Another key item is the power supply. Each graphics card can
consume 100 watt, a bit less if it uses the newer lower power
graphics memory called called GDDR3 (as opposed to the older DDR2).
Make sure you have at least a 350watt - 400watt power supply in
your PC to add 1 video card. Or 500Watt if you want 2 video
cards.
In my recent research, the best low cost low power solution for
dual monitor video card uses the Radeon™ HD 4550 graphics chip.
It's uses under 50watt, is air cooled and silent, and has 3
outputs: DVI, HDMI and VGA (but you can only connect 2 monitors at
a time). The HDMI output can connect a mon or even your HD TV.
Check out tigerdirect.com or similar. An example product is the
Sapphire Radeon HD 4550 Video Card. Under
$60. Great solution.
It's more complicated if you want to hook up 3 mons. Better
perhaps to have 2 PCs each with 2 mons. This way they can backup
each other. A 4 mon PC is really high end.
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multiple monitors
Posted by gtossan on 14th of Jul 2009 at 03:57 pm
Another key item is the power supply. Each graphics card can consume 100 watt, a bit less if it uses the newer lower power graphics memory called called GDDR3 (as opposed to the older DDR2). Make sure you have at least a 350watt - 400watt power supply in your PC to add 1 video card. Or 500Watt if you want 2 video cards.
In my recent research, the best low cost low power solution for dual monitor video card uses the Radeon™ HD 4550 graphics chip. It's uses under 50watt, is air cooled and silent, and has 3 outputs: DVI, HDMI and VGA (but you can only connect 2 monitors at a time). The HDMI output can connect a mon or even your HD TV. Check out tigerdirect.com or similar. An example product is the Sapphire Radeon HD 4550 Video Card. Under $60. Great solution.
It's more complicated if you want to hook up 3 mons. Better perhaps to have 2 PCs each with 2 mons. This way they can backup each other. A 4 mon PC is really high end.