Newbie Parhelia questions

[CanadianViking]

Hello,

I've been lurking on this site for a couple years and I've always found this community a great source of information.

I have been running Matrox cards since 1996 (millennium & G450), and I've always been very happy with the product.

I am currently going through the process of building a new computer to replace my current, aging system. I am thinking that I will continue with the Matrox tradition and go with the Parhelia on the new system. Before making the final decision, I wanted to see if I could get some opinions on the suitability of the Parhelia for my applications.

I will be using the Parhelia for AutoCAD 2K2 (2D only) and business applications (Office, IE, ETC) and some gaming (CFS3, UT, RTCW,etc.). It would be a 85% business/15% gaming split.

I am currently running dual head on my G450 (2 x 19" Sony CPD-G400's) and it works great for my AutoCAD and business requirements. If I go with the Parhelia, I will be using the triplehead feature and running 3 x 19" Sony CPD-G400's. My questions mostly focus on the triplehead/surround design aspect of the Parhelia:

1) Does Triplehead work well with AutoCAD 2k2? I would probably have the drawing window on one screen, design center on another screen and toolbars/etc. on the third screen.

2) Does the powerdesk software handle window placement (maximize to a screen, remember setting & location, etc.) well in Triplehead? do dialog boxes open where specified? does it remember window and box locations?

3) Is there any benefit to using XP Pro vs. Win2K?

4) Is there any benefit to using 3 x 17" analog LCD's vs. 3 x 19" CRT's?

5) What is the maximum color depth and refresh per display when using Triplehead at the maximum (3840x1024) resolultion (ie 1280x1024x__x__hz)?

6) Are there any stability issues with the latest Parhelia drivers? any know problems with the applications listed above?

7) Are there any stability issues between the Parhelia and the following hardware components: XP2600 (333FSB), Soyo KT400 Dragon MB, PC3200 RAM, hipoint ATA133 RAID-0?

Thank you in advance for any information/assistance you can offer regarding the above questions.

Cheers,

CanadianViking
Calgary, Alberta Canada - eh!

[leech]

3) Is there any benefit to using XP Pro vs. Win2K?

From what I know, you'll want XP Pro, since it has better support for Multiple-Monitors (or at least that's what some websites say, I don't recall where I saw it at.).

4) Is there any benefit to using 3 x 17" analog LCD's vs. 3 x 19" CRT's?

On this point, you can't connect three DVI monitors to the Parhelia, so the point in using LCD's would be lost. Go with the three 19" CRT's.

Not sure about any of the other questions. Good luck.

Leech

[mmp121]

Leech, he did say:

4) Is there any benefit to using 3 x 17" analog LCD's vs. 3 x 19" CRT's?

Analog LCD's would work. DVI only LCD's would not.

[K6-III]

No benefit to LCD's in your case other than space savings...

Rumor is we are to get some new 1.03 drivers later this week, so it may be more opportune to ask then...