has
DVI and VGA outputs. I have two CRTs connected (one via a DVi/VGA
adapter). The desktop is spread across the two screens and the mouse can
traverse across the two. Each monitor is set to 800x600 but when in dual
monitor mode the resolution is 1600x600.

I run stuff like Pagemaker where I need to have two full pages displayed
in each monitor. As I type this, though, I have the newsreader displayed
on one monitor and Firefox open in the other. Any application that's
opened in a particular monitor will remember to open in that monitor the
next time. Say, Explorer opens up in the left screen and I move it to
the right. The next time that I open it, it will be in the right screen.

It's also bloody handy if you're installing a new program and are having
problems. You can open the help files in the other screen and read then
as you go, rather than either printing out the documentation or
ALT-TABing between two windows.

My wife's PC is set up the same, expect that it works a bit different as
her video card's different to mine. She runs two CMV 17" LCD displays.
(I got her cast off CRT, hence me running two monitors - she does video
editing and music editing on hers, so twin monitors is a must)

Here are three images that demonstrate my display setup:

http://home.austarnet.com.au/mtaylor/monitor1.jpg shows how two
applications, Word and Firefox are open in separate windows on both
monitors.

http://home.austarnet.com.au/mtaylor/monitor2.jpg shows my desktop. Note
the wallpaper. It's two 800x600 images stiched together to make a
1600x600 image.


http://home.austarnet.com.au/mtaylor/monitor3.jpg shows my video
settings for my particular card. According to it, one monitor, the left
one, has to be set as the primary display, with the other one, the right
one as the secondary display. This may vary from card to card and their
relative software.



--
First things first, but not necessarily in that order.