HDI wrote:

>
> Thanks for the explanation.
>
> I tried to run cpuz but on that computer I got an windows error so I
> couldn't check the chipset.
>
> I was looking at some dual monitor cards and saw that the power supply
> requirements of the card require 350Watt or more and I've got only
> 220W of output.
> Is this too low or am I looking at the wrong ones. (I need a good
> quiet one for administration)
>

You were running a Geforce2 MX200, and that was drawing some power.
The older cards would tend to draw as much current from +3.3V as
they were allowed (something like 6 amps). So you could count on
them using at least 20 watts.

I don't have power numbers for all the modern cards. Xbitlabs
measures some video cards, and so those numbers are available.

You could use something like an ATI 9250. This one has no fan on
it, and is passively cooled. That tells you the power would be
reasonably low.

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggIma...241-075-05.jpg

The thing is, I don't know what type of connectors you are looking for
in a graphics card. That ATI 9250 card has one VGA connector and
one DVI-I. By using a DVI-I to VGA adapter, you would get a second
VGA connector. So the card could drive two VGA monitors.

There is an Nvidia 6200 with a couple VGA connectors on it.

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggIma...139-028-03.jpg

This ATI HD 2400 pro has nice connectors on it (two dual link DVI-I)
but since it has a fan for cooling, it might be a few watts more than
the 9250. I cannot find a measured power number for it. It is
listed as "25W" here (and that 25W would be when in 3D mode -
most of the time, the power would be lower than that).

2400PRO512ASB (HD 2400 Pro, Diamond brand, $85)
http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggIma...103-046-05.jpg

(Power listed as 25 watts)
http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards....rd1=526&card2=

Another card (that isn't being made any more), would be a 7600 GS AGP.
But it is listed as 32 watts, on this page.

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards....=526&card2=434

When Xbitlabs did a measurement, they didn't have a 7600 GS, and used
a 7600 GT and turned down the clocks on the card, to emulate a 7600 GS.
The card they used would also be PCI Express, meaning the card would be
missing the Rialto bridge chip on the back side of the card. The
power number they got was 27.4W at full (3D) power.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/vid...r-noise_6.html

But it looks like this picture of a 7600 GS AGP, has a Molex power
connector on the end of the card, and that is generally a sign of
higher power usage. Strange.

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.c...1993_214060693

There are some older video card power numbers listed here. Selecting
a video card, causes the estimates to appear in the spreadsheet.

http://web.archive.org/web/200404110...c.html?english

I think I'd give the HD 2400 Pro a try, if I needed maximum flexibility
in terms of the connectors on the card. Of course, check to see if it has
drivers for your OS. To run two VGA 15 pin monitors with the HD 2400 Pro,
you'd need to buy two DVI-I to VGA adapter plugs.

Or, you could get the 9250, if you wanted to run a couple VGA connector
equipped monitors. Drivers should be less of a problem, unless you're
trying to run Vista or something.

Paul