We all have 3-4 monitors per workstation.  It can be a royal PITA to get 
that second card to work, but the two card solution is much cheaper than a 
4-port card (at least when we were "shopping").

We found two sources of NVidia-powered cards.  Jaton can be had for less 
than $100.  I'd say to stay away from them!  We are a 24-hr operation. 
Furthermore, for updating, virus scans, etc, our system units are always 
powered on.  The Jaton have this crappy little cooling fan whose bearings 
wear out rather quickly. First, the fan will make an amazing amount of 
noise.  Then it fails.  Ultimately, the card fails.  (To aggravate the 
situation, the fan has a sticker on it that says "U Lucky / So Kool"!)

The cards made by PNY, rather than a fan, have a heat sink that is almost 
as big as the card itself.  We believe they are worth the price!

Another factor - we were getting the Jaton in PCI only.  The PNY we know 
are available in an assortment of "Express slot" sizes.  Newer PCs (we're 
all Dell Precision Workstation, except for the old Optiplex and Dememtions 
we don't yet have the funds to replace) tend to have no available PCI 
slots but do have an "Express" slot or two.
--
Richard D. McClary
Systems Administrator, Information Technology Group
 
ASPCA®
1717 S. Philo Rd, Ste 36
Urbana, IL  61802
 
[email protected]
 
P: 217-337-9761
C: 217-417-1182
F: 217-337-9761
www.aspca.org
 
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"Jim Slattery" <[email protected]> wrote on 09/28/2009 07:38:31 
AM:

> We?re looking at adding a third monitor to our call center 
> workstations.  (New phone system takes up a screen, and they need 
> two others for casework).
> 
> Does anyone have a suggestion for a relatively cheap desktop-level 
> (office apps, no 3D, no games) video card that handles 3 monitors? 
> or have you tried it and decided on two cards instead?
> 
> TIA
> 
> Jim Slattery
> Systems Administrator
> MEDEX Global Group
> 
> 
~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~
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