Noob help w/ dual screen setup

[Mike75024]

I'm interested in building a new PC. My main priority is good Photoshop performance. I am not a serious gamer. I would like to be able to a dual monitor setup at some point.

I was thinking I would mimic the recent System Builder "enthusiast PC" (Gigabyte P55-UD4P LGA 1156, Intel Core i5-750 2.66 GHz), but I'm thinking the Radeon HD 5850 based video cards may be overkill for me.

Could someone please help with the following questions:

(1) Will most of today's video cards drive two monitors? As I read the specs they don't seem to say.
(2) If I choose a mobo with integrated graphics, could I drive one monitor with the integrated graphics and one with a video card?
(3) Any recommendations for video card(s) for my project?
TIA.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Well the toughest part about a "Photoshop" PC is the monitor. You'll want to avoid TN panels for your editing screen. My son is minoring in photography in college and here's what he uses:

1. Primary Screen (24" Dell U2410) - IPS panel with very accurate color
2. Secondary Screen - (Generic 19" TN Panel in Portrait Mode) - Standard TN panel.

(1) Will most of today's video cards drive two monitors? As I read the specs they don't seem to say.

Check the specs tab on newegg product page, will list number of Ports. For example "DVI: 2 x DVI" means 2 DVI ports
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150357

(2) If I choose a mobo with integrated graphics, could I drive one monitor with the integrated graphics and one with a video
card?

I would say no with one caveat....Windows 7 allows two GFX driver4s to run concurrently....there's a hack that lets ATI and nVidia co-exist for example but only under Windows 7 ... perhaps such could be done but I haven't heard of it.

(3) Any recommendations for video card(s) for my project

Pick ya budget and look here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-310-5970,2491.html

Here's the "winners" from THG's latest (December) GFX Roundup
Best Graphics Cards For The Money: December '09

$50 - HD 4650
$65 - HD 4670 / 9600 GSO
$85 - 9600 GT
$95 - 9600 GT / HD 4830
$110 - GTS 250 512 MB
$120 - GTS 250 1 GB
$155 - HD 5770 / GTX 260
$200 - HD 4890
$240 - 2 x GTS 250
$310 - No winner (HD 5850 Honorable Mention)
$330 - 2 x GTX 260 / 2 x HD 5770
$400 - 2 x HD 4890
$410 - No winner (HD 5870 Honorable Mention)
$465 - No winner (GTX 295 Honorable Mention)
$625 - No winner (HD 5970 Honorable Mention)

 

[Mike75024]

Much obliged!

Would the $50 card be sufficient for Photoshop?

When the card vendor quotes max resolution, if one were running 2 displays, does the max res apply across both screens?

 

[LAX91]

Yes, I had the same question just a few days ago. The answer I got (from someone I trust) is that the resolution applies to each screen. For instance, 1900x1200 max res would mean the left monitor's max res is 1900x1200 and the right monitor's max res would be 1900x1200.

Now, I am fairly new at this stuff. This is the information I have been given. Please verify it. Anyone else, am I misinformed?

 

[thephilly]

The max res applies to each monitor, so both could run at max res 1900x1200 if the monitor supports it.

I would go with a 4670.