Max resolution with Matrox

[Maqqie]

Hey Guys,
I was looking at the specifications of a Matrox card that has these max resolutions:

Maximum resolutions (per display)
Digital: 1280 x 1024
Analog, main display: 2048 x 1536
Analog, secondary display: 1600 x 1200

This card has dual DVI outputs so I was wondering, would it still work if I used Analog to Digital convertors with two 20" monitors (1600x1200) [obviously having the monitors using the VGA port and cable instead of DVI].

Cheers,

Maqqie

[glc]

I don't see why not. It still should pick up the monitor's parameters by DDC through the DVI to VGA adapters. It may even give you 1600x1200 on the digital - you won't know till you try.

Which card is this?

[Maqqie]

Originally Posted by glc Which card is this?

Hey glc.

Its this one:

http://www.scorptec.com.au/product/18420

[glc]

That's an odd one. PCI-Ex1? You may be ram limited - it only has 32mb ram. I'd look for other dual DVI cards myself - ATI has some PCI-Ex16 models that are reasonable.

http://www.scorptec.com.au/product/18697

If you are looking for a dual DVI workstation card, look at this:

http://www.scorptec.com.au/product/19316
http://www.scorptec.com.au/product/19483

[Maqqie]

Yer, I actually was working with the technicians that built my machine to find another graphics card that could fit into my system. But apparently I don't have anymore PCI-Express slots left, only the PCI-Express at x 1 speed.

Is there any other way to do it? Perhaps, use something external through a USB port?

[Alaron]

You can simply replace the card that is currently in your PCI-E x16 slot. I wouldn't limit yourself to x1, your choices are few that way.

[glc]

Do you have any legacy PCI slots? What are you trying to do - use multiple video cards so you can have 3 or more monitors?

[Maqqie]

Originally Posted by glc Do you have any legacy PCI slots? What are you trying to do - use multiple video cards so you can have 3 or more monitors?

What exactly do you mean by "legacy PCI slots"? Basically in my current system, I have 2 Geforce 7950GX2s that are running in quad sli mode, so the two cards can only support one monitor. The extra Matrox card is to allow me to run two additional monitors so I have a 3 screen setup.

My board only has 2 PCI-Express slots at x16 speeds and they are both used up by the 7950GX2s. This only leaves a PCI-Express slot at x1 speed.

[Alaron]

Legacy PCI slots are the old versions of PCI that have been around for years. Most motherboards have a couple of them in addition to PCI-Express x1 and x16 slots. However, if your board only has PCI-E slots, then you will have to look at x1 video cards for extra monitors.

Out of curiousity, what motherboard do you have?

[glc]

The other 2 monitors, regardless of what card you get, will not be suitable for gaming. If all you want are a couple screens for multitasking, what you want to do will work.

[Maqqie]

Originally Posted by Alaron Out of curiousity, what motherboard do you have?

This is my motherboard: http://www.scorptec.com.au/product/19263

Originally Posted by glc The other 2 monitors, regardless of what card you get, will not be suitable for gaming. If all you want are a couple screens for multitasking, what you want to do will work.

kk, thnx for the help guys.

[glc]

I see two legacy PCI slots on that board - they are the white ones.

http://www.scorptec.com.au/browse/35/61