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Triple Head Display w/PPRO 2.0?
I am contemplating computer scenarios for HD and HDV editing, and one of my requirements is having a triple head display: two LCD computer monitors for editing and one HD TV for displaying my HD video. I know that the Matrox Parhelia can do this, but I met an Adobe Rep last week and he said that for HD or HDV editing, the PPRO 2.0 works best with Nvidia Video cards, NOT Matrox cards. Also, I do not want to spend the money on Axio or Axio LE at this time.
I hear the Nvidia Quadro FX540 can output 2 displays, either two computer monitors OR one computer monitor and one HD TV. I know it’s an entry level card, but if I had the right motherboard, which supports dual lane 16x PCI Express, could I get two FX540’s and get the triple head scenario I am looking for? Has anyone had any success using two video cards for a multi monitor display while editing with PPRO 2.0?
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17 Replies
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I just ordered 4 Dell displays for a new HD suite install…to be fed by a 3450 (or a 4500) and an FX540.
There should be no reason why you couldn’t use 2 FX540s…you’ll still only have one video out of course, but you’ll have four heads.
The nVidia cards do have some tuning to help with FX work, but there’s certainly nothing wrong with the Parhelia APVe, I’ve used those too. They work fine…maybe not with exactly the acceleration that the nVidias would give you, but they work fine.
TimK,
Kolb Productions,
Creative Cow Host,
Author/Trainer
http://www.focalpress.com
http://www.classondemand.net -
So, I could use an FX 3540 video card (to get better GPU effects and to feed my two computer monitors) AND and FX 540 video card (to feed an HD TV) in the same PC? I don’t have to use two identical video cards? I can feed to all three monitors and watch HD video from the FX 540? If this is true, this would probably be the ideal solution, at the present time. Let me know, thanks.
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I’m not sure you get the performance boost from the big card if you’re using the small one to view the overlay…
I’m using the big cards to get dual link DVI for the large, 30″ monitor, which will be my overlay surface. My FX 540 will feed two work monitors.
What sort of work are you doing that you think the Parhelia (or simply another 540) wouldn’t do for you?
With the 3450 and the 4500 we’re talking about cards that cost 7-10x what a 540 costs.
TimK,
Kolb Productions,
Creative Cow Host,
Author/Trainer
http://www.focalpress.com
http://www.classondemand.net -
Just as a matter of interest I have an el-cheapo dual head card in my HDV system and another Viper 330 PCI card which gives me a third screen. I then use PPro 2’s playback settings to put the HDV onto the 3rd screen. This is probably breaking all the rules in the book but it is working great!
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[BazinoZ] “Just as a matter of interest I have an el-cheapo dual head card in my HDV system and another Viper 330 PCI card which gives me a third screen. I then use PPro 2’s playback settings to put the HDV onto the 3rd screen. This is probably breaking all the rules in the book but it is working great!”
Yes, exactly my point. There is not only one solution for this situation.
I just hate to see people spend money they don’t have to…don’t get me wrong, if you need an nVidia 4500 or 3450, they ROCK. I am fans of these display cards, but the options should be examined…
TimK,
Kolb Productions,
Creative Cow Host,
Author/Trainer
http://www.focalpress.com
http://www.classondemand.net -
Unless you are doing a lot of 3d work (meaning 3d studio max and maya type things) then I wouldn’t get a Quadro card. It’s been pointed out in the responses already, but they are really price, but excellent at what they are designed for. I have a quadrofx3400 at work that cost an arm and a leg (it is hard to edit with only 1 arm) at home I have a triple display setup with a 7800gt and a 6200tc. The programs use the 7800 gt for the tv overlay and for accelleration, the 6200 is just to run a third monitor (and also a 4th if I go crazy) But the important thing to know is that in most programs (besides PPro 2.0) you can’t direct the overlay to a different card. For instance, in P Pro 1.51 if I wanted an overlay on the tv, then I needed the main head of the main card to display to my main monitor, and the second head of the main card to go to the tv. If I would have tried (which I did at first) to have the 6200 drive the tv, it wouldn’t have had (and didn’t have) a picture. I’d have to test it at home to be sure, but I think that Premiere’s new output can let you manually overide where the overlay is going, but if I were you I’d 1. Buy a 7900GT (7800gt they are almost the same) or a 7600gt for the main card and then a 7300 for the secondary displays. and 2. I’d hook up your primary display and the tv to the same card and then change your Full Screen video overlay settings in the nvidia control panel. I haven’t checked this out, but I’d guess that it would put less stress on the system than having adobe feed the info from 1 card to the other. Hope that helps
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The only issue with the gamer cards is that they don’t support work with After Effects and that sort of thing as well as the pro cards (Quadros) do if that has any impact on your specific circumstances.
…something else to stir into the pot I guess.
TimK,
Kolb Productions,
Creative Cow Host,
Author/Trainer
http://www.focalpress.com
http://www.classondemand.net -
Thank you for all your input. I confess I am new to the HD editing scene and am just doing research at this point. My scenario would be just editing HDV, not HD. Per Adobe’s website, the video card specs they recommend are the NVidia Quadro cards (I assume for better “real time” playback performance for PPRO 2.0 and After Effects 7.0). This is just what Tim confirms. Hence, my desire to get the FX 3450, for faster real time GPU effects. (An Adobe tech told me last week that Adobe does not recommend or support the triple head Matrox Parhelia APVe with the new Production Studio).
I originally wanted to use the FX540 to feed an actual HD TV so I can monitor a true HD picture (not a computer monitor that can display HD). But this would just give me a dual head display, and not a workhourse video card for the “real time” GPU effects. Reading this thread makes me think that to get a better performing triple head scenario I should use the more expensive and better performing FX 3450 to 1) feed my main edit display monitor and 2) feed an HD signal to a widescreen computer monitor. Do I have this right? If so, can a widescreen computer monitor display HD via one of the FX 3450’s DVI outputs? Then, I could use another, less expensive video card to feed my secondary edit display monitor. Let me know if I am making any sense or am I just confusing myself?
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I know that you are extremely knowledgable Tim, but I’m curious if there is any documentation about the quadro’s helping AE more than a “gamer card?” Although I did look up the 3450 and it does have Open Gl 2.0 support, the reason why I ask is because my 7800gt does better at acceleration than the fx3400 that I use at work (of course the 3400 only supports open Gl 1.5).
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Yes you are correct, you can hook up an hd monitor or Tv from the 3450 and use a cheaper card for the second monitor. Most HDTV’s (at least nice ones) have either and hdmi connector or a DVI connector, you can connect either of those to your graphics cards with the proper cables.
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