x
anonymous 22 August 2005

I have searched for a while, but not long enough, so the answer to this may be already here.

What I have is posted in my signiture, my question is this -

I would like to get a nice AGP card that runs two standard VGA monitor outs and has something in the hardware that accomedates for any multi-monitor spanning (basically, a video card that can let me run my two POS 17" monitors without sacrificing any processor power.) I am also trying to get Sonar 4, so would want a card that doesn't have any... issues... with it. Any advice? My GeForce3 is on its way to the grave... or to wherever dead video cards go.

Price range is between $100-$200, closer to $100 is better though. :D

Thanks in advance.

Topic Tags

Comments

anonymous Wed, 08/24/2005 - 00:03

Looks like an awesome card, just not too affordable... Currently, the next purchase I am looking at is monitors and preamps (which I hear carries a hefty bill.) The Firepods preamps (ech) are handling everything ok for now, though. The advice I have gotten so far is to basically ignore the expensive card market that gamers and other high end PC users use, because it is greedy with system resources. I don't like greed in general (lol), so that points me toward the matrox cards (although I am considering an ATI card from Best Buy, since it is close, and is about $80, standard, dual monitor capable, 128 meg cared), or any other card that doesn't tap off the system any more than it needs.

I think the matrox cards are gonna foot the bill, after looking them up and reading about them. Then I can take my GeForce3 and play frisbee with it.

Dave (drummer, Timeline)

anonymous Wed, 08/24/2005 - 03:43

My bad that card is actually tailored to 3D modeling and 2D graphics designers etc... Check out the (Millennium P650) if you ever get dual DVI monitors.

But yes, for your situation and hardware, G450agp, G550agp, P650agp, will all work great because you don't need any 3D acceleration...

//------
I disagree with the idea that gaming cards using more system resources, as you can set the amount of resources the system can use when the video card is utilizing all of its memory in your system BIOS under AGP/(PCI-E) aperture. Some motherboards have a fixed aperture size though...

As for gaming cards being more CPU Intensive... heh, if you're not playing any games or using 3D modeling apps while trying to track audio with your multitrack app of choice I don't think you will have any issues whatsoever with the card eating up more CPU cycles.

If I'm wrong here please someone show me otherwise...

On the other hand 2D specific cards tend to be cheaper so its a great thing when you don't need 3D acceleration.

anonymous Tue, 08/30/2005 - 21:22

swanmusic wrote: Also, is it a good idea to have two monitors or just one big monitor? Why?

Heh, I can't live without two monitors. Regardless of what I am doing behind a computer, I can't. With the DAW, I would say it is essential if you are multitracking; that's a lotta information for one monitor to show at once. You may get away with one monitor for small jobs, but having a dual setup is damn handy.

Dave (owner, NWCHAOS)

x

User login