Author Topic: Dual video card help (Read 2726 times)

ChadTower · « **on:** February 09, 2005, 10:10:56 pm »

Okay, I feel kind of foolish here, but I don't have a ton of time to figure this out. This is the situation:

I've got a Dell Optiplex (2.8mhz, 640meg) here running XP Pro. I had one ATI card in it, working fine. I installed a second, older ATI card to use a second monitor, but the second card is having problems. Device manager gives it the yellow flag, code 10 device can't start. I installed the proper drivers for it in XP, not sure where else to go with this and it has to be working fairly quickly.

Anyone have any ideas, assuming the card is good?

ChadTower · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2005, 10:21:42 pm »

Update: I seem to have gotten the machine to think the card is started properly... but still, nothing on the second monitor. Looks like both devices are working but it's not in a dual display mode... anyone know how to kick that in?

SkateDetroit · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2005, 10:23:31 pm »

I was going to ask if you're using 2 pci cards, or an AGP and pci card?

Right click your desktop, click properties, settings, advanced. Look for something about twinview or dual monitors. You will probably have to enable the second monitor. ATI is the best with dual screens, so it should be fairly painless to set up.

DaveMMR · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2005, 10:24:39 pm »

I know with my ATI All-in-Wonder, it wants nothing less than to be the Primary Display. So make sure that's the case (check the bios). Of course, I don't know which ATI card you have, so that advise may not apply to you.

Also, is your secondary display activated in the display properties (that's probably not the case, but can't hurt to check).

ChadTower · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2005, 10:36:03 pm »

There is no secondary display in display properties.

The cards are both ATI:

mach64 CT PCI
Rage XL PCI

I just tried disabling the display device that is working and reboot, just to see if it would swap to the other device. Didn't work, it was just using a crippled version of the disabled device.

SkateDetroit · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2005, 10:39:57 pm »

Do you have another PCI card to test with? Checked over the bios for any crazy settings?

ChadTower · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2005, 10:40:24 pm »

Another datapoint:

ChadTower · « **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2005, 10:41:13 pm »

Quote from: SkateDetroit on February 09, 2005, 10:39:57 pm

Do you have another PCI card to test with? Checked over the bios for any crazy settings?

Don't think I have another PCI card lying around right now. I have an ArcadeVGA, but that's no help. I haven't checked the BIOS yet, should do that next, if I can figure out what the damn key is for it on this machine. I hate splash screens that cover the POST.

ChadTower · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2005, 10:47:22 pm »

Just checked the BIOS. The only display setting was for primary display, options of PCI or AGP. I didn't change that since I don't have an AGP card in there.

SkateDetroit · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2005, 10:49:00 pm »

You can boot up to safe mode (Press F8 at startup) and enter device manager. This will let you uninstall all previous installations of your video cards. Try starting fresh and see where that gets you.

Crazy Cooter · « **Reply #10 on:** February 09, 2005, 10:54:16 pm »

I'm not so sure it will run dual pci simultaneously... will it? I thought one had to be AGP?

- I've never tried though -

ChadTower · « **Reply #11 on:** February 09, 2005, 10:54:54 pm »

Does one have to be AGP? I may have another AGP card around someplace, if I can find it.

ChadTower · « **Reply #12 on:** February 09, 2005, 10:59:19 pm »

Found an AGP 3DFX card... should I take the older ATI card out and put this AGP card in, see what that does?

SkateDetroit · « **Reply #13 on:** February 09, 2005, 11:01:13 pm »

If your system has AGP, run that, and the PCI card that's working. Should solve your problems.

ChadTower · « **Reply #14 on:** February 09, 2005, 11:02:35 pm »

Yeah, I'll give that a shot.

Crazy Cooter · « **Reply #15 on:** February 09, 2005, 11:11:18 pm »

You might run into problems "mixing" cards that use different drivers. IIRC, the AGP should be set as the primary.

ChadTower · « **Reply #16 on:** February 10, 2005, 08:30:46 am »

Thanks for the tip... how could you use the same drivers for an AGP and PCI card, anyway? Wouldn't that necessitate separate drivers most of the time?

ChadTower · « **Reply #17 on:** February 10, 2005, 09:40:39 am »

Um, yeah. The 3DFX card I've had sitting in a drawer all these years appears to be neither PCI or AGP since it fits in neither slot. The PCB date is 1999, so what the heck interface could this be? All I could come up with is PCI or AGP and it's sure as hell can't be ISA.

ChadTower · « **Reply #18 on:** February 10, 2005, 10:12:52 am »

Hrm... the part # is 210-0364-003, and apparently it's AGP 2x, according to:

http://www.falconfly.de/identify-3dfx.htm

Is the pin configuration different for different versions of AGP?

ChadTower · « **Reply #19 on:** February 10, 2005, 10:21:26 am »

Okay... from a FAQ about my machine:

Code: [Select]

Does the 400SC have an AGP slot?
A: Of course! (The AGP slot is, however, not supported by Dell.) Picture here and diagram here. The AGP socket is keyed for universal 0.8v AGP cards that comply with the AGP 3.0 specification or 1.5v AGP cards that comply with the AGP 2.0 specification. The AGP connector supports 8x, 4x AGP 3.0 add-in cards operating at 0.8v, or AGP 2.0 add-in cards operating at 1.5V. There is no support for AGP 2x operation or legacy 3.3V AGP cards.

