Best/easiest way to add another monitor on the cheap

Cranky · 7th April 2009, 2:07 PM

Hi all,

I currently have a Gigabyte 512mb 4850 in my i7 system (gigabyte m/b as well), running 2 x BenQ 22" LCD's. I would like to add a third monitor (just a 19" or something) to have sitting there with a few windows open blah blah.

Whats the best way to get another monitor into this setup?

Can I just get another cheap video card and add that, then plug the new monitor into it, or will i have conflicts with the 4850? Best way to avoid issues?

Will be doing a little bit of gaming on the main monitor coming from the 4850.

power · 7th April 2009, 2:10 PM

depends if you have a second PCI-e slot, if you do then and cheap entry level ATi card would be recommended.

Cranky · 7th April 2009, 2:15 PM

yep, pretty sure i got a spare PCI-E slot...

so would an ATI 3450 do the job ok? (doesn't have to be gigabyte does it?)

And it won't have a negative impact on my gaming performance from the 4850?

RAtSAcK · 7th April 2009, 2:49 PM

Yea, that would be fine and it would affect gaming at all mate. Enjoy it

Mitch01 · 9th April 2009, 12:31 AM

ASUS 22" USB Monitor
http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Home_Of...reens/E4J4Q9T4

About $250 and the monitor connects via USB to the computer.

I've heard only good things about them, and no second video card required!

snoozeys · 9th April 2009, 3:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitch01

ASUS 22" USB Monitor
http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Home_Of...reens/E4J4Q9T4

About $250 and the monitor connects via USB to the computer.

I've heard only good things about them, and no second video card required!

The idea sounds good and under consideration, whatever it takes to keep the girl happy

Cranky · 14th April 2009, 9:38 PM

Hi all,

I just checked my MOBO and its the Gigabyte EX58 - DS4.

Has 1 x PCIe x16 slot (being used by the 4850)

then it has 2 x PCIe x8 slots - this won't make an impact on the getting the second card will it? Any normal PCIe video card will run in the x8 slot???

SLATYE · 14th April 2009, 9:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cranky

then it has 2 x PCIe x8 slots - this won't make an impact on the getting the second card will it? Any normal PCIe video card will run in the x8 slot???

Normal PCIe cards will be fine there. They'll be a tiny bit slower if they're top-end cards and you're running games, but you're unlikely to notice any difference.

I'd stick with another Radeon HD 4xxx card to avoid driver issues. If you don't need performance, just get a HD 4350.

Cranky · 14th April 2009, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLATYE

Normal PCIe cards will be fine there. They'll be a tiny bit slower if they're top-end cards and you're running games, but you're unlikely to notice any difference.

I'd stick with another Radeon HD 4xxx card to avoid driver issues. If you don't need performance, just get a HD 4350.

SLATYE : I'm not sure if you're getting paid to be on these forums - but you should be! The number of times I've read yours posts and they've helped is unbelievable!

Thanks again!

lawrencep93 · 14th April 2009, 10:31 PM

get a USB adapter I have heard of them don't know where they are sold but its basicly and external 128MB grapich card that connects to the pc via USB and to the monitor by RGB

7th April 2009, 2:10 PM	#2
power Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: brisbane Posts: 27,298	depends if you have a second PCI-e slot, if you do then and cheap entry level ATi card would be recommended. __________________ this is who we are.

7th April 2009, 2:49 PM	#4
RAtSAcK Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Roma, QLD, 4455 Posts: 2,068	Yea, that would be fine and it would affect gaming at all mate. Enjoy it __________________ My PC: AMD X6 1090T ~ 8GB DDR3 ~ 8800GTS ~ 128GB SSD + 1TB, 2TB External ~ 25.5" LCD ~ Sony 5.1 + ATH-M50S Lounge: 50" Plasma ~ Jamo S 526 ~ WDTV ~ Xbox 360 ~ PS3 ~ Wii ~ Thecus N4100EVO NAS 4TB Storage Portable: HP Pavilion dv6-6023tx ~ MSI Wind U100 ~ Ainol Elf II ~ Google Nexus 4 Toys: Hobao Hyper 8SC * Team C TC02 Evo * Axial SCX10 * LRP S10 Drifter * HobbyKing Swamp Dawg

9th April 2009, 12:31 AM	#5
Mitch01 Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Sydney Posts: 27,588	ASUS 22" USB Monitor http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Home_Of...reens/E4J4Q9T4 About $250 and the monitor connects via USB to the computer. I've heard only good things about them, and no second video card required! __________________ "I think in this world, if you can do something you love as a job and it doesn't feel like a job that is one of the greatest gifts you can have" - Hugh Jackman 2009

14th April 2009, 10:31 PM	#10
lawrencep93 Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melborne, VIC Posts: 1,340	get a USB adapter I have heard of them don't know where they are sold but its basicly and external 128MB grapich card that connects to the pc via USB and to the monitor by RGB