[kwlug-disc] (Cheap) PCIEx1 dual (triple?) monitor cards, for old HDMI TV?

[CrankyOldBugger]

The last time I bought a new video card from Canada Computers (or was it
Amazon?) my criteria, besides having 2x DVI ports was the availability of
Linux drivers on the manfacturer's website.  At the time Zotac was the
clear leader in this regard, particularly for their (Nvidia) GeForce GTX
650.  I don't think this particular card does exactly what you want, but I
do recommend the Zotac line, based on my own experiences.



On Mon, 26 Oct 2015 at 14:03 B.S. <bs27975 at yahoo.ca> wrote:

> So, my AGP oldies on my P4 ~3.0GHz's are getting long in the tooth. I
> don't game, but I do like my HDMI with digital audio out to my TV. As it
> stands now on the AGP, vlc to the TV at 480 is fine, 720p if there aren't
> too many small objects flying everywhere is also sufficient (before
> pixelation kicks in / things slow down), but 1080i/p is right out. The ol'
> P4 just can't keep up. For all I know the nvidia's I'm currently using have
> some hardware decompression on board facilitating things.
>
> Looks like Rogers is going to kill analogue cable on me Dec. 1. Now have
> OTA (thanks Khalid!), but if/when that happens I'll also have to be going
> to the websites to stream some shows.
>
> Side Note: Acanac/Zazeen (only non-Rogers in-band inet TV with local PVR
> provider) plans have gone weirder. Zazeen is now offering internet, not
> just TV, but plans now have lower caps, or per GB cost for all 6pm-12pm
> traffic, making cost higher than Acanac's. Just when you thought it's not
> possible, comparing plans has become even more baffling.
>
>
> Anywho, I notice I have one system with a PCI Express x1 slot.
>
> I also notice that kijiji has some apparently reasonable dual core single
> monitor systems for around $200/$250. I expect Computer Recycling has
> similar, but likely not dual core Intel ~3+GHz systems with Hyperthreading.
> The $200 dual core price point on kijiji doesn't seem to offer HT either.
> My point about kijiji is only to say they're not dual or triple monitor
> either, so I wonder if it's possible an x1 purchase now will move into a
> x16 slot later, when such HT kijiji offerings become cost reasonable. (vs
> $650 - $1,500 for a new i7 with onboard triple monitor out ability. 16GB+
> memory being the killer added cost there.)
>
> Dual monitor is fine, triple monitor is even better. Even if I clone the
> 2nd monitor to the TV, so I can adjust the video window to nix the TV's
> extreme overscan. Can't read text on the TV, so the monitor would let me
> adjust things before switching to the comfy chair in front of the TV.
>
> Are there such dual/triple monitor x1 cards out there (with one a VGA
> out?), preferably with onboard hardware decompression for up to 1080p, and
> what sorts of beasties am I looking at or for? Been partial to nvidia as
> their proprietary linux drivers seem to work well enough, but I'm seeing
> hints that the ATI (but not AMD?) cards also now work well enough - unlike
> the past.
>
> Thoughts?
>
>
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