So, looks like if I want dual head, this is what I need to get. I'm so out of touch with video card interfaces, etc. Does anyone have a specific, inexpensive card they'd recommend? I'm not a PC gamer, and don't do anything overly taxing with this machine other than remote access to work, net stuff, etc.

SirPeale · « **Reply #20 on:** February 10, 2005, 10:35:50 am »

The only other two formats are VLB and ISA, and I highly doubt it's either of those. Unless it's MCA, and I don't think they made any 3DFX cards in MCA. But I could be wrong.

Pictures, please!

GGKoul · « **Reply #21 on:** February 10, 2005, 10:36:51 am »

Get a ATI 9200. Should be cheap and I think it will run dual monitors.

ChadTower · « **Reply #22 on:** February 10, 2005, 10:47:15 am »

Quote from: GGKoul on February 10, 2005, 10:36:51 am

Get a ATI 9200. Should be cheap and I think it will run dual monitors.

Checking Ebay, the 9200 is still ike $60+ shipped... I HAD been hoping to just use parts I had around, but it looks like that isn't happening. I certainly don't want to go as high as $60 at this point. I may go lower, say a 7000 age card, or even a dedicated dual card like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=40158&item=5163107067&rd=1

GGKoul · « **Reply #23 on:** February 10, 2005, 12:08:43 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on February 10, 2005, 10:47:15 am

Quote from: GGKoul on February 10, 2005, 10:36:51 am
Get a ATI 9200. Should be cheap and I think it will run dual monitors.

Checking Ebay, the 9200 is still ike $60+ shipped... I HAD been hoping to just use parts I had around, but it looks like that isn't happening.

ChadTower · « **Reply #24 on:** February 10, 2005, 01:47:30 pm »

I've owned the AIW in the past and the one I had was crap. Did everything but nothing well.

GGKoul · « **Reply #25 on:** February 10, 2005, 01:53:35 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on February 10, 2005, 01:47:30 pm

I've owned the AIW in the past and the one I had was crap.

ChadTower · « **Reply #26 on:** February 10, 2005, 02:06:58 pm »

It should also be noted I don't have need of tv tuner or video capture.

DaveMMR · « **Reply #27 on:** February 10, 2005, 05:32:44 pm »

I don't know what ATI card you have (and if you mentioned it in this thread, then I missed it - sorry in advance, I'm a dolt). Anyway, I know most later ATI cards had two sockets (one for standard and one for digital - I should know that proper names of these). It also came packaged with an adapter that let you plug a standard VGA montior into the digital slot. As a matter of fact, I'm running two ATI cards (one AGP and one PCI) and my display properties shows that I can have a total of four monitors running. Ergo, you may only need one card in there for dual monitor display.

Secondly, check the ATI help page. Not sure if that'll help much since I always found their tech support sketchy at best but it could help.

And last of all, do you really, really want two monitors? Speaking strictly for myself I haven't much need for the two monitors I'm running and find it to be more of a pain that it's worth. It helps for the Adobe programs but, I don't know - I'm losing all this real estate on my desk for minimal convienence. The novelty wears thin quick and may not be worth the hassle.

And before you ask, I have them because my capture card (ATI AIW) wants to be the primary display but so does my Raedon for certain applications. So it's two hardware profiles and two monitors until I stop being cheap and just buy another, less demanding capture card.

Crazy Cooter · « **Reply #28 on:** February 10, 2005, 07:26:07 pm »

$39.99 + shipping?
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0177433
It's PCi & I *think* shipping is reasonable, dunno. I'm close enough to not have to ship. Bum around the site, you might find other stuff. I usually do.

SOAPboy · « **Reply #29 on:** February 10, 2005, 07:41:18 pm »

A bit much of an upgrade.. but i have a 9500PRO (Built By ATI) Thats been used ONCE for a total of 30 min.. 110 bucks plus shipping.. ^_^

and 2 PCIs should work fine..

Install first card, Install Drivers
Install Second Card, Install Drivers

both cards need there own driver, they cant "share" one..

ChadTower · « **Reply #30 on:** February 11, 2005, 01:33:22 am »

Thanks for the help guys... turns out this machine really just wants a primary AGP card and a secondary PCI... since I already have a reasonable PCI, I just need an inexpensive AGP as detailed above. Doesn't have to be new or anything... I'm just going to wait until one pops up really cheaply.

ChadTower · « **Reply #31 on:** March 21, 2005, 11:02:59 am »

Okay, back to this. Still running the Rage XL, but added a Radeon 7000 AGP. When I set the BIOS display type to AGP, I get perfect functionality of the Radeon but nothing from the Rage. When I set the display type to AUTO, I get functionality from the Radeon, but the Rage outputs something that looks like a TV with bad reception (a usable but wavy picture). I tried dumping down the resolution on that display with no changes... any thoughts?


Main	Restorations	Software	Audio/Jukebox/MP3	Everything Else	Buy/Sell/Trade
Project Announcements	Monitor/Video	GroovyMAME	Merit/JVL Touchscreen	Meet Up	Retail Vendors
Driving & Racing	Woodworking	Software Support Forums	Consoles	Project Arcade	Reviews
Automated Projects	Artwork	Frontend Support Forums	Pinball	Forum Discussion	Old Boards
Raspberry Pi & Dev Board	controls.dat	Linux	Miscellaneous Arcade	Wiki Discussion	Old Archives
Lightguns	Arcade1Up	Try the site in https mode		Site News


Unread posts \| New Replies \| Recent posts \| Rules \| Chatroom \| Wiki \| File Repository \| RSS \| Submit news