G450 32mb PCI Questions

[cochese]

I was thinking about buying one of these cards for my system so I can use dual monitors. First off..... where can I get one? Is it even a current card you guys sell?
I have an Ati AIW Radeon 9700 pro as my main card.... I hear it can do dual monitors but the All In Wonder version has to use an HDTV as a second monitor (hell no), thats why I am getting this card.

Will the matrox drivers react badly to Ati's? Does this card peform OK as a secondary card?

Everything will be functional on the card even though it is a secondary card in the system correct?

I plan on using the DVI connection on the card.

Which interface uses the higher ramdac (360Mhz) on the card? DVI or DSUB?

Will DVDs play fine on this pci card if it is the secondary card in the system?
Thanks for any help

[dbdg]

I currently run a 9700Pro and G200 in my rig and there is no problem running both sets of drivers. I imagine performance will be great, I am very happy with my G200.

As for the rest, no idea.

[cochese]

are you able to play DVD movies on the display running off your g200?

[Chrono_Wanderer]

well, if he's running a G200, i think you will be fine using a g450PCI, since their drivers are unified. However, why don't you get yourself a Radeon 9000 PCI? I think the drivers will work better that way.

[cochese]

actually I've heard people have MORE problems with the radeon 9000 pci as the seconday card.

the thing I am most concerned with is whether this card (as a secondary card in my system) will let me play DVDs on my second display or not.

I have heard of some pci cards not being able to display mpeg2 streams on the second display when they are used with an agp card.

not sure if this is a hrdware or software problem


hopefully someone here knows or I will get an answer from the matrox tech support forums on monday

[dbdg]

I have to disable my G200 to play DVDs on my PC.

Power DVD says resolution not supported.

[UtwigMU]

Depends, generally G200's had 8MB of RAM which is rather little for full screen DVDs and 3D stuff.

G450 turns of some features (search the FAQ at Matrox) for non-intel chipsets, which results in skippy video performance.

[cochese]

hmmm OK... I guess I am taking a gamble here then...

I do have an intel chipset, the G450pci has 32mb ram... I just hope that having the G450 as the secondary card, I can still use it to play DVDs on my second display (16 : 9 LCD)

[Chrono_Wanderer]

Got this off ATI...

ATI does not support the use of an additional PCI graphic card in a system with the RADEON™ 9000 PRO graphics card to run three or more displays. These products do support the use of two independent displays, from a single card, under the Windows® XP, Windows® 2000, and Windows® ME operating systems.

I guess that explains it.

On a side note, I think most people are successful with their dual Matrox combinations, such as a Matrox G550 AGP + a G450 PCI. I guess Matrox DO make quality products + drivers. (except for the parhelia banding part )

hmm... that's a setup I want. Best thing is there's no banding

now problem is, who's paying for monitors :P

[cochese]

gonna borrow a G450 pci and try it out on a second monitor if somehow it works then I'm gonna go for ordering that LCD.. Whew almost ordered it just now. Thanks for saving me

[Ijon_Tichy23]

To answer your question: AFAIK you cannot play dvd's on your proposed secondary display (unless you initiate the pci display first in the moboard bios). I believe that the Parhelia can with overlay.

Currently I am running a GF3ti200 agp with a 19" + G450 pci with 2 x 17" monitors. I have no problems with this setup except with a bsod if I do Zoom on the 3rd head while the 3rd head is displaying something other than desktop background.

I have also had no problems with these configurations (with intel chipsets):

GF3ti200 agp + G450 pci (full dual head)
GF3ti200 agp + G200 pci + G450 pci (each with one monitor)
GF3ti200 agp + G200 pci + Millenium II (each with one monitor)
G400 agp + G200 pci
G400 agp + Millenium II
G400 Marvel + Millenium II

Of all of these I am most happy with my current setup. In Win2k I get independent resolutions, I can play OpenGL games like TFC or RTCW on primary display and have mIRC and other applications running on other heads, and I can play media files (except for dvd's) on secondary display and have it full screen on 3rd display via DVDMax.

Now if only some company would make a true tripple head gaming card.

[cochese]

I was told on the matrox support forums that the primary output of the G450 PCI has a video overlay but the secondary head doesn't.

So shouldnt the primary be able to play DVDs even though the G450 is being used with an AGP card?
I wonder if it depends on what kind of software you use to play the dvd or if its just something else.

hopefully I'll get to test it out soon

[cochese]

damn this G450 32mb PCI supply has dried up all over the place, its like a nationwide backorder. WTF