Video card for extended desktop, TV tuner, AND 3D?

KimVette · 02-22-2005, 05:35 PM

What is currently the best solution, in the $220 or under range, for the following features in a video card:

Xinerama/Extended Desktop/"Big Desktop" configuration running two monitors at 1920x1440x24bits@75hz each, with 2048x1536x24bits capability?
3D capability in the Xinerama/Extended Desktop/"Big Desktop" configuration (ATI is not an option as their 3D support in Xinerama/"Big Desktop" mode is limited to a pathetically low resolution)
TV Tuner capability
AGP4X compatibility

The machine this card will be installed in over the short term:

Abit VP6 motherboard (VIA chipset) with two Pentium III processors @975 Mhz
1GB RAM

I'm currently running an ATI All in Wonder Radeon 8500DV and ATI Radeon 7500PCI and am disgusted by ATI's driver offering, lack of support for Linux, and their halfassed customer service mentality. I'd like an extended desktop with 3D support and a TV Tuner/VIVO solution that works. What are my options? I've checked the HCL but the HCL assumes a single-head box.

KimVette · 02-23-2005, 09:49 PM

Is the NVidia Personal Cinema based on the FX5200 an option for what I am looking for?

KimVette · 02-24-2005, 02:22 PM

Okay it looks like TwinView supports 3D acceleration due to the shared framebuffer (found a readme on NVidia's site).

Does anyone know if the Personal Cinema tuners will work with Linux, and where there is a howto? I've searched google and come across mainly similar questions (unanswered) and ecommerce hits - now howtos to be found.

KimVette · 02-26-2005, 07:24 PM

`~-Bump-~'

0pal_t0ad · 02-27-2005, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KimVette
I'm currently running an ATI All in Wonder Radeon 8500DV and ATI Radeon 7500PCI and am disgusted by ATI's driver offering, lack of support for Linux, and their halfassed customer service mentality. I'd like an extended desktop with 3D support and a TV Tuner/VIVO solution that works. What are my options? I've checked the HCL but the HCL assumes a single-head box.

not a big fan of ati anymore but in their defense, the cards you're using are gaming cards. you should probably be looking at their workstation cards but i doubt you'll get anything descent for 220$.

KimVette · 02-27-2005, 09:38 PM

The primary difference between a gamer and workstation card, considering what the card will be used for, is the price tag (not to mention the lack of the tuner on the workstation card) - and 3D modeling is not the primary task so it'd be wasted money. I have grown to appreciate extended desktops that I won't even run a personal machine with a single monitor. Heck, even notebooks offer dual monitor support and HAVE for eons, so get over yourself. Could you answer the question rather than telling me that I need a workstation card (I don't) - and workstation cards don't come with tuners to boot. Sheesh.