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To: jw who wrote (4038)	12/10/1998 1:39:00 PM
From: pae	Read Replies (3) of 14778

JW, 4 monitors on a BH6/300a/Win98. 1) It can be done. I did it. If I was doing it again, I would consider the dual or quad monitor cards more seriously than I did - but they are pricey. Which is why I went the 1:1 monitor:vid-adapter route. Now, however, I have all slots filled. My AGP card (ATI All-in-wonder) heats up to 120degrees F with the top PCI filled. Cooling options are limited with all PCI slots full - but that is another over-heated topic. 2) If you are considering NT near-term but not the dual/quad cards, go with exact match Matrox cards so as to keep your options open for NT4 multi-monitor which is supported by the Matrox NT video driver. 3) Some time ago on this thread, I asked a question similar to yours and I think it was ZP who suggested that 2 larger monitors yield more square inches of total desktop than 4 smaller cheaper monitors. Perhaps he factored in $/sq.in. of desktop. It was, as are all ZP's answers, a well-considered concept. You might want to search the thread for it as I doubt I have done the concept justice. 4) Physically managing 4 monitors can be difficult. All 4 in a row? A high shelf and a low shelf? On a desk you need to move to get at the back of your computer? Heat WILL DEFINATELY be an issue. I am actually considering ignoring cost totally to go for LCD screens in the future largely due to heat/weight/bulk/power issues. 5) You will end up installing one monitor/vidcard at a time anyway, so you might want to start with just 1 or 2 decent (19" or larger) monitors and see if you REALLY need more. (Easier to make another purchase than to return an over-purchase.) I may build another BH6/300a combo and split my already purchased video/memory assets across the two boxes. Four monitors IS a tad unwieldy. Of course, once you surf the web with 4 21" monitors, your veins get larger.<g> Good luck! Paul

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