If you're not gaming, a lot of the newer cards will be overkill. You just need 2 pci express x16 video cards. Make sure you also get a motherboard with at least 2 pci express x16 slots. As for the power supply, I think it would be best if you first decide on the motherboard and video cards, then we'll be able to better tell you what power supply you need.
If you want to run 3 screens, the most important part is finding a single graphics card that can handle 3 or more outputs. Otherwise you'll have to run 2 individual cards separately, which is bad for cost, performance, or power consumption.
Consider this 3870x2, for up to 4 monitors.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121247 3870x2, although old, still perform on par with newer 4870, does not require an expensive motherboard with 2 pciex16 slots, and can run on a typical 450+w psu. A dual pciex16 x38/48/780i cost $200, a single pcie p45 perform as well as x38/48, better than 780i, while costing half as much. The psu needed will also be lighter than 2 card that would match the single card performance would require.
Message edited by dagger on 09-16-2008 at 01:43:45 AM
One of the three monitors is going to carry most of the work load as far as final renderings, gaming and such. If I had to go with two cards I could just rune the main monitor off of one card and split the second card for the other two monitors which are mostly for extra screen space for research and drafting in cad type programs. Would it really hurt my performance that much or is a single card that much better? Performance is my top priority and I'll do some hunting for a single card if I need to.
One of the three monitors is going to carry most of the work load as far as final renderings, gaming and such. If I had to go with two cards I could just rune the main monitor off of one card and split the second card for the other two monitors which are mostly for extra screen space for research and drafting in cad type programs. Would it really hurt my performance that much or is a single card that much better? Performance is my top priority and I'll do some hunting for a single card if I need to.
Of course it's bad for performance. Sli/cf do not work in multiple monitors. So your two cards will work separately, max performance is limited to whatever one single card of the two can handle. With the same money, you can buy one more powerful card that performs at a higher level. Of course, if money is not a factor then dual cards are fine. Dual will still require bigger psu for the same level of performance though.
So my question is now. the Card you linked above says it supports an "Exclusive 4dvi out" port.
so that would mean I could run up to 4 monitors on that one card, that'd be stretching it I am assuming.. So If i were to run three why would I need 2?
That one card can handle up to 4 monitors. I was saying get 2 cards, each with 2 dvi connectors. dagger suggested you get 1 card with 4 dvi connectors. You would need 2 cards only if you follow my suggestion.
So my question is now. the Card you linked above says it supports an "Exclusive 4dvi out" port.
so that would mean I could run up to 4 monitors on that one card, that'd be stretching it I am assuming.. So If i were to run three why would I need 2?
2 cards? A normal card has 2 outputs, 3 is more than 2. I believe there are models with 3 outputs, but they're about as rare as 4 output cards.
sorry yeah I was coming back to edit it.
I realized it after I went and did some more research..
So far
I am going w/ that video card you listed above.
a 500 gig hard drive
and we are searching for a mobo and we went w/ the intel quad core 2.4 6600.
So now I just need to find a suitable mobo and the power supply?
Should I go for somthing like 500 or 600? what kind of wattage. Im kind of guessing here.
edit:
my current computer runs a evga 680i
So its a brand of mobo I know of..
so I am looking at this one for my friend.
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