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Most people buy a Rolls-Royce to drive to the bakery.
If you put together a trading computer, you do not need a gaming card, but a graphics adapter that allows you to connect up to 4 monitors.
For this my PC is equipped with 2 Nvidia Quadro NVS 285 (128 MB) adapters. Each of them comes at a cost of about USD 60.00. Go and laugh at me. I am also laughing. I can connect up to 4 DVI monitors, and I have had no issues so far. The money I saved on the graphic adapters was used to purchase a server (higher reliability) and a stronger CPU, which is absolutely necessary for data processing. I never regretted that the video games of my son don't run on my machine.
Today I would purchase 2 NVS 295 for USD 120.00 each.
In case that I need to upgrade from 4 to 8 monitors, I can replace the cards with two NVS 450 cards. These would be more expensive, as they cost about USD 400.00 each.
@PowerM: if you have a free PCIe slot, it's easy and cheap, just add another dual-dvi card; and it doesn't need to be the same model, you don't want to do some CrossFire here, you want more screens, not much horse-power on one screen. It's also possible to add an different card (but safer if it's the same brand/same driver).
And when I talk about an HD 4350, it's a PCI one, to be added with the HD3850 you already have, on a PCI slot (not PCIe).
@studio88: how good is the quality of the USB adapter, good enough, fast enough ? I've heard, but that was a long time ago, that the quality was not very good.
@Fat Tails: I would never laugh at you, as I admire what you do here and how you share your ideas and your knowledge . Even when Rolls-Royce sounds fine somehow.
I also do not need a gaming card as the only game I play on my PC from time to time is chess on a chess server. It is only that I do not know how to connect 3 or 4 monitors, and that I think it should work with the cards I mentioned. I was at a local store (Media Markt) with a description of my PC and they said I need crossfire and there is really no other solution. But as my PC is from 2008, I would get a problem with the slots then. Actually my manual tells me that I would have 1 additional PCIe and 2 PCI slots, ok, I think this info is reliable. My monitors can only be connected via D-SUB and/or DVI-D connectors to the card(s). Next question would then be which adapter I should use if the card would have a HDMI output or soomething else.
Usualy I order via internet, and I want to avoid to order things that does not fit finally, even if I could send them back. And I think I understood now how this graphic issue should work.
So again many thanks for your input, I always like to read your posts .
@sam028: same for you, thanks a lot for your input. Sorry to ask again, are you sure that I would not need crossfire? That is the opposite of what I was told before. I was told that I would get the same picture on different monitors instead of separate pictures on every monitor. So when using 4 monitors, not 4x1 pic but 2x2. I hope you understand what I mean. OK, if this is wrong, I think I will buy another 3850 on Monday. Which would be your final short-statement ? Many thanks again!
I agree about the overkill between Gaming Cards and what could classes as appropriate quality/cost effective display distribution for trading needs.
But yes, the quality is good, not recommended for gaming but for charting data its fine, especially as the LCD monitors have a fast refresh rate too.
The long time ago thing may just be that, but things have moved along these days, or so it seems.
Only problem I have found is a bug I reported to NinjaTrader about the little mini X close box that for some reason or another, cannot close whilst using NT over my screens.
Example, if I right click a chart and choose say Indicators, I cannot close the box with the little X on the right corner. Yet I can close the same box on my notebook screen. But if I then type in another stock code or time frame like say 5M , well that little box can be closed by clicking the mini X close button, as too does time and sales mini X close, but NT seems to think its a problem with my adaptors. Which I dont think it is.
For the money, I cannot complain, but I dont know about the lag over a network version of the display adaptor, which I would only use for index watching, but should I get one, I will keep you updated.
What about the power supply with a 2nd card? is it possible to calculate in advance if the power supply would be adequate? I do not have an idea what is built in my computer :-(. I remember that this was one of the reasons why I thought about using only one card. Ok I found now an external supply for HD 3850. Is this necessary/useful?
Sorry for these lot of questions.
Not sure that you can put your graphics adapter into the second PCIe slot. Also depends on space available in your machine. I guess the best solution is to buy an adapter that allows to connect 4 monitors directly. NVidia NVS 450 is certainly good, but for a machine from 2008, you should be able to find a cheaper solution. I would check with the support of the manufacturer/vendor of the PC. Actually I am running the two graphics adapters in a riser, so they only use on PCIe slot.
Just ordered a new computer from Origin, solely because of the demands of running NT. I configured it to run a 6 monitors. I special ordered three Nvidia 256MB Quadro FX380s. Each card has two DVI ports and supports 2 monitors. They are relatively inexpensive and are intended for financial application use. They don't have 3D functionality or CAD functionality, but you don't require it, and you don't want to pay for it, if you don't have to. There are video cards that support 4 monitors and there is a video card that supports 6 monitors, but you allegedly get better quality, with multiple video cards that support only two monitors each.
@PowerM : your motherboard seems to have two PCIe slots (I didn't found the documentation, but this thread where the guy seems to have 2 Nvidia 8800GT, but you might check this with your own eyes (with the help of a screwdriver). You have to check if there is really another slot, and if there is enough room to put another card. And you'll need external power supply.
For me you don't need the CrossFire link, as it's mainly used to use the power of two cards on one screen, but I'm using 2 dual NVidia cards (without SLI) for 3 screens, and I can't be 100% sure for ATI stuff, some more Google needed maybe...
@sam028, I have an AMD 780G chipset motherboard with only one PCIe slot which has an HD4350. I turned on the ATI SurroundView in the BIOS, so that I can use 4 monitors for this configuration. If I add another PCI HD4xxx card, will the SurroundView still work(in other words, can I use 6 monitors)? Thanks,
. Even when Rolls-Royce sounds fine somehow.
.
? Many thanks again!
