Dell 8400 Video Card Question

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by Carry888, May 11, 2005.

  1. ler

    ler

    I was in a similar shopping situation and got a Dell 4700 with the x300 graphics. I added a PCI Radeon 9200SE to get more screens. Works great and shares the driver with the x300 (as an R7000 should too).

    I went with the R9200 to get a bit newer tech than the R7000. Browse the ads just about any Sunday for BBY/CC/OMX/ODP and you will find PCI R9200's going for around $50 after rebates.
     
    #21     May 14, 2005
  2. Thanks for all the great feedback and sharing of hardware experience. I will add my own and update as I progress.

    Currently my PC uses the AMD XP 2400 2G with 1.5G of ram with a Matrox G450 dualhead with 32M (16 per channel) in my AGP slot. I want to add 2 monitors now, and an additional 4 in short order. In speaking with Matrox techs on their board, they told me that the G200 Quad PCI 32M (8 per channel) would be compatible.

    I have finally been successful in bidding on ebay for a G200 quad with cables (thats important as the splitters are hard to find). I will also be buying a back up G450, or if successful, will go for a G450 quad with 128M AGP.

    I will be initially using 21" CRTs, since i can buy them used locally all day long for $50 each (and with summer approaching, i figure with 6 21" CRTs, I will be able to bake my cookies without turning on the oven). When the 21" used flat panels start showing up, I will ditch the 21"CRTs.

    Will share my continued adventures with this process as it unfolds.
     
    #22     May 15, 2005
  3. I am also looking into an 8400, but I don't even see an option for nvidia 6800 GTO (dual dvi is what I want). I do see the radeon x850 but it's $360 more than the 6800 -- are gto's not offered anymore?
     
    #23     May 16, 2005
  4. Carry888

    Carry888

    I am buying from Dell Australia - the 6800 GTO is an option here, I don't know about in the US. (A$=Australian Dollars)
     
    #24     May 16, 2005
  5. Carry888

    Carry888

    Just to update what I finally put in.

    I ended up buying a Matrox G200 cheaply on ebay as i couldn't find an original (non-3rd party manufacturer) ATI card locally.

    Anyway, the Matrox works great - runs 2 monitors, while the Dell supplied ATI runs the other 2.

    Thanks again to gnome and eveyone else for their advice.
     
    #25     Jun 26, 2005
  6. gnome

    gnome

    So then... you now have an ATI PCIe dualhead card + Matrox G200 PCI dualhead to run 4 monitors?
     
    #26     Jun 26, 2005
  7. Carry888

    Carry888

    Yes
     
    #27     Jun 26, 2005