Recommed A Basic Video Card for 2 Displays

[buzzman711]

I don't do any gaming but plan on buying a Gateway DX-4831-01E computer for $550 with specs below.
http://www.gateway.com/systems/product/529668380.php

I want to be able to run 2 displays at the same time (primarily for web surfing and spreadsheets) so I just need a basic video card that will allow me to hookup my 2 displays and will not slow down my system.

Please recommend a video card and website where I can buy it at a good price. Thanks.

DX-4831-01E Specs:
Processor Intel® Core™ i3-530 Processor1 (2.93GHz, 4MB L2 Cache) with Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology6
Operating System Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium (64-bit)7
Memory 6144MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1333MHz Memory
Hard Drive 1TB SATA hard drive (Green Product - variable RPM)3
Chassis Designed for power and productivity, sleek and stylish mini-tower PC
Video Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator HD8
Application Software Microsoft® Works and Microsoft® Office Home and Student 2007 (60-day complimentary trial period)2
Audio High Definition Audio with 7.1-channel Surround Support
Available Expansion Slots Available: 1 - PCI-E x16, 1 - PCI-E x4, 2 - PCI-E x1
Dimensions (Box) 11" (H) x 18" (W) x 23" (D) or 279.4mm (H) x 457.2mm (W) x 584.2mm (D)
Dimensions (System) 15.98" (H) x 7.09" (W) x 16.26" (D) or 406mm (H) x 180mm (W) x 413mm (D)
External Ports (10) USB 2.0 ports (4 Front, 6 Rear), IEEE 1394a, (2) eSATA, VGA, (2) PS/2 Ports, HDMI™, (5) Audio Ports, Optical S/PDIF9
Keyboard Premium Gateway Keyboard
Media Card Reader Multi-in-One Digital Media Card Reader with Photo Frame Button4
Memory Capacity Expandable to 8GB
Motherboard Systemboard with Intel® H57 Express Chipset
Mouse Optical Mouse
Network 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port)
Optical Drive 16X DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti Drive
Power Supply 300W Power Supply
Security Software Norton™ Internet Security 2009 (60-day trial)5
Warranty 1 Year Parts and Labor Limited Warranty with Toll-Free Tech Support10
Weight 25 lbs. (11.3 kg) system unit only / Approximately 30 lbs. (13.6 kg.) box

 

[paperfox]

5450 will be more than enough for supporting up to 3 displays.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102877&cm_re=5450-_-14-102-877-_-Product

 

[jyjjy]

That thing says it has both a VGA and HDMI out so it may actually be able to handle 2 displays on its own. If not then any discrete video card will enable you to use 2 monitors.

 

[buzzman711]

I decided that i want to run 3 displays. A guy at an electronics store told me that the video cards cannot run 3 displays even if they have 3 display ports unless one of the posts is a display port. I am not sure if this is true. I heard that some cards have ATI eyefinity technology that allows 3 displays to be used with the one video card. I only want the 3 displays for internet surfing and do not need a high end video card since I do not do any gaming. If anyone can find a video card that can run 3 displays and only requires a 300 watt power supply computer that would be great, but I am guessing that I will need to change out my power supply to a higher wattage rated power supply.

Please provide a recommendation for a low cost video card and a low cost power supply that will meet my needs and include a link to a website where I can purchase it.

I am also not sure if I will need one of the displays to have a display port output or if I can use my display with a HDMI output and get a connector that converts a display port output on the video card to an HDMI output.

 

[saaiello]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102858

ATI 5770 will run 3 monitors no problem but needs a 450 watt power suppluy

Now i know a 4670 runs 2 monitors quite nicely and is very low power card i had one in a case with a 300watt antec power supply and it worked fine. Wasn't the best at gaming but could holds its own in most games on medium to high settings.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150450&cm_re=4670-_-14-150-450-_-Product

This xfx is the only one that has dual dvi ports on newegg i had the HIS version ran one DVI and the other standard VGA and it worked flawless with both monitors 1680x1050

 

[sabot00]

The 5450 can still drive 3 displays.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102877&cm_re=5450-_-14-102-877-_-Product&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

 

[buzzman711]

That 5450 sounds like a good option for me getting a card that can drive 3 displays for under $50. I do not see any power requirement listed for the 5450. Will I be Ok with my current 300 w power supply with a 5450?

 

[saaiello]

you could run a 5670 on a 300 watt PS. The 5450 would work but i must warn you it is a very very very very weak card onboard graphics would almost be faster.

 

[jyjjy]

You do need to use a display port or a display port adaptor to use 3 displays. There are a good number of threads on the subject in here already so just do a search.
You can also just use 2 cards to run up to 4 displays.

 

[killerchickens]

He would need a $100 adaptor or a monitor with a display port.

 

[jyjjy]

Nah, supposedly you can now use cheaper passive display port to adapters rather than the expensive active ones. ATI has a page listing ones that should work;
http://support.amd.com/us/eyefinity/Pages/eyefinity-dongles.aspx

 

[buzzman711]

So it seems the 5450 could not run 3 displays since it does not have a display port. Is that correct?

I thought the 5670 lists a minimum 400 watt power supply but my system has 300 watt so I'm not sure if this would work unless I upgraded my power supply.

The only video cards I found that have a display port and only list a 300 watt power supply requirement are the below.

JATON VIDEO-PX210-LX GeForce 210 512MB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Ready Video Card - Retail

BFG Tech BFGEGT2201024D2BE GeForce GT 220 1GB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail

Can these 2 cards run all 3 displays. I want each display to run it's own webpage not a stretched single image.

 

[jyjjy]

Nvidia cards cannot use 3 monitor. You need one of the new ATI HD5xxx series cards, and yes, you need one with a display port. You can have the monitors operate independently rather than as one desktop.
Like I said earlier your other option would be to use two video cards for up to 4 displays.

 

[sabot00]

The 5450 does not need an adapter, as there's 1 VGA (takes a RAMDAC), 1 DVI-Dual Link (2 TMDS signals), 1 HDMI (2 TMDS signals).