Runing two graphics cards...

arj256 · 02-January-03, 04:16 PM

I was wondering if i could run 2 graphic cards in one comp and get dual monitor support..
I have ran two graphics cards in my computer before but when it came to shutting down the computer restarted instead of turning off.
I think may have been because one of the cards was faulty and i was troubleshooting it.
I am running Xp pro and i have a geforce 3 ti 200 (main card)
and i would like to put in a olde Matrox Mystique (it works with Xp).
I don't have 2 vga connectors at the back of my geforce 3 so can't do it that way.
Thanks!

PoKey · 02-January-03, 04:57 PM

well you can have a pci and a agp

arj256 · 02-January-03, 05:49 PM

Yes i have a Agp Geforce 3 and a Pci Matrix Mystique,
but isn't there some required software so that you can use the two screens as an extended desktop?

Coelacanth · 02-January-03, 06:35 PM

With XP it's very simple, really. Make sure in BIOS your primary VGA is set to "AGP", not "PCI", as you will likely have problems booting. I've found by default, most BIOSes are set to "PCI", which is fine if you ONLY have an AGP vidcard, but as you can imagine, causes problems if you have two vidcards installed.

When both drivers have been installed for the vidcards, Windows should normally detect this, and give you the option to "Enable secondary display"; if not, you'd find this by right-clicking on the desktop>Properties (your Display properties), where you should find the check-box to enable secondary display, and to "extend desktop".

NOTE: Excuse any minor discrepancies in my information above; I don't have XP at home and I'm going by memory. But that should be enough to get you looking at the right place.

02-January-03, 04:16 PM		#1 (permalink)
arj256 Apex Master Tech Apprentice	Runing two graphics cards... I was wondering if i could run 2 graphic cards in one comp and get dual monitor support.. I have ran two graphics cards in my computer before but when it came to shutting down the computer restarted instead of turning off. I think may have been because one of the cards was faulty and i was troubleshooting it. I am running Xp pro and i have a geforce 3 ti 200 (main card) and i would like to put in a olde Matrox Mystique (it works with Xp). I don't have 2 vga connectors at the back of my geforce 3 so can't do it that way. Thanks!

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02-January-03, 04:57 PM		#2 (permalink)
PoKey Apex Advanced Techie	well you can have a pci and a agp

02-January-03, 05:49 PM		#3 (permalink)
arj256 Apex Master Tech Apprentice	Yes i have a Agp Geforce 3 and a Pci Matrix Mystique, but isn't there some required software so that you can use the two screens as an extended desktop?

02-January-03, 06:35 PM		#4 (permalink)
Coelacanth Apex Tech God	With XP it's very simple, really. Make sure in BIOS your primary VGA is set to "AGP", not "PCI", as you will likely have problems booting. I've found by default, most BIOSes are set to "PCI", which is fine if you ONLY have an AGP vidcard, but as you can imagine, causes problems if you have two vidcards installed. When both drivers have been installed for the vidcards, Windows should normally detect this, and give you the option to "Enable secondary display"; if not, you'd find this by right-clicking on the desktop>Properties (your Display properties), where you should find the check-box to enable secondary display, and to "extend desktop". NOTE: Excuse any minor discrepancies in my information above; I don't have XP at home and I'm going by memory. But that should be enough to get you looking at the right place.