Solved Dual screen advice

[fezbombmatt]

Hi, I'm looking at using dual screens for a new build (for work purposes) and wondered what GPU to go for.

The PC wont be used for gaming only small editing and design based tasks.

Am i right in thinking a Quadro NVS 300 is an ideal choice? My question with this card is it has 1 x DVI output with a split lead. So does that mean i can only have a mirrored screen?

Or would i be better with a Quadro NVS 310?

Appreciate your response thanks.

 

[wasnotwas]

I've just looked at the specs - it seems that card has a non-standard DMS59 socket, but comes with short connecting leads to drive 2 * DVI, 2 * VGA, 2 * HDMI or 2 * display port. Also comes with software to spread your work across 2 screens, so it looks like exactly what you need - no need to worry about mirroring etc.

From the Nvidia site - 'high resolution, multi-display business graphics solution'.

This setup is new to me - I use a more conventional GTX 750Ti to drive my 2 * 27" screens.

edit - the card mentioned assumes 2 monitors with same connection ie VGA etc. This may not be convenient - a regular card (such as mine) would have a mix of sockets, so more versatile. On the plus side, that card is fanless so would be silent - could be important in a work environment.

 

[fezbombmatt]

What would be the outcome of not having a standalone card and just using the mobo outputs? ie DVI and VGA or hdmi.

With just the on board graphics from Intel or AMD would it work smoothly ran at max resolution?

 

[AddRAM]

If you`re not doing anything intensive and the motherboard has the outputs, the cpu video would work fine, but I don`t think anyone would really recommend going that route, but the choice is yours

You can always add a card later.

I have a PNY K600 in my HP Pro 6300 SFF, works great.

https://www.pny.com/mega-consumer/shop-all-products/nvidia-quadro-graphics-cards

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Many motherboards can handle two monitors well enough for light duty work. If your motherboard can support two monitors, I would also suggest trying that first. As AddRAM said, you can always add a card later.

While the card AddRAM suggested is a good one for two monitors (the PNY K620 is a newer version that sells for slightly less), if it was me, I would get a card that supported at least three monitors for future expansion. Believe me, multiple monitors are addictive! I have three monitors and my card supports only three monitors so, to be able to clone one of them to my TV, I had to get a HDMI splitter. A card that supported four monitors would have been more sanitary.

 

[countzero]

as most people said: onboard should suffice.
otherwise cheapest non-nvs quadro like k620.
quadro has a couple more multi-head tricks than standard gpus.
i'm against tripple screensetups because it will place your audio speakers so far apart that you will loose all stereo imaging.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

as most people said: onboard should suffice.
otherwise cheapest non-nvs quadro like k620.
quadro has a couple more multi-head tricks than standard gpus.
i'm against tripple screensetups because it will place your audio speakers so far apart that you will loose all stereo imaging.

You use monitor speakers?

All seriousness aside, the worst computer speakers sound better than the best built-in monitor speakers (and one can always get even better speakers than the worst computer speakers). I have never used built-in monitor speakers. I would never let something like sound keep me from using more monitors when the extra monitors make life so much easier, especially when it is so easy to get better audio anyway.

 

[fezbombmatt]

I'm just curious why some people wouldn't recommend it.

I have looked at the NVS 310 with 2 x DP outputs too.

Thing is the onboard graphics score better than that card itself. So what benefit would a low level card have for me?

 

[fezbombmatt]

One other thing, if I use onboard graphics it will be VGA + DVI. Providing the monitors are both the same bought from new, will the colour output be the same? Or is it just a gamble?

 

[countzero]

You use monitor speakers?

All seriousness aside, the worst computer speakers sound better than the best built-in monitor speakers (and one can always get even better speakers than the worst computer speakers). I have never used built-in monitor speakers. I would never let something like sound keep me from using more monitors when the extra monitors make life so much easier, especially when it is so easy to get better audio anyway.[/QUOTE]

no, my speakers wre made by a fine finnish company called genelec and cost as much as a kidney in some countries.
I added the term audio to make it clear i'm kinda changing the subject.

 

[AddRAM]

He never said he uses monitor speakers Jean, he said Audio speakers

You haven`t lost your vision too have you

 

[AddRAM]

I'm just curious why some people wouldn't recommend it.

I have looked at the NVS 310 with 2 x DP outputs too.

Thing is the onboard graphics score better than that card itself. So what benefit would a low level card have for me?

No one here recommended getting a low level card, we gave you suggestions.

2 identical monitors should look exactly the same, no matter the source

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

You use monitor speakers?

All seriousness aside, the worst computer speakers sound better than the best built-in monitor speakers (and one can always get even better speakers than the worst computer speakers). I have never used built-in monitor speakers. I would never let something like sound keep me from using more monitors when the extra monitors make life so much easier, especially when it is so easy to get better audio anyway.

no, my speakers wre made by a fine finnish company called genelec and cost as much as a kidney in some countries.
I added the term audio to make it clear i'm kinda changing the subject.[/QUOTE]

He never said he uses monitor speakers Jean, he said Audio speakers

You haven`t lost your vision too have you

Lessee. I wear trifocals. Nope, vision is already gone.

I'm sorry, since were were discussing monitors, I put two and two together and got 3.7...er...I assumed that that the speakers were from the monitors. Separate speakers can be put on a desktop under monitors or hung over the monitors, either on the wall or from the upper part of a monitor stand. My audio speakers are 6 1/2 feet apart but that's so I get better stereo separation when listening to them in bed. It's a bit wide when I'm at my desk but I'm usually just playing background music then.

 

[AddRAM]

Newegg links

PNY Technologies, Inc./Workstation Graphics Cards - Newegg.com

 

[countzero]

You use monitor speakers?
I'm sorry, since were were discussing monitors, I put two and two together and got 3.7...er...I assumed that that the speakers were from the monitors. Separate speakers can be put on a desktop under monitors or hung over the monitors, either on the wall or from the upper part of a monitor stand. My audio speakers are 6 1/2 feet apart but that's so I get better stereo separation when listening to them in bed. It's a bit wide when I'm at my desk but I'm usually just playing background music then.

all good. what we're looking for is a ~60° angle between speakers, regardless of distance.

 

[wasnotwas]

Many motherboards can handle two monitors well enough for light duty work. If your motherboard can support two monitors, I would also suggest trying that first. As AddRAM said, you can always add a card later.

Mobo's that can drive 3 monitors are not uncommon. One of my machines has an i3-4130 in a MSI B85M-E45, and the board has HDMI, VGA and DVI-D. Although I don't use it in that configuration, I have tested it with 3 HD screens and 3 HD streams/videos and it wasn't overstretched. Not bad for a budget system. See snip from mobo manual

 

[fezbombmatt]

Thanks for the responses. I will post back how it behaves once finished.