Two monitor desktop
 

I am thinking of upgrading my present single monitor setup to a dual screen, over which I can spread the desktop or run two programmes with their own screen space.

Currently, I have a GT630 Nvidia graphics card in a high spec PC which has one each of XVGA, HDMI and DVI outputs. As I'd like the monitors to receive the same quality of output (using DVI), what's the best option? Buy a second matching card. Or start again with a single card with two DVI outputs?

I already have two identical monitors, but any advice regarding the cards would be most useful!

There is no difference in quality between DVI and HDMI - they're the same video signal, so just use the HDMI socket on your current card for the second monitor.

HDMI - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Buy an HDMI-to-DVI converter cable (assuming your monitor doesn't have an HDMI input).

Once you've used dual screen then you'll never go back.

[DisplayFusion do a wonderful utility for managing multiple monitors - the paid-for version is well worth it - DisplayFusion: Multiple Monitors Made Easy! ? by Binary Fortress Software ]

Mac

:ok:

that may not work as well as it should
Some HDMI connections tend to letter-box or chop the screen, until you try it you don't know.
My preferred solution is always for one card, with two HDMI outputs. Personal preference is for ATi over nVidia, purely for reliability (although don't buy an ATi card from Sparkle)

Way to go!
 

Totally agree with Mac:

Have to say though that I very rarely spread one window across both screens - you need too much eyeball swivel to be comfortable with that. But multiple windows - you soon cannot live without them - My standard set up is browser, e-mail, libraries and a couple of performance monitoring windows (Task Manager and a UPS monitoring programme)

Go for it!

I'm quite happy with single monitors.

In the form of Apple Cinema Display 30 inch ! :E

mixture: I was trying to think of some clever rejoinder - along the lines of "It's not how big it is - it's how you use it!" but on this occasion will refrain ... And leave you with this thought: My primary display is a laptop, so when a power outage happens along (unhappily a fairly frequent event in this part of the world), my UPS kicks in, giving me time to pull all the open windows off the big screen back to my laptop, and I can then switch off the big screen and continue working for another three to five hours.
Suspect your shiny Apple Cinema display would kill my modest 750VA UPS in a matter of minutes. But of course, most likely you are not so serially and seriously inconvenienced by your power supplier's inability to supply power! :E: ok: :E

Note taken of your location, so your position makes sense.

Still, I do use a UPS. 2200VA. :E

I need my tool bars on one monitor and the main workscreeen for my design program. The toolbar monitor does not need to be big nor high resolution. Does this need a video card with two outputs.

yes.........