This recent reply in an old thread is interseting in multiple monitor setups http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/251301-33-anyone-cheap-monitor-display-video-card
In the Antec 900 build I have, there is an Asus P5n E SLI MB installed. http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_775/P5NE_SLI/#specifications I wanted to install six monitors so I had two GeForce 8600 taking up the 2 x PCIe x16 , and one GeForce 8400 take up a pci and it worked well no problems.
For myself, if I really needed the 8 monitors, matching video cards, and I was looking for the 1155 socket, I would probably spend the extra $150 to $200 go for the ASUS Maximus IV Extreme-R3 LGA 1155 P67 eATX . One thing I can say... with the ability to support 8 monitors the budget has to be slightly expanded. Only question is, on any motherboard, making sure the video cards you are interseted in fit side by side in those PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots taking in the size of the heatsinks and fans on some cards. http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0358024 With all this said and done... Scat might be able to get two really nice deals on 2 machines for the same price or less.
There are a couple of possible (need to trial-and-error) alternatives if you don't want an expensive motherboard (for >3 PCIe X16 slots) or an expensive quad/octo video card. 1. Mixing PCI and PCIe X16 video cards. It will work only if your video cards are compatible in that configuration. I did use that configuration (2 PCI and 1 PCIe X16) for a while. I think the video card was 5400 FX or something (Nvidia chip). But 5400 stopped working in Windows 7. Which was part of the reasons that I changed out all video cards as I built my new boxes. The best is if you find the video cards having the same model number but different bus options (PCI, PCIe X16). The likelihood having them work together is high. Unfortunately though, that you can no longer find new PCI based video cards. Only used ones on eBay or something. 2. Use PCIe X16 (3 slots, 3 dual cards) to drive 6 monitors and add on 2 USB-to-VGA (or DVI) adapters. This configuration works. I have no perceived slowness.
Power Supply Calculator Use this for your new build to include overclocking and everything you will install. Takes out the guesswork and get a decent estimate on your build ! http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp
This looks to be a solution for an 8 monitor setup http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6295372&CatId=3598 The prices keep adding up though for these two additional monitors though especially with the new mother board needed. And yes, Scat could buy two of the Dells for less, I agree.
For a multi-monitor system, you need to have proper proprieties.. #1. How many monitors to run (and allow for future expansion)? #2. Which video cards? x16s, only... or x16s + x1s. #3. Which mobo to accommodate those cards? #4. Which computer has the mobo you need? Unwise to "buy computer first"... then assume you can get all the monitors you want to run on it. You've wondered "whether a T3500 can run 8 monitors"? As you have a T3500, you can test it for yourself. (a) Run 2, quad cards, or (b) 2, x16 dualheads + 2, x1 dualheads... as you'd find in the Nvidia Quadro NVS 295s and 450s. Of course if you buy a couple of x1 cards for the test, you'll likely feel compelled to use them. If you want to run "dualheads on all x16s", then you can't use a Dell.
There are advantages of having 2 boxes, and downsides. The advantage is to have 100% redundancy. If one box goes out, you can trade from the other box with 50% of normal utility. The downside is having to maintain two identical environments. That includes license fees for the trading apps on two computers instead of one, plus having to replicate your software/trading-setup changes every time you make some improvements.
Thanks. I'm a trader, not a computer hardware guru.:eek: I'm wondering if you, bolimomo, and Tikitrader will help me order the parts I need to build a rig AROUND this? http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0293547 I need to run 8 22"s, and the i7-2600k is what I'm aiming at. I'd love to take pics of a build for my home system, and post them as well. Hope my Wife's camera has the clarity tiki has posted.
I think this is a bad approach. One should not start with a chassis and then order other parts to fit inside that chassis. I think one should start with: - The requirements, that determines what CPU chip, how many expansion slots needed. This is the key. - Then locate a motherboard that supports it, plus providing the other functions (such as how many USBs, network connection, audio, SATA interfaces, etc.) - Then determine the power supply needed - Then pick a chassis that conform with the motherboard's form factor - Then order the rest (e.g. hard drive (or SSD or both), DVD-RW or Blu-ray, video cards, keyboard/mouse, etc.)