Price vs Quality/Reliability

[dusty]

A short while ago I posted that I had been given a rather powerful gaming computer with, of all things dual, dual monitors. That is a video card that was capable of driving four individual monitors. I was impressed. I had never seen anything like that. Furthermore, I had no idea what I might do with four monitors.

I checked online to see what I had in terms of value. It was a very expensive setup. Again, I was impressed. And this had all been given to me because the original owner was dissatisfied with the performance.

The computer still seems to be working fine. That is, if you don't count the monitors. I now have a computer capable of driving only one monitor. Fortunately, I can still go split screen.

Lesson learned - expensive equipment is not necessarily reliable. My old Gateway (new 8 years ago) is running fine at my granddaughters house. It has a dual video card too and two really nice flat screen monitors.

If I do not log back on after today, you will know that I have further disabled my computer. I am going to remove the two video cards today and by moving parts around see if I can get back to dual monitors. I have been spoiled. I am now psychologically dependent on dual monitors but not enough so to spend $400 for a video card. I can get an OPR for that (well, almost).

[papahammer8]

dusty there is a opr on e- bay now has a buy it now plan 175.00 if i could but cant. check it out it is complete with table hag1 jim

[dusty]

Well, I managed to do what I feared the most. By trying to make one dual video card "fully" functional by moving parts around between two video cards, I have managed to disable both of them. I guess maybe what I was attempting to do was not all that wise to start with.

I had one video card that was producing video but the display was torn (a sync problem I believe). The other video card has been working fine but then one day, the left hand monitor became inaccessible. I used the computer that way for a while but after working with dual monitors I had gotten spoiled. I wanted my second monitor.

You now know the whole story. I am online now with a substitute computer that is as slow as molasses. Furthermore, I have none of my files, photos, links, bookmarks, etc. What a bummer. I do have dual monitors though. I don't know how long I can last being deprived like this.

[mickyd]

Well, I managed to do what I feared the most. By trying to make one dual video card "fully" functional by moving parts around between two video cards, I have managed to disable both of them. I guess maybe what I was attempting to do was not all that wise to start with.

I had one video card that was producing video but the display was torn (a sync problem I believe). The other video card has been working fine but then one day, the left hand monitor became inaccessible. I used the computer that way for a while but after working with dual monitors I had gotten spoiled. I wanted my second monitor.

You now know the whole story. I am online now with a substitute computer that is as slow as molasses. Furthermore, I have none of my files, photos, links, bookmarks, etc. What a bummer. I do have dual monitors though. I don't know how long I can last being deprived like this.

Well ain't that a kick in the butt!! The harder you try, the worse it gets sometimes.

[djmartins]

Ok, open the machine back up and FIRMLY reseat one of the cards and see how it goes.

[foxtrapper]

I've got a docked laptop with dual display capabilities as well. I once spent over a week with all but unuseable display settings because I couldn't figure out how to reverse what I'd done. The myrad of setting combinations is insane, and the terminology used is not intuitive or clear.

Your cards may well be damaged, but I'd suspect far more likely is you've got the settings mucked and not doing what you want.

[dusty]

I've got a docked laptop with dual display capabilities as well. I once spent over a week with all but unuseable display settings because I couldn't figure out how to reverse what I'd done. The myrad of setting combinations is insane, and the terminology used is not intuitive or clear.

Your cards may well be damaged, but I'd suspect far more likely is you've got the settings mucked and not doing what you want.

I now suspect that there was a time when you would have been correct. However, I have now mucked it up to the point where I have no video. When I turn it on now all I get is a series of audible beeps. A web search reveals that the one long and two short beeps indicates a video card problem is likely.

SWMBO says the budget this month does NOT support the purchase of a new card so I guess I will live with what I have for now.

[Ed in Tampa]

Dusty
Have you tried booting the machine up in "SAFE" mode?
Also have you considered a repair shop. The ones around here are cheaper than a new video card and I know one where if they can't fix it there is no charge.

[dusty]

Dusty
Have you tried booting the machine up in "SAFE" mode?
Also have you considered a repair shop. The ones around here are cheaper than a new video card and I know one where if they can't fix it there is no charge.

I can not get to the option to boot in safe mode. As soon as the power is turned on, the beeping starts. As for a repair shop, NO. I can put new cards in my computer until it works just like they do. Besides that, I called one shop and thewy wanted $70 just to look.

[terrydowning]

Does the mother board have on board video? This may get you at least a single monitor until you can get a replacement video card. If it does then remove the existing video cards completely, attach your monitor to the connector on the motherboard and try booting. Many machines have on board VGA and some are even dual monitor capable. Gamers just like to put n the fastest most expensive cards they can purchase.