Two monitors, two video cards?

[maboo]

For my current setup, I have a single EVGA 8800GTX with two LCD monitors; a 22" and a 15". I use the 22 as primary, and the 15 for web browsing & IM while playing games.

Would I get better results if I put the 15" monitor on its own cheap video card?

I was thinking of buying one of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130322 to power the 15 monitor.

My mobo is a EVGA 680i: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188012

 

[DarthPiggie]

I'm not sure you can use both at the same time. You would have to buy the same card and SLI them, pricey, I know, but I think its the only way. SLI is so inflexible.

 

[13thmonkey]

I've never noticed a perf drop going from 2 to 1 monitor, I don't think its a problem, or if it is it would be on the order of 1-2%, and so not worth it. And I'm not sure how/if you can set up two cards.

 

[DarthPiggie]

Actually, because of the way SLI is set up, you cannot use more than one monitor when running SLI.

 

[drumr1829]

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7590_102-0.html?forumID=67&threadID=5955&messageID=69804

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/244109-33-video-cards-crossfire

 

[maboo]

I had no intentions of running SLI. Just trying to off load the 15" monitor off the main GPU.

 

[maboo]

@drumr1829 - One of them posts is over 4 years old, and the second the replies have been "Should" "maybe" there seems to be no definite answer on this topic that I have found.

 

[maboo]

Actually, because of the way SLI is set up, you cannot use more than one monitor when running SLI.

sure?
http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=6269