Looking for a cheap dual-head solution that will output 1600x1200 on both monitors in digital mode. There are many cards that can do this through the analog outputs, but very few can use DVI. The only one I can find is this one for about $1300.

Another acceptable solution would be a single head PCI card with DVI output. I would use two in one machine and let Windows handle the dual output. Finding a PCI card with DVI is nearly impossible. ATI does make one for the Mac here. Bruno, do you know if it's possible to flash the firmware to PC? Thanks!

Have you looked at any of the new GeForce 4 cards?

Every GeForce4 chip has dual 350mhz RAMDACs, and as per NVidia's requirements, every card has to be dual head enabled.

Unfortunately, most of the companies making them are going the skimpy route, and putting 1 VGA or DVI out, and 1 TV out. I'm not sure how this qualifies as "Dual head", but whatever. Anyway, the good news is that some of the companies making GF4 cards are not skimping, and are actually putting dual DVI outs on the board, with an adapter to use VGA if needed. Take a look at some of the reviews out there, like this one and you should get a pretty good idea whether or not it will work for you.

I'm guessing that the top of the line GF4 will do what you want, and be much cheaper than the 3dlabs card.

Just an update...

I'm not positive, but it looks like the top of the line Gainward GF4 card is one of the ones that has dual DVI outs.

To do dual digital requires an external TMDS controller. The Radeon 8500 chip has only one built in. We don't currently have a retail card with two digital outputs.

I'm not positive, but I thought the NV also needed an external TMDS controller for dual digital. Anyway, you'll get a better display with our cards regardless. Anyone thinking different can meet me outside.

Yes, cards can be flashed to work in a Mac or PC. If you wanted to go from PC to Mac it would be easier from my perspective. I'm on the Mac team and may be able to get some magic worked out. Going the other way... Well, that could be a right pain in the ass because I don't think I know any of the PC bios guys. Our PCI solutions are limited to the original Radeon btw. Let me look into this on Monday for you (one way or the other).

Do you currently have two digital-only panels? Because every dual-mode panel I've tried so far has an amazing display even when connected through VGA. And we can certainly do both heads at over 1600.

You should see the card driving IBM's new display at 3840x2400. Sweet.

PM or email me at the end of the weekend so I can reply directly. Don't want to start a GFX card religious thread.

Bruno

From what I'm hearing there is a bandwidth limitation when trying to do dual DVI at 1600 on a single AGP card. This is why two PCI cards would be good.

As for using analog on a flatscreen... we are noticing blurriness along the outer edges of the screen that is not seen when using DVI. If it were simple to change the firmware on the Mac card I think we would do it, but if you have to go through trouble to get it done it is not that big a deal. We have been given the OK to get the Oxygen card so anything we try to get working now will be for the future. Thanks!

There's no AGP bandwidth limit with respect to what you just mentioned. Read my PM to you in a sec.

Bruno