Author Topic: PCI Nvidia card with two dual-link DVI outputs  (Read 1831 times)

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Offline ed_avis

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PCI Nvidia card with two dual-link DVI outputs
« on: Thu, 22 March 2012, 06:53:15 »
I'm looking for a video card for my Dell M90 laptop with dock.  (I know an eGPU is possible but I would prefer to use the dock I have.)  The requirements are

- PCI bus (not PCI Express).
- Nvidia chipset (so it can use the same driver as the onboard video).
- Needs two DVI outputs, each one being dual-link DVI.
- Performance is not important, as long as it is recent enough to be supported by current Nvidia drivers it will be fine.

I already have a stash of Quadro 440 PCI-bus cards but I do not have the necessary cables for them - and I believe that while they are capable of generating four single-link DVI outputs, they cannot produce dual-link signals.  If anyone knows to the contrary please enlighten me!  And I already have video cards (both Nvidia and Radeon) with reasonable muscle and twin dual-link outputs, but they are PCI Express not PCI.

Offline WhiteFireDragon

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PCI Nvidia card with two dual-link DVI outputs
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 22 March 2012, 07:12:59 »
Is there even such thing? DVI is pretty new, relative to PCI interface.

Offline ed_avis

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PCI Nvidia card with two dual-link DVI outputs
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 22 March 2012, 08:57:02 »
DVI is old and there are plenty of PCI video cards with DVI output (or some connector such as DMS59 with a DVI splitter cable).

Dual-link DVI is newer.  I believe there are Radeon cards with PCI bus and twin dual-link (though I haven't seen a particular model number), and Matrox seemingly carried on making PCI cards after everyone else gave up, but I am seeking a Nvidia-based card.

Offline IvanIvanovich

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PCI Nvidia card with two dual-link DVI outputs
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 22 March 2012, 09:59:41 »
I am pretty sure there is no such card from nvidia. One dual link sure, but not 2. Can you do dvi and hdmi? GT520 I think is the most up to date pci card, and it only have 1 dvi.

I have an 8400GS pci, but it only have 1 dvi and 1 hdmi too.

Offline Tennobanzai

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PCI Nvidia card with two dual-link DVI outputs
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 22 March 2012, 22:44:36 »
Quote from: lysol;553531
I am pretty sure there is no such card from nvidia. One dual link sure, but not 2. Can you do dvi and hdmi? GT520 I think is the most up to date pci card, and it only have 1 dvi.

I have an 8400GS pci, but it only have 1 dvi and 1 hdmi too.
I know they make dual DMS59 cards but I've only seen them come with PCI express

Offline Wildcard

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PCI Nvidia card with two dual-link DVI outputs
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 23 March 2012, 00:21:20 »
I'm assuming you want to use the dual-links to drive 2 large monitors?

I believe you can use two single links for this purpose, just have to specify that in your setup. Have you checked the manual for these Quadros for supported resolutions?

Offline ed_avis

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PCI Nvidia card with two dual-link DVI outputs
« Reply #6 on: Fri, 23 March 2012, 03:31:00 »
Quote from: Tennobanzai;554216
I know they make dual DMS59 cards but I've only seen them come with PCI express
I have some old Quadro cards with dual DMS59 (or dual LFH-60) but I believe that even with the right breakout cable you can only get 4x single-link DVI, not 2x dual-link.

It is indeed possible to drive each monitor with two single-link DVI connections instead of one dual-link.  But to do that I would have to unplug the adaptor cards I currently have fitted to the monitors.  It would be more convenient to get dual-link outputs from both my desktop and laptop.