Dual monitors on a budget?

[Digitalwave]

I am dying to have another monitor to drop my tool bars when I am editing in Photoshop. I've got access to a few decent CRT's but my video card (GeForce FX5500) only has one output plug (well, it has 2 but only one is VGA - not sure what the other one is).

Is there any sort of Y-adapter or anything I could use to run duals? I'd imagine if there were a Y-adapter, both monitors would just display the same thing so that'd be useless. What are my options?

[92 mtechnic cabrio]

im pretty sure the other output you have is DVI, no? But if it is not, then I am insulting your intellect, and I'm sorry in advance.

[Digitalwave]

It probably is. You aren't insulting me, I honestly don't know anything about this sort of stuff. Just basics about hardware. If it is DVI, what do I need to do to get another VGA monitor going?

[aschmidt]

im pretty sure the other output you have is DVI, no? But if it is not, then I am insulting your intellect, and I'm sorry in advance.

Yea, the other output is definitely DVI. I believe that card came in a version with 2 VGA ports and another version with one VGA and one DVI port.

I'm going to assume that your CRT monitors all have VGA cables (blue). You can buy a VGA to DVI adapter for super cheap. Here is an example of such an adapter:

http://www.directron.com/dvi.html

All you'd have to do after that is hook up the adapter to the monitor going in the DVI port, and you're set. Here are a few quick steps to have them up and running:

1) Right click on your desktop
2) Go to properties
3) Click on the Settings tab
4) Click on the 2nd monitor icon
5) Check the box that says 'Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor'

[Erick]

It probably is. You aren't insulting me, I honestly don't know anything about this sort of stuff. Just basics about hardware. If it is DVI, what do I need to do to get another VGA monitor going?

I can get you two sick 24" monitors for a great price. They were used for AutoCAD stuff so it would work for photoshop as well. Only problem is that they are CRTs.... and if they are 24", you can picture the rest of the dimensions. :p

[xLibelle]

as schmidt explained, its pretty easy to set up.
if for some reason that the card doesnt support powering up both ports at the same time, just get another car - a cheaper one. Again, the same method is used in expanding the desktop.

i tried this for a while as i too, thought it would be convenient but the only thing it did was clutter my desk and annoy the shit out of me that i couldnt get both monitors exactly the same viewing values.

realisticly, i wish there was a simple program i could install that would memic linux' 4-payne desktop switching.

[Digitalwave]

Well, CRT's are ideal for photo editing, but I don't have the room for 1 of those on my desk, let alone two :)

Thanks for the info! I am going to get a converter and check it out.

[aschmidt]

Well, CRT's are ideal for photo editing, but I don't have the room for 1 of those on my desk, let alone two :)

Thanks for the info! I am going to get a converter and check it out.

Glad I could help. :D If you're looking to get LCD monitors on a budget, there is an off-brand company called Hanns-G that make good bang for your buck LCD monitors. Here is an example of a very nice 19" widescreen monitor for only $180:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824254005

That particular monitor (as with most LCD's) comes both the VGA and the DVI cable. So if you were to get two of them, just use the DVI cable for one and the VGA for the other. That way you won't have to buy any adapters to make things fit.

[Jscotty]

I actually use 3 CRT's on my PC at the office because I do video editing and I like being able to stretch out the timeline across 3 screens. What I did was purchase 2 cheap PCI video cards of different brands so that the PC would recognize them easier and not think that they were the same card.

Anyhow, I am guessing that your current card is an AGP type. Being that PC's generally only have one AGP slot, a PCI video card can go into the other and then you can set it up the same way it was mentioned above.

A Y-cable will only make both screens dim and you will have the exact same image on both screens instead of being able to configure both screens to work together (e.g. being able to put your PS edit window on one screen and the tools and menus on the other)

[Jean]

2 20" widescreen viewsonics FTW

[Digitalwave]

Well, with 10 minutes til closing I ran over to CompUSA. They were out. Then ran over to Circuit City and got in as they were locking the front doors. They don't sell them.

