Huge question 2video cards +win98 = 2monitors

[rcf84]

Well yester i found out i can have 2monitors w/ Win98.

So here are my options: i already have an --ATi radeon 32mb ddr-- so the other card got to get atleast 30fps in unreal tournament or quake3 in 800x600

Voodoo5 5500 PCI
ATi ALL-IN-WONDER 128 32 MB PCI
3D Blaster Annihilator 2 MX PCI

ALL MY GAMES ARE IN 32-BIT COLOR ONLY. These are my top picks so set me to the right card. all the card cost less the $200 so the price doesnt matter.

NOTE i have a 400watt power supply so dont worry.

Cel 533 - 256mb sdram
15gb HD - ati radeon 32mb ddr (200/200)
SB live! mp3+ - win98 Beos

 

[Guest]

Why don't you get rid of your ATI Radeon and get a Matrox G450 Millenium 32Mb DDR DualHead AGP ?
It sure won't beat a GeForce2 Ultra, but if Dual Display is important for you, this card sure rocks.

Visit this site: http://www.matrox.com/mga/products/mill_g450/features.cfm

Better go Green than Blue!

 

[Kodiak]

the Matrox dualhead abolutely rocks... however, even ATI's Radeon is much much better than Matrox as far as gaming goes... I get 5000 or so on my Radeon AIW, my friend with Matrox G450 gets less than 2500 -- because the card is always in twin head mode, it can only spare so much for one of the screens... he still plays the game just fine, but for how long?

I'd say get the AIW Radeon, it absolutely rules, but with ATI drivers (hey, lets be honest here, you're likely to get into a nightmare of conflicts... if you wanna play with it, it would rock, but I'm not sure if you'll ever get it to work properly...

don't get VooDoo simply because the company is on shaky grounds right now, who knows what will happen with support...

so, be different, and get a GF2...

 

[Guest]

I sure agree that Matrox G450 is out of ATI AIW Radeon's and GF2's league but ATI doesn't offer Dual Monitor Display.
What use can you make of a PCI graphics card anyway?
I still think that if dual display IS the most important thing, you'll get a kick out of G450. You won't notice the FPS difference in gameplay situation. Having two graphics cards is just a waste of money. I say get rid of the current card and get the Matrox. Matrox G450 (120$) is half the price of ATI's AIW Radeon (239$) according to Pricewatch.
I also agree to forget about 3DFX cards.

- Better go Green than Blue!

 

[Guest]

ASUS makes a twin-view Geforce2 MX....

http://www.asus.com/products/Addon/Vga/agpv7100/index.html

Just food for thought.....

 

[Kodiak]

AFAIK, the twin-head GF2 supports output to 1 monitor and 1 TV (for DVD playback etc), but NOT two monitors... so that's as near to useless as I can see

Matrox is pretty awesome, and if dual-monitoring is the most important thing clearly the way to go... however, I get the feeling that a) he's in for the games & graphics b) he's attached to his radeon, he's been singing its praises high & low across the forums

 

[Guest]

In response to Kodiak's a) and b)...
a)Matrox can still kick butt in games & graphics, maybe not do serious buttkicking as GF2 or Radeon, but still pretty good.
b)One has to make sacrifices...

- Better go Green than Blue!

 

[rcf84]

I just want to play games. Well the Twin view GeforceMX is too slow. 1 card Shares resources for 2 monitors. so if i have 2 card games should run faster.

I Only play 32-bit games for the last time this is my choose:

voodoo5 5500 PCI
Ati all-in-wonder 128 32mb PCI
creative labs - Geforce2 MX PCI

Cel 533 - 256mb sdram
15gb HD - ati radeon 32mb ddr (200/200)
SB live! mp3+ - win98 Beos

 

[Crashman]

WRONG Kodi, the MX CAN BE HAD with dual monitor output, TOM even rated one!

Suicide is painless...........

 

[TheAntipop]

hey, isnt he looking for a second video card that is PCI? you cant have 2 agp cards right? so the voodoo5500 is the only one in that list which can be had in PCI version. correct me if im wrong but that seems to be his only option

If at first you don't succede, skydiving isn't for you.
<font color=blue>Intel Inside</font color=blue> = Idiot Outside

 

[Crashman]

No need for a second video card if the one he buys is AGP and is dual-head.

Suicide is painless...........

 

[rcf84]

I don't want a F'N dual head video card for the THIRD TIME i want a SECOND PCI CARD. This want i have to choose from the THIRD TIMEL:

VOODOO5 5500 64mb sdram ----PCI
ATi ALL IN WONDER 128 32mb sdram----PCI
Creative Labs GeForce2 MX 32mb ddr----PCI

Cel 533 - 256mb sdram
15gb HD - ati radeon 32mb ddr (200/200)
SB live! mp3+ - win98 Beos

 

[Crashman]

Get the MX because it has the best support for D3D.

Suicide is painless...........

 

[rcf84]

Now im getting Answers. Dont be shy REPLY!!!

Cel 533 - 256mb sdram
15gb HD - ati radeon 32mb ddr (200/200)
SB live! mp3+ - win98 Beos

 

[rcf84]

Im Leaning to the ATi Card alittle more now cause of TV tuner. Give me some reasons to get the geforce2 mx or the AIW 128.

Cel 533 - 256mb sdram
15gb HD - ati radeon 32mb ddr (200/200)
SB live! mp3+ - win98 Beos

 

[phsstpok]

I'm a little confused because you can't have 3D running on 2 cards at the same time making having a 2nd 3D card a bit redundant. However, if you have to have it I'd go with the Voodoo5.

From what I have read the Voodoo5 5500 PCI only takes about 10% performance hit vs the AGP version where a PCI GeForce 2 MX takes hits from 10-45%. With the Voodoo5 you will also be able to run legacy Glide games.

 

[phsstpok]

"What use can you make of a PCI graphics card anyway?"

Windows 98SE supports dual displays using TWO video cards. One has to be AGP and the other PCI.

This solution has one advantage over the dual-head, single video card solution. I believe with a dual-head card both displays must run at the same resolution and refresh rate. With dual video cards this is not the case. You can set both cards to the maximum capabilities of each display.

 

[Guest]

I have dual monitors and I run a Voodoo 3000 in my Pci and the 64MB Annihilater 2 ultra in my AGP. Theres no need to get an expensice PCI card because all your games will be in your AGP slot and any Pci card will run whatever you put in the second monitor. Go cheap you wont use it hardly. Most games dont stretch and its not worth it if they do. The only benefit I see from Dual Monitors is my day trading app. other than that youll probably find its useless unless you run flight sim and even then a good card isnt needed.

 

[rcf84]

Well i have Creative Labs Savage4 32mb PCI. Should i use that or What?

Cel 533 - 256mb sdram
15gb HD - ati radeon 32mb ddr (200/200)
SB live! mp3+ - win98 Beos

 

[noko]

I just wished they made HDTV format type computer monitors. Why have two separate monitors when one wide one would kick major butt. Just think of a wide montitor where you could have multiple programs running without having to switch from one monitor to another, plus it would be seemless. Does anybody make these yet? Playing DVD widescreen on a computer monitor seems like you are loosing half of the reestate of the monitor with black borders. What a waste. Sorry if I got off subject.