Review of the Matrox G400 MAX

DualHead Feature

Multi-Monitor support on video boards used to require two separate video boards installed into the system at one time. The G400 MAX has multiple video out connectors that allow the viewing of two displays with a single G400 MAX board. Typically, with multi-monitor setups in the past the user was able to connect two monitors and span their desktop across them. Matrox has taken their multi-monitor support, which they call DualHead, to the next level. Also, a number of game developers are creating some games with support for the G400 MAX DualHead features. We will provide some screen shots of a couple of games that will be supporting this cool feature.

These monitors are demonstrating a game called "War Monkies." The screen on the left shows the 3D combat terrain while the right screen shows the overhead terrain map.

This is the Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator demonstration on DualHead. On the left side we have the cockpit view while the right side has additional perspectives of the plane. They were also able to fit in an overhead terrain map on the right side.

DualHead Multi-Display & DualHead TV Out

This allows the user to connect an additional display to their system. One of the unique ideas behind the G400 MAX's multi-display support is that the second display can have its own refresh and resolution. The second display can show a different area of the desktop or part of the same area zoomed, which could provide extremely helpful for developers. Also, the second display can be a TV or monitor. Most video boards to date offer some sort of TV out. But most of these video boards, excluding the G400 MAX, would only allow one resolution and one refresh setting for both the monitor and TV. This would leave the user with a low refresh rate (50 or 60Hz) on their monitor that would result in horrible flickering.