one other quesiton on the Multiple Monitor plan...

[kimberlykrogers]

Thanks to those who responded to my last post, your info was helpful,
thanks, but if I had a dual card, would my Dell receipt say that?
Mine doesn't, so I am thinking I need another card. Am I wrong there?
Here is what it says for my card:

128MB PCI Express x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI Radeon X300 SE

I am hoping I have a dual card so I don't have to buy another one
(this is a surprise for my husband). Could you possibly tell me from
that info above if I can just get an adapter or something? I had read
sometimes all you need is a DVI-VGA adapter, whatever that is. I
bought an additional monitor (StarLogic) from OfficeMax if that helps
to know.

I need to get this second monito hooked up ASAP (aka I don't have time
to order a card from Dell and wait for it to arrive), plus I am trying
to keep the cost as low as possible.

I just really need to know if I can walk into a store (like a Best Buy
or somewhere) and pick up a card (or the adapter) today. If so, what
am I looking for and about how much will this run me? What am I
looking for? Just a basic card that can work with a Dell and an extra
"Starlogic" monitor?

I called Dell and the rep told me I'd need to buy a "dual" card. Does
this mean I will take out my old card and just have ONE new card in?
So I won't just buy an "additional" card and have two cards in the
Dell then? He said it would be about $200. Owch! I thought buying
an additional monitor (cheap, I got one for about $80) wouldn't be
this much money. Now another $200 for a card? Yikes.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Paul Riley]

"kimberlykrogers" > wrote in message
m...
> Thanks to those who responded to my last post, your info was helpful,
> thanks, but if I had a dual card, would my Dell receipt say that?
> Mine doesn't, so I am thinking I need another card. Am I wrong there?
> Here is what it says for my card:
>
> 128MB PCI Express x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI Radeon X300 SE
>
> I am hoping I have a dual card so I don't have to buy another one
> (this is a surprise for my husband). Could you possibly tell me from
> that info above if I can just get an adapter or something? I had read
> sometimes all you need is a DVI-VGA adapter, whatever that is. I
> bought an additional monitor (StarLogic) from OfficeMax if that helps
> to know.
>
> I need to get this second monito hooked up ASAP (aka I don't have time
> to order a card from Dell and wait for it to arrive), plus I am trying
> to keep the cost as low as possible.
>
> I just really need to know if I can walk into a store (like a Best Buy
> or somewhere) and pick up a card (or the adapter) today. If so, what
> am I looking for and about how much will this run me? What am I
> looking for? Just a basic card that can work with a Dell and an extra
> "Starlogic" monitor?
>
> I called Dell and the rep told me I'd need to buy a "dual" card. Does
> this mean I will take out my old card and just have ONE new card in?
> So I won't just buy an "additional" card and have two cards in the
> Dell then? He said it would be about $200. Owch! I thought buying
> an additional monitor (cheap, I got one for about $80) wouldn't be
> this much money. Now another $200 for a card? Yikes.
>
> Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

You do have a dual card (actually, it is a three way, also has TV out) --has
both DVI and VGA outputs. May need an adapter to convert the DVI to VGA on
the monitor end, but that is a cheap solution. Adapters are around $20 if
memory serves me right. Check Radio Shack. Dell is giving you some BS.

FWIW, I am running a Pentium 3, 933 with an FX5700 graphics card, 128 vram.
I have my Gateway VX920 (a CRT) with anaolog inputs set up as main monitor.
I bought an NEC LCD1512 monitor from SAM's, which only has VGA inputs. Got a
converter, hooked the DVI output of my video card up to the NEC using the
adapter to give me VGA, and it works like a charm with Win XP Home

Caveat: With my slow computer, running FS9, I only have things like the
Radio Stack, GPS and Throttle Quadrant windows displayed on the NEC--I
really like it this way. Frame rate is just fine for both monitors--unless I
try to operate in a high density scenery area like New York or San
Francisco--but that is my computer, NOT the video card.

Personally, I would go the adapter route, let him try it, then go to Plan B
if that is not satisfactory. No need for overkill.

Hope this helps. Good luck

Paul

[kimberlykrogers]

> Personally, I would go the adapter route, let him try it, then go to Plan B
> if that is not satisfactory. No need for overkill.
>
> Hope this helps. Good luck
>
> Paul

Thanks so much, Paul. Your ideas helped alot! He is going to be so
surprised! Thanks again! :)