Dual Monitors

waynezo · February 19th, 2003, 10:46 AM

I have a system with athlon xp2400, 512ddr, gigabyte ga-7vaxp, and ati 8500 all in wonder. If I add another video card so I can run 2 monitors, would this put a substantial strain on my system and reduce performance? I will be using it for video editing. Also I am running win xp home will I be able to drag windows from one monitor to the other?
On my existing kds 19'' monitor the top left and right edge of my windows have a slight curve to them that I can't seem to adjust out. Could this be a flaw in the monitor or am I adjusting it wrong? The monitor is about three years old.

**EvilRick** · February 19th, 2003, 10:54 AM

No, you shouldn't see a "strain" on your system.

Does the ATi 8500 All-In-Wonder have more than one output on it? If so, then you don't need a second card.

As for the "curve", sounds like just an adjustment is off. Check for 'Pincushion' or 'Side pin' or 'Pin balance'.

watchtower7 · February 19th, 2003, 11:17 AM

yes you should be able to drag windows or drag the edge of one program window over to the other so the program-like adobe premeire or your editing program -will take up both windows or just have one monitor for playback.
Once you have two monitors, it seems impossible you ever had just one.
On the strain issue-I would not use a second card in a pci slot that would be used for editing. Too far down the bus=too slow-better if you could buy a single card (agp) with dual outs-usually one is a dvi so you will need a @$10 adapter dvi to vga unless your second monitor is dvi.

PresterJohn · February 19th, 2003, 11:19 AM

definitely won't see a strain from the 2nd display...my primary machine is a p3-1ghz w/a matrox g450 and specwise, it's slower than yours. and i've set up dual-display systems even slower (400-500mhz).

the real burden will be whatever video editing software you use...that's typically what puts the load on the cpu.

**EvilRick** · February 19th, 2003, 11:20 AM

If this is your card, then you don't need a second PCI video card.

Quote:

Dual display technology
Connect to a TV and a monitor (VGA or DVI) simultaneously
HYDRAVISION™ software enables you to display information on a TV and monitor at the same time

waynezo · February 19th, 2003, 11:30 AM

That is the video card. Can a TV be used as a monitor with the lower resolution or can a monitor be hooked up to a tv connection?

**EvilRick** · February 19th, 2003, 11:35 AM

Yes, you can use a TV as a second monitor.

And yes, you can watch TV on your monitor. I used to have an old 8MB All-In-Wonder that I used ATi's Multimedia Center to watch TV.

You would still plug it into the VGA connector, you'd just run the app that ran the TV Tuner.

M_Six · February 19th, 2003, 01:29 PM

Quote:

If this is your card, then you don't need a second PCI video card.

Not sure that's true. I have the 7500 All-in-Wonder and it says the same thing, but when it says "dual display technology", it means one monitor and one TV used as a monitor. To connect two CRTs, you need a second vid card.

**EvilRick** · February 19th, 2003, 01:35 PM

That's why I posted the quote about using the TV as a monitor.

Yes, for two CRT's you would need a second vid card.

waynezo · February 19th, 2003, 09:47 PM

I am guessing my best way to get dual monitors with my ati 8500dv is to hook up a tv with the s-video connector on the dongle that came with the card. Can I buy a tv with enough lines of resolution to perform like a monitor? Which one is suggested?
Thanks Waynezo