Cheapest video card that supports dual monitor

[Vonkwink]

Hello

I am building a computer for a friend who does not use any 3d applications or any 2d applications that require serious video. However, he wants to have dual monitor support so he can look at 2 of his business documents at once (I know he can do this already, but he would have to shink them to half length or half width which means he cannot see the whole document). What is the cheapest video card that supports dual monitor? Both the monitors he would like to use have the RGB (VGA) input (we can always get an adapter from DVI to RGB if we have to I suppose, but if it just had 2 RGB ports that would be better).

Thanks

 

[cleeve]

Radeon 7000 or 7200 I believe. But check, some don't have 2 outputs.

------------------
Radeon 9500 w/256 bit memory bus @ 367/310
AMD AthlonXP 2000+
3dMark03: 3439

 

[Dirty_Ape]

Matrox Millennium G450 models and some Geforce2 models have dual-monitor support, and both are very cheap. I believe the Matrox has better 2D quality, but the Geforce has better 3D performance (games). Both are available in AGP and PCI models.

<A HREF="http://www.matrox.com/mga/products/mill_g450/home.cfm" target="_new"> Here´s a link to the G450 </A>


---

<A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=profile&mode=viewprofile&internal=1&username=Dirty_Ape" target="_new"> My System </A>

 

[Crashman]

Most dual monitor cards have one VGA and one DVI. Now, most also include a DVI-I to VGA adapter, but some don't. And most that don't include the adapter won't even support it, lacking also the second RAMDAC needed for the second analog signal.

My suggestion is to go to newegg, look at the cards, look at the pictures of the included junk, if you see a DVI to VGA adapter and the price seems right, buy it. Or if you see two VGA outputs and the price seems right, buy it.

When I looked, <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=14-131-210&depa=1" target="_new">This was the cheapest</A> card to use a DVI-I connector and two RAMDACs (I looked at the picture), but didn't include the DVI-I to VGA adapter (grr). <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?image=14-102-247-01.jpg/14-102-247-02.jpg/14-102-247-04.JPG" target="_new">This one won't work</A> because although it has the DVI-I connection for the adapter, there's no second RAMDAC! Saphire's too cheap to use a DVI-D connector on the card to end the confusion?

After getting fed up with escelating models and prices at Newegg, I finally went to Compgeeks and found you <A HREF="http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=WB-BFG440SEDDRDUAL" target="_new">THIS CARD</A> with NO FAN (for low noise) and DUAL VGA OUTPUTS (no DVI to VGA adapter needed) for only...$36!

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[Crashman]

OMG, further searching at Compgeeks revealed <A HREF="http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=RADEON-VE-DUAL" target="_new">THIS ATI CARD</A> for only $40!

Now...this card TRUELY SUX at Direct 3D gaming, but TRUELY EXCELS at 2D displays, so even though it cost more, the 2D image quality is probably exactly what he wants. As an added bonus, this card is also passively cooled like the previous one, but probably produces less heat. And it has 2 VGA outputs as you requested.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>