Three Display Setup for Aero

[rjcarr]

I'm building a PC that I'd like to have 3 display support. It should be capable of running Aero (either in Vista or 7) on all 3 displays.

I know I could get a couple of identical PCIe x16 cards with dual-display capability and this would work. However, what I'd like to do is use the integrated / onboard video for one display and then add a x16 dual-display card for the next two displays.

I'm pretty sure in XP this would work with the right chipset (although I've never tested it), but I know things get more complicated in Aero. If I was sure to get the same chipset manufacturer in both the integrated and the PCIe would that be enough? Or would I have to get the same chipset? Or something else?

Just a note that performance is not much of an issue. As long as I get an accelerated desktop and capable of driving 3 relatively large displays (say, 1920x1080) I'll be satisfied, i.e., this isn't a gaming machine.

Thanks for taking a look!

 

[rjcarr]

This was my first post, and it seems like most threads here get many responses, so did I ask the wrong question? Was it the wrong section? Was it a dumb question? Is it answered somewhere else.

I'm just a new poster trying to figure out why I haven't gotten answer. I'm not impatient ... just curious.

 

[rjcarr]

Ummm, what's the question?

Thanks for the response ... I thought I did ask a question, but maybe I wasn't clear. Basically, here's my situation:

"However, what I'd like to do is use the integrated / onboard video for one display and then add a x16 dual-display card for the next two displays. "

As for your suggestion, I specifically say:

"I know I could get a couple of identical PCIe x16 cards with dual-display capability and this would work."

But as I stated, I'd like to use the onboard video for the 3rd display. Clear now?

 

[rjcarr]

Thanks for the response. The problem with your solution is motherboards with two PCIe x16 slots are expensive, and *never* in cheap off-the-shelf systems from Dell, HP, etc.

I've thought this through and trying to figure out if I can use the onboard video for the 3rd display. Why shouldn't I use onboard video with Aero? There are some onboard chipsets that are quite competent, no?

 

[rjcarr]

Ha, I don't see why this is confusing.

Ideally, yes, I'd like to buy an off-the-shelf system with adequate onboard video and put in a dual-display card in the available x16 slot to get 3 displays capable of running Aero in 1920x1080.

I'd like to avoid using two x16 cards because it is rare that off-the-shelf systems in my budget are capable of this.

1920x1080 monitors can be had for well under $150, so I'm not sure why this is so strange. As for the use? I don't see how it matters ... I already said it wasn't for gaming. I just need a lot of display real estate for the work I do.