You can mix and match, but you dont say if you are on a Windows machine
or a Mac, or what video card you have. With a modern video card (that
has two video connections on the back) this is very easy under Windows.
Just plug two screens in and Windows will detect the extra screen. You
can then choose what you want to do with the second screen, and which
one you want as your primary.

On my own setup, I have a 21" TFT as my primary screen, connected via a
digital connection to the video card. I have a second 15" TFT that I
have rotated 90 degrees to the right connected as well (via a regular
monitor connection). This gives me a second display that is in portrate
mode rather than landscape (taller rather than wider) which is great for
the PhotoShop tools and reading web pages. Windows handles rotating the
image on the physically roted screen by -90 degrees so that my desktop
stretches perfectly across both screens.

--


x theSpaceGirl (miranda)

# lead designer @ http://www.dhnewmedia.com #
# remove NO SPAM to email, or use form on website #

Thanks for the ideas. My Dell Dimension 8400 video card does, indeed,
support two monitors.
However, it has only one 9-pin connector. The other two connectors I do not
recognize and can get no info on them after twi days with Dell Tech Support
and Chat.
I'll contact Dell Sales Chat when they open at 11:00am, my time.
Your idea of a portrait orientation on the second display is great an I'll
check that I will be able to do that on whatever I finally purchase.
I've about decided that it is not a good idea to skimp even on the second
display as it limits later options.
I think I'll have what I need to go it from here, Miranda.
Thanks very much for your considered and informative reply!
.. . . . patrick

My Dell 8400 has an Nvidia PCI Express 6800 with two digital (white)
DVI out connections. Nvidia has Nview software with many options for
the dual monitors. I'm running two Samsung 19" flat panels side by
side. I should have done this years ago!

http://www.nvidia.com/object/feature_nview.html
http://www.nvidia.com/page/geforce_6800.html

Terrific! The only info I can get on my graphics card is as listed in the
system specs:
RADEON P5288 CARD (CIRCUIT), GRAPHICS, 128, X300, SERVER ENHANCED, MRMGA8, 2
That's an ATI Technologies product with a PCI Express X16 interface.
It supports DVI, VGA, TV Out, S-Video .
It sports an aspect ratio of 16:9 at 16 or 32 bit color depths.

It has 3 outputs: the old 9-pin (to which I have my present 19" CRT
connected)
A small, round output that looks similar the S-Video jacks on my old VCR
editing machines.
A white, multi-pin femail connector that looks like a HDTV input connector
is probably the DVI output.

I'll make sure any monitor I purchase will accept that input.

Do you use the second monitor primarily for palettes and a notepad?
How would a 19" flat panel DVI compatible monitor compare with my 19" Dell
CRT for PS CS editing?
That is, would I be well advised to make the new flat panel my image monitor
and use anything at all for the palette monitor?
(The Dell monitor could then replace the ViewSonic G90 19" display that I
have on another system.)

Thanks for the encouraging reply! . . . . patrick

I have no earthly idea what that is? ;o)

Yes and I have Bridge running there too.

I can run AutoCAD in one and Chief Architect in the other or Word and
Excel at the same time. Or span Excel across both...and do about 10
other cool things.

That would be a personal preference. I prefer matching flat panels
with thin frames.

See above.

I'm not sure you are going to be happy with what windows is going to
offer for dual monitor support. It's very limited. Nview is the way
to go in my opinion.

I did see ATI FireMV or FireGL for multi-view.
http://www.ati.com/products/firegl.html
http://www.ati.com/products/fireglv5000/AT...0_Datasheet.pdf