one other quesiton on the Multiple Monitor plan...

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.

"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

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!