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Powermac G4 Digital Audio with 2 Displays
Posted by: Mithrandir on 2012-07-17 14:12:32
Hello, I am looking to just get a quick answer on what to do in order to hook up my digital audio powermac to two displays. It is currently hooked up to an adc studio monitor. I have an acer monitor sitting around that takes vga input. Even though there are ports on the back of my mac for vga and adc, since they are both on the same card I have to buy another card to use vga correct? Also, the acer monitor that I want to hook up can display up to 1900x1280, is that too much for my powermac to handle? If you could point me to a cheap ebay auction etc. where I could get a compatible via card that would be great. Oh and would this card work or not http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Power-Mac-G3-661-2150-Rage-128GL-16MB-VGA-PCI-Graphics-Video-Card-630-2858-/180925476139?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item2a1fffad2b#ht_1567wt_1413

Thanks
Posted by: Anonymous Freak on 2012-07-17 17:05:17
If you're still using the original stock card, then correct - one monitor per card only.

If you're using a newer card, then most likely you can have two displays.

I have a GeForce 4 Ti 4600 in mine, and it happily runs both a 17" ADC Display (1280x1024) and a 21" ViewSonic 1920x1080 DVI display at the same time.

I would not recommend adding a second PCI video card, but rather upgrading to a new dual-monitor-capable AGP card, such as this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/170594386309
Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2012-07-17 18:57:10
If you're not using it for gaming, there's no reason to avoid PCI Video Cards that I can think of offhand. That's what I've used in my DA. For Graphics work they're fine. In the case of the DVD Decoder DaughterCard on one of my ATI VidCards, that combo would probably have been a better choice, when my DA was still my main machine, than a Dual Head AGP Card would have been for use with the DVD/CD SuperDrive upgrade I always wanted.

A three display setup is da bomb! :approve:

If your AGP Card is good enough, watch for a couple of PCI cards that you can share with pre-AGP Macs. But the AGP Card that AF linked looks great as well.

Dunno, YMMV, most do.
Posted by: Mithrandir on 2012-07-17 19:41:49
Thanks guys, I'm seriously considering that card that Anonymous Freak linked.
Posted by: beachycove on 2012-07-17 20:13:24
A three display setup is da bomb!
Hyperbole, or is there a real use for three displays (other than not needing Spaces)?
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