Replaced my secondary display card and getting MUCH better performance...

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Thu Sep 19, 2002 2:07 pm

I've been running dual monitors under Win2K with a Geforce3 Ti200 as the primary and a Savage4 as the secondary.

The Savage4 works, but it's got issues: no 32 bit color over 1152x864 resolution, and the secondary desktop is laggy as sin (if I enable "Show Windows Contents while dragging" for instance, it's slow as molasses on the secondary monitor). I've suspected the drivers as I had a hell of a time finding drivers that would even work under Win2K using multimon.

Anyway I went over to Walmart and picked up a PNY Geforce2 MX200 PCI for $49. Now we're talking! I get 32-bit color at all resolutions (I prefer using 1280x960 on both displays) and no laggy desktop.

MUCH better. Now I need to re-install Ultramon2 and see if it works okay. I was getting BSODs when I had it installed that I suspect were caused by the Savage4 drivers.

Pugsley · Post by **Pugsley** » Thu Sep 19, 2002 4:51 pm

im using a GF4 440 MX to do dual monitors and i have to say the performance it much better then i thought it would be since its 1 card running 2 monitors. I used to use a voodoo 3 and a off brand card. that worked ok. i had the same problem you had.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Thu Sep 19, 2002 7:17 pm

Only thing that suprises me is that the heatsink on this GF2 MX200 gets REAL HOT. I can't imagine why - if it's not running in 3D mode it shouldn't be working that hard.

Viperoni · Post by **Viperoni** » Thu Sep 19, 2002 9:52 pm

Originally posted by FlyingPenguin
Only thing that suprises me is that the heatsink on this GF2 MX200 gets REAL HOT. I can't imagine why - if it's not running in 3D mode it shouldn't be working that hard.

If it helps, the 64mb GF2 MX400's I've had experience with, the heatsink only ones, also run incredibly hot. One comp had the video card right above a modem and I believe it was causing the modem to cut out after long periods of uptime. I mean this heatsink was a scorcher, probably 70c. Just in the windows desktop like your own useage

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Fri Sep 20, 2002 2:47 pm

You aren't kiding - this heatsink is only slightly cooler than the surface of the sun! I've never seen such a hot heatsink on a video card since the Voodoo3!

And yes, mine is also right up against a modem card (heatsink nearly touches it and I put electrical tape on the back of the modem because I was concerned about shorts).

I may move the modem to allow better cooling.

succubiss · Post by **succubiss** » Fri Sep 20, 2002 4:11 pm

thanks for the feedback.
i just came into a pair of ADI 19" monitors (failed dot com auction).
and was thinking about going dual.

I used to have a Matrox G400Max, are there any good dual cards that are good for gaming?

Post by **sbp** » Fri Sep 20, 2002 4:21 pm

S3 and crap drivers-isn't that synonymous?

d_b · Post by **d_b** » Fri Sep 20, 2002 6:47 pm

Originally posted by succubiss
thanks for the feedback.
i just came into a pair of ADI 19" monitors (failed dot com auction).
and was thinking about going dual.

I used to have a Matrox G400Max, are there any good dual cards that are good for gaming?

Just about any Radeon card that has dually support is good for gaming. I have a 7500 with a viewsonic pf790 and a VA800.

wvjohn · Post by **wvjohn** » Fri Sep 20, 2002 7:01 pm

i have a radeon 8500/64 mb - nice dualness, fast and they're close to a c note now

Pugsley · Post by **Pugsley** » Sat Sep 21, 2002 8:47 pm

I have a Visiontek GF4 440 MX and a hitachi Super Scan Elite 20 and a Panasonic PanySync S17.