View Poll Results: What is the graphical best ?

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  • Single 20" TFT Monitor

    13 21.31%
  • Two 17" TFT Monitors

    35 57.38%
  • Single 22" CRT and a seat in the road outside

    11 18.03%
  • TFTs are the work of the Devil

    2 3.28%
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Thread: Dual OR Huge ?

  1. #1
    Boooooom Barakka's Avatar
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    Dual OR Huge ?

    Which is best ?

    I currently have a 17" TFT (NEC one - mucho impressed) but just don't have enough desktop real estate... I use mostly for graphics/web design... and always have multiple windows/programs open. (No games - that's what the PS2 is for)

    Question is would it be best to go for 2 identical 17" TFT's and stretch the desktop (2560 x 1024) or go for a single 20" (1600 x 1200) screen.

    Cost wise I reckon it's gonna come out about the same for 2 x 17" TFT + dual graphics card, or a single 20" and an uprated graphics card to do the higher resolution. I would want to replace the 17" either way as I'd want a matching pair, and my old one can go to my g/f to replace her CRT.

    The desktop size is also swings and roundabouts as dual monitors will allow two apps side-by-side which is useful, but a larger screen will allow more code/preview/tools etc for apps like Visual Studio etc.

    Also, how do dual displays work ? Is it a special graphics card, like the Matrox Dual Head's or is it any card with a VGA and a DVI connector and run one on each... ?
    Quote Originally Posted by The Mock Turtle
    “Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with, and then the different branches of arithmetic -- Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision."
    System:Atari 2600 CPU:8-bit 6507 (1.19MHz) RAM:128 bytes Colours: 16 (4 on screen) Resolution: 192x160

  2. #2
    HEXUS.social member Allen's Avatar
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    I'd say go for 2 17" inchers, you'd have much more flexability in that you can have two maximized windows running at the same time and will give you much more space.

    Plus, it'll look much cooler!

  3. #3
    Administrator Moby-Dick's Avatar
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    dual ( or Triple ) monitors are great

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  4. #4
    HEXUS webmaster Steve's Avatar
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    One you get more than one monitor - you'll never want to go back!
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  5. #5
    Drop it like it's hot Howard's Avatar
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    Kez is right. Nice balancing act as well Moby

    I'm gonna be buying two 17" TFTs sometime in the near future
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  6. #6
    Time for Walkies... Atomic's Avatar
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    Dual 17" Screens is lovely...


  7. #7
    VTECmeous Vimeous's Avatar
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    I'd suggest dual 19"s TBH.
    Most run the same resolution as good 17's (1280x1024 native) and of course will give less eye-strain as everything will be that little bit bigger

    Cost wise twin top-spec 17" = twin middle-spec 19's = one decent spec 20".
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  8. #8
    Boooooom Barakka's Avatar
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    Fair Enough i'm convinced... If i'm honest it's the answer I was hoping for... Will have to look around for the monitors 19" may be a bit steep, although my mum has two nice Sony 18" TFT's although the bezel is huge on them...

    So next question, what graphics card(s) do I need to drive a pair of 17"ers... I've always appreciated a good (high & deep) resolution, but never been into games, so just bought cheap medium spec when it came to graphics card.

    My current card is an XFX GeForce 5200 256Mb AGP (which I chose because it didn't have a fan) - with VGA, DVI and TV Out.... do I need a dual DVI, or Matrox Dual Head VGA or something ? or add a PCI card in ?

    The monitors haven't been chosen yet, so the connector requirements is open to debate
    Quote Originally Posted by The Mock Turtle
    “Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with, and then the different branches of arithmetic -- Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision."
    System:Atari 2600 CPU:8-bit 6507 (1.19MHz) RAM:128 bytes Colours: 16 (4 on screen) Resolution: 192x160

  9. #9
    Bah Humbug. Dooms's Avatar
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    Well you can get DVI / VGA adapters so as long as its got 2x outputs thats fine

  10. #10
    HEXUS.social member Allen's Avatar
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    What about a Matrox Millenium P650? Dual DVI Output with 1600x1200 max resolution for DVI and 1920x1440 max resolution on analog. They'll be quiet too, no fans!

  11. #11
    Boooooom Barakka's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dooms
    Well you can get DVI / VGA adapters so as long as its got 2x outputs thats fine
    So they would support two displays with different images ? I thought it was just two connectors displaying the same image ? It all moves so fast (gawd I feel old saying that LOL)

    Quote Originally Posted by Allen
    What about a Matrox Millenium P650? Dual DVI Output with 1600x1200 max resolution for DVI and 1920x1440 max resolution on analog. They'll be quiet too, no fans!
    But they do look rather nice... and not too bad pricing either... Are Matrox as good as they used to be ? I had a Millenium 4MB and then a Millenium II 8MB and they rocked
    Quote Originally Posted by The Mock Turtle
    “Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with, and then the different branches of arithmetic -- Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision."
    System:Atari 2600 CPU:8-bit 6507 (1.19MHz) RAM:128 bytes Colours: 16 (4 on screen) Resolution: 192x160

  12. #12
    Bah Humbug. Dooms's Avatar
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    So they would support two displays with different images ? I thought it was just two connectors displaying the same image ? It all moves so fast (gawd I feel old saying that LOL)
    that would be if you were running a splitter off one output... as long as your gfx card has either 2x DVI, 2x VGA or 1 of each then you are fine

    Oh and personaly if i was gaming i wouldnt bother with matrox stuff!

  13. #13
    Senior Member ajbrun's Avatar
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    I'm curious how you can operate 2 screens at once. How does each screen know which screen you want to be typing it?

  14. #14
    Spodes Henchman unrealrocks's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ajbrun
    I'm curious how you can operate 2 screens at once. How does each screen know which screen you want to be typing it?
    You still can only have one active program - the others are like there behind the main program, but because there at the side although there behind there still visible.

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    Senior Member ajbrun's Avatar
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    So how does the other screen know what to display? How can you interact with 2 screens?

  16. #16
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    it just does.

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