Dual Monitor setup and hardware DVD decoding

[igottaknife]

I want to have hardware DVD decoding so I can do things on one monitor while I watch DVD's on the other. The problem I expect is which ever vid card I hook the DVD-daughterboard to is the only one I'll be able to watch it on. So I wouldn't mind too much to get a PCI card that has DVD decoding in it. The problem is I think ATI is the only company that makes one, and I'm using Win2k. From what I read here ATI doesn't know its ass from its elbow in Win2K. Any help??

Your Signature Sucks

 

[jclw]

You could also use a dual head video card such as the Radeon VE:

<A HREF="http://www.ati.com/na/pages/products/pc/radeon_ve/index.html" target="_new">http://www.ati.com/na/pages/products/pc/radeon_ve/index.html</A>
(card includes the Radeon GPU, 32MB DDR, and hardware DVD decoding)

I use a Radeon under Win2000 (32SDRAM w/TV out) and it works (and has always worked) perfectly. I get a 2400 3DMark2001 score (that's with a SDRAM card at AGP 2x). Of course some cards don't work for some people, but I'd say the current Radeon drivers are just as good as any other manufacturers. If you want to hear what more people say about the Radeon cards (good & bad) check out the forums at <A HREF="http://www.rage3d.com" target="_new">http://www.rage3d.com</A>.

If you decide a Radeon isn't for you then another dual head card with hardware DVD decoding (but not as good as ATI's) have a look at the Matrox g450.

<A HREF="http://www.matrox.com/mga/products/mill_g450/home.cfm" target="_new">http://www.matrox.com/mga/products/mill_g450/home.cfm</A>

Of course this card isn't known for it's 3D performance so if you play games it might not be the best choice for you.

Getting back to your question, I also have an ATI Rage Fury and an ATI Xpert 2000 Pro and the Win2000 drivers work fine.

Use the 3102 drivers and the 4.1 DVD player.

- JW

 

[noko]

I went back to the 3102 drivers with DVD4.1 and it is my favorite driver set so far. I tried the 3116 and the 3124s. I think the 3102 are the best between the three. Now I virtually do everything in W2k and my Radeon is just frankly performing well. I do dual boot for games that don't play well in W2k but then again these same games don't necessarily play well with other cards in W2k. I play QuakeIII and Serious Sam in W2k and they just fly.

 

[noko]

The Radeon PCI in W2k should work well for you, reason because you will be playing your games mostly on your AGP card. The Radeon does DVD the best and its 2d is outstanding.

 

[igottaknife]

yeah that is exactly what I intend for it. Now I just gotta find a bigger second monitor (used) for a fair price. I really don't like dual head setups because when you maximize a window it fills both screens. A dual card dual monitor system is much more friendly allowing me to put toolbars only on one monitor (all four sides as well). And I use AutoCAD 2000 and Mechanical Desktop. I figure a Radeon would not be close to my Quadro2 so a second card like a Radeon PCI would be perfect.

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[Guest]

Is that maximizing problem really a twin card/multiple cards problem?? I don't have 98/ME, but I think there is no such problem in them with a dual card either. (at least with G400, G450 and Radeon VE) I have the impression, that it's a Win 2000 problem. And with Radeon, you can outwork the maximization problem. But still you can't have different desktops on diffefent monitors(or if you can, tell me)
I hope this will be fixed some day..

<i> There's nothing worse than industrious ignorance </i>
-Goethe