Second graphics card, for triple monitor support

[Tim Kolb]

I run four monitors…I have two monitors on a PNY nVidia 4500 and two more on a n FX 540…I want to replace the 540 with a dual DVI card.

With nVidia, the nice thing is that the same software drives two of their pro cards and monitor issues can be dealt with from one interface.

I don’t know how they run their consumer cards.

The Matrox Parhelia is also a great card that can run 3 UI monitors or two UI monitors and a video monitor.

I’m not sure how one would fair mixing brands of video cards…

If I didn’t use the 4500’s extra capabilities, I’d be tempted to try two Parhelias for a total of 6 heads…clients would really think I was talented then…

TimK,
Director,
Kolb Productions,

Creative Cow Host,
Author/Trainer
http://www.focalpress.com
http://www.classondemand.net

[John Baumchen]

On my personal system, I’m using the Matrox Parhelia which gives me triple monitor out. That, in conjunction the the X100 capture card will give you 3 monitors plus live video out.

Matrox also makes an external three monitor box that is aimed at laptops but I can’t see any reason why it can’t be used on a desktop.

Here’s a link for your perusal.

https://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/gxm/products/th2go/home.php\

[Stormizer]

Hi there, I haven’t run Premiere Pro 2.0 But I am quite SURE your setup will work. I am running Premiere Pro 1.5 on a generic (read: cheap) nVidia GeForce FX5500 and GeForce FX5200. I am not so sure about the driver for your 5950 but in my case I dont really have to install another driver (they share the same driver). Almost totally plug-n-play.

The setup looks like this:
(SGD$83) GeForce FX5500 run on AGP, DVI + VGA goes to two 17″ LCD
(SGD$103) GeFroce FX5200 run on PCI, DVI + VGA goes to two 17″ CRT (will upgrade to LCD soon)

So I run a total of 4 monitor. Might reduce to 3 coz my girlfriend seems to be rather unhappy seeing me surrounded by 5 screens (4mon + 1tv) everyday.

The setup works fine except for games and AE where the 3rd and 4th screen dont get 3D acceleration. Overlay is good so Premiere Pro shouldn’t have any problem.
Working on AfterEffect, preview could be sluggish on the 3rd and 4th, but as long as you only put timeline, effect, and such its shouldn’t be a problem –again, the 3rd and 4th dont get 3d accel and i m still working on this issues.

If you really have the budget and need to have 3D accel all over the screen, why dont you get Matrox Parhelia. If the budget is a constrain, your 5950 should work well with 5200.

So go ahead and install it, if u have problem on installing it you can try to cantact me. Welcome to the family of multi-mon users 😀

cheers!
Azhar