What is a good PCI card?

[eje2001]

I have an AGP G400 16MB DH and need to add two more monitors so I need 2 PCI cards? What is a good PCI card in your opinion? The first PCI card is probably going to be the all in wonder 128 16MB(for the video capture and TV). I can't decide what to get for the second PCI card. The voodoo 3 3000 PCI or xpert 128 PCI. Is there a better PCI card within this price range? What would you buy if you were in my shoes? I don't play a lot of games. Thanks in advance.


system:

Asus CUV4X
PIII 733
Micron 128MB 133 Cas 3
Maxtor 20GB
G400 DH 16MB AGP
(2) 17" samsung 700IFT
All-in-wonder 128 16MB PCI <---Is there a better choice?
Voodoo 3 3000 16MB <---Is there a better choice?
(2) 21" samsung 1100p

[Xayd]

From my experiences, Voodoo cards tend to "take over" to make themselves the primary video device whether you like it or not. This is understandable considering they were the most widely available retail cards out there for people adding a gaming card to a pre-built system with on board video.

I'd avoid 3dfx in this case, ATI support for such a setup should be easier to configure.

Xayd

[eje2001]

Thanks for the reply Xayd. I will avoid voodoo cards then. BTW what is the advantage of having more memory on the card. The card I have now has 16MB and seems to work pretty good. Would adding more memory to the mobo be the same as having 32 or 64MB card? Thanks.

[Xayd]

Not in the least, if gaming isn't the application.

In gaming it makes a difference, when you get in a big fight in a first person shooter, for instance. When so many textures must be rendered in such a small amount of time, you'll get a more consistent framerate with more RAM on the vid card, but in any normal app it won't make any difference.

Xayd

[fade2black]

If you don't need any 3D capability, then I would recommend a simple 2D card with 2-4 MB of memory. To run 1024x768 16bit color you need 1.5MB of video memory and 3MB for 1024x768 32bit color.

What programs would you be running in a multi-monitor setup? If all you need is a basic video card, I have a 2MB and a 4MB video card that I am not using anymore. I am willing to sell them if you are interested.

[kraken]

eje2001

Go to the matrox site

http://www.matrox.com/mga/products/g200_mms/home.cfm

Check out the g200 multi-monitor, it may suit your needs (up to 16 monitors.)

view the demo.

It has 4 g200 chips. I wanna know if it lives up to its hype.

doesn't hurt to look

[eje2001]

The g200 mms definitly suits my needs but not my budget :( . Matrox is coming out with a G450 DH PCI card but it won't be out for atleast 2 months(I need one now). Do you guys think I will have any problems running an All in wonder 128 PCI and xpert 128 PCI with my G400 dualhead AGP? Which card will become the primary card?

[eje2001]

Originally posted by fade2black
If you don't need any 3D capability, then I would recommend a simple 2D card with 2-4 MB of memory. To run 1024x768 16bit color you need 1.5MB of video memory and 3MB for 1024x768 32bit color.

What programs would you be running in a multi-monitor setup? If all you need is a basic video card, I have a 2MB and a 4MB video card that I am not using anymore. I am willing to sell them if you are interested.

I will need 3d support because I do some gaming. I am kind of leaning towards the all-in-w because of the tv and video. I run esignal(trading software), photoshop and flash. Do your cards have 3d capabilities? Thanks.

[fade2black]

My 4MB card is a Creative Labs Graphics Blaster. I think it supports Direct3D via DirectX 5. So technically it does have 3D capability, although somewhat primitive.