Ran over to Best Buy and luckily they are open half an hour later. I got the last adapter they had in stock, for $12! Came home, made room on my desk and I am rocking dual monitors! It was a lot easier/cheaper than I though.

I'd pick up another LCD but I'd rather upgrade my primary monitor first. It's only a 17" Sony TFT, I like it but its not great. One day I'll buy a 20" Apple Cinema and then use my Sony as the second monitor :)

Thanks again, especially schmidt, that was perfect information!

[AndrewBird]

Glad I could help. :D If you're looking to get LCD monitors on a budget, there is an off-brand company called Hanns-G that make good bang for your buck LCD monitors. Here is an example of a very nice 19" widescreen monitor for only $180:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824254005

That particular monitor (as with most LCD's) comes both the VGA and the DVI cable. So if you were to get two of them, just use the DVI cable for one and the VGA for the other. That way you won't have to buy any adapters to make things fit.

Just as a reference, I have that monitor and LOVE it. I will never go back to a non-widescreen monitor.

[george graves]

TJ, I know you are ass deep in photog stuff. Keep in mind this.

CRT's have a much larger color range then LCD's. Also LCD's are *locked* to a specific pixel count. CRT's are not.

You can't go wrong with a older set of sony trintron monitors. If you have the room run 2x21" IBM's (IBM rebranded sony's, weigh in at close to 70 pounds), or what I run is two P76 17" IBM's.

Trintron is the key. You can't go wrong with that set up. Also you DVi conector on your video car can be adaped to a RGB monitor with a $10 adapter you plug in.

I suggest Martox for a video car for duel head, the old G550, G450 LOOK awesome (and yes there is a difference between the "look" of cards)

If you really want to get anal, there are monitors (crt's) made just for the guys like you. I think macmall sells them still, forget the name. Ususally come with a "eye" that you suction cup to the monitor screen to calibrate the monitor to your software.

HTH

[James Crivellone]

TJ, I know you are ass deep in photog stuff. Keep in mind this.

CRT's have a much larger color range then LCD's. Also LCD's are *locked* to a specific pixel count. CRT's are not.

You can't go wrong with a older set of sony trintron monitors. If you have the room run 2x21" IBM's (IBM rebranded sony's, weigh in at close to 70 pounds), or what I run is two P76 17" IBM's.

Trintron is the key. You can't go wrong with that set up. Also you DVi conector on your video car can be adaped to a RGB monitor with a $10 adapter you plug in.

I suggest Martox for a video car for duel head, the old G550, G450 LOOK awesome (and yes there is a difference between the "look" of cards)

If you really want to get anal, there are monitors (crt's) made just for the guys like you. I think macmall sells them still, forget the name. Ususally come with a "eye" that you suction cup to the monitor screen to calibrate the monitor to your software.

HTH

At this point in the game Matrox has nothing on ATI or Nvidia, except in the tri-quad and above output arena. With ATI and Nvidia both having Ramdacs well in excess of 400mhz the 2d filters are just as good as anything Matrox puts out. Assuming you are going with a good primary tier vendory (PNY, BFG, ATI, ASUS, MSI, etc)

Some LCD's are catching up, Viewsonic makes a few specialty LCD's for photo editing, which simply use slower refresh panels to increase image quality in the still fasion.

That being said I do agree, CRT is still the way to go professionally. Especially the Sony Trinitron Tube based CRT's

[george graves]

Oh yea, I just got a nivida 1400, 3 year old card.

It rocks out with my c**k out, I hang out with my drill out, I make out with my snake out ...

It just that matrox makes good old school quality images...

EDIT: the *worst* is none maching monitors. It you go duel, at lease have the same model. When I got mine I got them from a re-furb batch. They match almost exactly (depend on how picky your eye is) Can you notice a few dregrees in color shift? I can.