Second graphics card for second monitor

I'll be getting a new 22" monitor (probably Cibox SC-C2201 next time it's up on today only and I've changed my address for my bank...) and was thinking I'd get a second graphics card to drive my old 17" tft.

I've got a X1950 XT 256MB to drive the main display for gaming, and am going to keep my old display to show irc/ventrilo/etc so thought it'd be nice to take the strain off the main card and make use of the two PEG slots on my mobo.

Requirements are cheap (£30 tops probably), short (I've stuck a passive heatsink on the mobo instead of the small fan which is just past the end of the PEG slot), quiet (preferably passive), and not turbocache/hypermemory (leave my ram alone!).

I seem to be left with about 1 option as far as I can see from Scan: 256MB Sapphire HD 2400 PRO (which is out of stock w/no ETA). Is there anything else out there that suits my needs, or should I keep an eye on the classifieds/ebay for something second hand? Any thoughts on the new monitor as well, looks well spec'd with DVI and cables included.

Oh and if I went for a Nvidia card would I have troubles? Currently running the basic ATI drivers without CCC.

Thanks!

Don't know if this is any good? http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=540212

Seems like an option aye, no idea about fan noise. It could either be temperature controlled and quiet or just run at full whack the whole time.

Maybe have to ask Scan about the eta on the 2400...

EDIT: Ebuyer have it in for the same price. Looks like a good option..

The x1950 will drive both monitors easily, personally speaking, I had 8800gt and 6200 for a 3 monitor setup and it was a real pain finding working drivers, mixing ati and nvidia drivers is not a recipe for an easy life


edit

what motherboard do you have

I'm on a Foxconn N570SM2AA-8EKRS2H NF570 SLI. The X1950XT is currently in the lower PEG slot running at 8x, can't say that it makes a difference though.

Had troubles keeping things on the second display before when I've driven 2 monitors from 1 card (GF4 Ti4200). When it went out of 2d mode the second display would turn off, don't think all the time but I can't remember the details in each case.

No word from scan yet about the ETA, looking like ebuyer... maybe then the Hyundai X220W which seems identical but without HDCP (which I can't say bothers me) and the 2400 Pro

Anticipating driver trouble, I would go with the same manufacturer and era of card as you currently have.

As it will never do any real 3D, the local 32 or 64MB of ram on a hypermemory card should surely be enough that it will never touch main ram, so that would be fine.

So I would aim for something like a 1300 card.

Using my common sense I think TC/HM should be disable-able (no pun intended :P)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Queelis

Using my common sense I think TC/HM should be disable-able (no pun intended :P)

---

I've tried googling on the issue, lots of people are asking and no-one seems to be able to give an answer. Lots of 'you should be able to' and no 'how to' disable hypermemory. Doesn't actually seem possible. The 2400 Pro is less than £30 so I don't think it's worth saving the £5 to get a lesser card, and I can always move it to my media center PC if I ever get a HD TV.

No word from scan yet, hmm well I guess I'll just put it off till later.

yes do keep in mind that you would have to find one set of drivers to work with both cards

but tbh that card should be capable of running 2 monitors, depends what you'll be using them for i suppose