Tom's Hardware > Forum > Graphic & Displays > Graphics Cards > Dual or not to Dual that is the question :)

Dual or not to Dual that is the question :)

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - Dual or not to Dual that is the question :)

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Hi fellow members I need some advice in relation to the upgrade of my graphics card and the use of dual monitors. I currently have 1 Dell 1905FP 19” LCD monitors and I have just bought another. My motherboard has an inbuilt graphics card Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller which has been ok.

I want to run two monitors in a dual capacity because I do a lot of web design and I would like to be able to play games and at times watch TV or DVD on one my monitor’s.

I am looking for advice on what is the most cost effective to run a dual monitor plus be able to cover all the functions I need. I am not a heavy games player but when I do play I find my Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller is not up to the job and games often crash.

Is there a way I can utilise my on board Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller and use another card. Or do I need another card altogether?
My current set up is listed at the bottom:

System

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
Speed : 2.99GHz
Performance Rating : PR3981 (estimated)
Cores per Processor : 1 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 2 Unit(s)
Internal Data Cache : 16kB Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way set, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing
L2 On-board Cache : 1MB ECC Synchronous, ATC, 8-way set, 64 byte line size, 2 lines per sector, 2 threads sharing

Mainboard
Bus(es) : ISA PCI IMB USB i2c/SMBus
MP Support : 1 Processor(s)
MP APIC : Yes
System BIOS : American Megatrends Inc.
System : To Be Filled By O.E.M. by More String To Be Filled By O.E.M.
Mainboard : ASUSTeK Computer INC. P4P800-VM
Total Memory : 1015MB DDR-SDRAM

Chipset 1
Model : ASUSTeK Computer Inc 82865G/PE/P, 82848P DRAM Controller / Host-Hub Interface
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 200MHz (800MHz data rate)
Total Memory : 1GB DDR-SDRAM
Shared Memory : 8MB
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 200MHz (400MHz data rate)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : Dell 1905FP (Analog)
Adapter : Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller
Adapter : SMART Technologies Inc. Mirror Driver
Imaging Device : Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000 #4
Imaging Device : CanoScan N1240U

Physical Storage Devices
Removable Drive : Floppy disk drive
Hard Disk : IC35L020AVER07-0 (19GB)
Hard Disk : SAMSUNG SP1604N (149GB)
Hard Disk : USB2.0 CardReader CF RW USB Device
Hard Disk : USB2.0 CardReader MS RW USB Device
Hard Disk : USB2.0 CardReader SD RW USB Device
Hard Disk : USB2.0 CardReader SM RW USB Device
CD-ROM/DVD : TSSTcorp CD/DVDW TS-H552B (CD 48X Rd, 48X Wr) (DVD 6X Rd, 6X Wr)
CD-ROM/DVD : Generic DVD-ROM SCSI CdRom Device (CD 32X Rd) (DVD 4X Rd)

Logical Storage Devices
1.44MB 3.5" (A:) : N/A
Main harddrive (C:) : 149GB (93GB, 62% Free Space) (NTFS)
Backup drive (D:) : 19GB (16GB, 86% Free Space) (NTFS)
CD-ROM/DVD (E:) : N/A

Peripherals
Serial/Parallel Port(s) : 2 COM / 1 LPT
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D2
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D4
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D7
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 24DD
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24DE
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : Generic USB Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Composite Device
USB Controller/Hub : Logitech USB Camera (Pro 4000)
USB Controller/Hub : USB Printing Support
USB Controller/Hub : USB Mass Storage Device
Bluetooth Device : Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator
Bluetooth Device : USB Bluetooth Wireless Adapter
Keyboard : Microsoft USB Dual Receiver Wireless Keyboard (IntelliType Pro)
Keyboard : HID Keyboard Device
Mouse : Microsoft USB Dual Receiver Wireless Mouse (IntelliPoint)
Mouse : HID-compliant mouse
Human Interface : Bluetooth HID Device
MultiMedia Device(s)
Device : SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio

Power Management
AC Line Status : On-Line

Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP/2002 Professional (Win32 x86) 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 2)

Network Services
Adapter : Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection

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If your motherboard has two graphics outputs on the back, then you can use integrated. Otherwise, you'll have to get something. Right now the most cost-effective graphics card for gaming is a GeForce 6600 GT. It's about $150, and is available in both AGP and PCI-e interfaces. I don't know which interface you have, so that's all I can really suggest right now.

Reply to YoshiDark

I have a AGP slot x8 supports 3d applicatiuons, does the card you recomend have a tv tuner???

AGP8X TechnologyAGP8X (AGP 3.0) is the next generation VGA interface specification that enables enhanced graphics performance with high bandwidth speeds up to 2.12GB/s, AGP8X is twice as fast as AGP4X.

Reply to thorrrr

No...in that case you'd want an ATi All-In-Wonder x800. If that's breaking the bank, could go with an All-In-Wonder 9800 (though the x800 is twice as fast).

Reply to YoshiDark

Cheers YoshiDark

If i didnt want the TV Tuner function and just dual and good for graphic design and playing games which one would u recommend?

Reply to thorrrr
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