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View Full Version : Cheap Dual Moniter Video Card(s)

Stupid Boy
03-22-04, 04:28 PM
I plan on running dual 19" moniters with a resolution of 1280 x 1024. I plan on using Linux and Photoshop or programs similar to Photoshop. What is a cheap, good video card that I could get?

Thank You

P.S. Would this (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-130-161&depa=0) be an okay video card for running just one moniter?
Westline
03-22-04, 07:48 PM
Yes, but since your running Photoshop you might want a higher quality Video card so that stuff will load and show up much faster and sharper. My friends company uses all 9800 pros to run photoshop and CAD. I am not sure I would use the cheapest I can find to run photoshop. I am not saying you have to buy the top of the line video card but maybe get a Radeon 9000 Pro w/ 128mbs or a GeForce 4 Ti4200 which is a little better but around $100 dollars.
Westline
03-22-04, 07:49 PM
Crap My bad double post
Damian
03-22-04, 09:09 PM
If you're not playing games, a 9800 pro is absolute overkill, especially considering that the 2D IQ leaves nothing to boast about and that Linux drivers for ATI are kinda crappy to say the least.

I'd go with a geforce4 MX440, or perhaps a dual head Matrox card if you're very concerned with quality.
Westline
03-22-04, 09:56 PM
Originally posted by Damian
If you're not playing games, a 9800 pro is absolute overkill, especially considering that the 2D IQ leaves nothing to boast about and that Linux drivers for ATI are kinda crappy to say the least.

Not really, Auto cad and maya have very high requirements for maximum preformance.
Damian
03-22-04, 10:59 PM
Originally posted by Westline


Not really, Auto cad and maya have very high requirements for maximum preformance.

True, but AudoCad and Maya are not the same thing as Photoshop or gimp. ;)
Westline
03-23-04, 09:53 PM
Originally posted by Damian


True, but AudoCad and Maya are not the same thing as Photoshop or gimp. ;)

True that, but he said he was gonna use it for similar programs to photoshop. Even flash and fireworks have high requirements to maximize preformance. Especially if your gonna be working with 10000 pixel by 10000 pixel on up, don't go cheap with a video card. If your just gonna back signatures and avatars the cheapy video card is fine.
Permanoob
03-26-04, 05:46 PM
Try a Matrox G400 Dual Head 32mb. Should work well for you. Excellent image quality for what you're looking to do as well. Should be able to pick one up fairly cheap from Ebay or somewhere like that.
Stupid Boy
03-28-04, 02:15 PM
Originally posted by Permanoob
Try a Matrox G400 Dual Head 32mb. Should work well for you. Excellent image quality for what you're looking to do as well. Should be able to pick one up fairly cheap from Ebay or somewhere like that.

I just checked eBay for this. This card seems to meet my needs. I'd like to know two things, though:

1. Does anyone think this would meet not my needs (basically GIMP and OpenOffice)?

2. Would this card have any problems with video editing? (I edit video once in a while.)
Permanoob
03-28-04, 10:58 PM
Your video card won't limit you in video editing. Processor, RAM and HDD speed limit you in video editing so it should be fine for that.

I've owned that card before and it never failed me with anything I did with it. Solid little card.
unreal
03-28-04, 11:27 PM
i agree,, in most cases the hd slows everyone down.