I don't do AutoCAD but I do use dual monitors at work. IMO, it works well if you normally have to have multiple windows/programs. At work I usually have Outlook and IE on one monitor and on the other our Job Scheduling software. It helps allot when you can look at one monitor for information, and work on the other without having to minimize and maximize windows all the time.
As far as what is required, I am using the on-board video card, and an add-on video card. The monitors are two Dell 1905fp's.
You should be able to run dual monitors easily as long as your video card supports it. Most video cards nowadays support dual monitors. Just go into the display properties and enable the second monitor. There is nothing special you have to do. Once you use multiple monitors, you won't want to go back.
You should be able to run dual monitors easily as long as your video card supports it. Just go into the diplay properties and enable the second monitor. There is nothing special you have to do.
Onboard video I am sure... get a cheap $59 video card that has dual monitor support and you will be good to go. unless you are all into LCD's I have both a 19" and a 21" CRT monitor I will practically give you.
A bunch of us have them at work. I have three at home. Some video cards have two outputs. If you don't have one of these, a second video card will do it. Windows 98 and up will recognize the second video card.
That's true. I picked up a nVidia Gt8800 after rebate a month ago. It was about $150 and will anything you throw at it. You should also think about upgrading you ram to at least 2GB for autocad. I assume you have XP. If you don't have 64bit XP, then it will only see about 3GB of ram.
It depends on what type of cad work you do as to if you should get a cheap video card or not. Do you do any 3d? If so make sure you get a better video card.
That's true. I picked up a nVidia Gt8800 after rebate a month ago. It was about $150 and will anything you throw at it. You should also think about upgrading you ram to at least 2GB for autocad. I assume you have XP. If you don't have 64bit XP, then it will only see about 3GB of ram.
Putting that aside, I agree with your suggestion of putting at least 2GB of RAM in that box for AutoCAD. It is a memory eating machine. A lot of video card memory (non shared) would be very advisable too. At least 512MB.
It depends on what type of cad work you do as to if you should get a cheap video card or not. Do you do any 3d? If so make sure you get a better video card.
XP pro 32bit can see up to 4GB RAM. 2GB for User mode memory, 2GB for kernal mode memory.
XP home can only see 2gb but that can be hacked.
A 3GB limitation would be motherboard based, not OS based. For instance, many laptops can only address 3GBs.
Putting that aside, I agree with your suggestion of putting at least 2GB of RAM in that box for AutoCAD. It is a memory eating machine. A lot of video card memory (non shared) would be very advisable too. At least 512MB.
When we got a new batch of Dell machines in, we had ordered them with 64bit XP Pro and 4 GB od RAM. After we determined it was a real headache with 64 bit drivers and software, we rolled them back to 32 bit XP Pro, at which point XP would only see about 3GB. I dug around and, even though 32 bit XP Pro can see 4GB in theory, in reality it has to be tweaked. At least that is what my experience has been.
I support AutoCAD for a large design firm as part of our contract.
I'll tell you what works best for these guys... Video memory, video memory, video memory. They also use Google Sketchup, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign as well. Most of them are running multiprocessor Precision Workstations with 512-1GB of video memory.
Get a good dual head video card with at least 512MB
Also, get 1 BIG monitor for your AutoCAD monitor, and use a smaller one for your normal desktop operations. These designers have 24 inch widescreens, and still complain about needing bigger monitors.
I support AutoCAD for a large design firm as part of our contract.
I'll tell you what works best for these guys... Video memory, video memory, video memory. They also use Google Sketchup, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign as well. Most of them are running multiprocessor Precision Workstations with 512-1GB of video memory.
Get a good dual head video card with at least 512MB
Also, get 1 BIG monitor for your AutoCAD monitor, and use a smaller one for your normal desktop operations. These designers have 24 inch widescreens, and still complain about needing bigger monitors.
For the most part, it's hard to tell the difference between 1 or 2 GB of RAM under normal conditions. One of my Mac users with 1 GB RAM was complaining of Photoshop running slow, so we slapped another Gig of ram in that thing. One little step he was doing in PS went from taking 45 secs to about 5 secs. RAM makes a BIG difference when you are rendering.
I work alot with ProE and actually like having 1 really big monitor much better. You can still have multiple windows open, but also have the ability to see larger scale with more of the design on your screen at the same time.
I work alot with ProE and actually like having 1 really big monitor much better. You can still have multiple windows open, but also have the ability to see larger scale with more of the design on your screen at the same time.
I recently switched from having 2 20" to one 24". It drove me crazy because I got tired of resizing and moving my screeens around to make them fit. I like having 2 screens so I can hit the expand button and not have to play with it. I switched back to 2 separate screens.
I work alot with ProE and actually like having 1 really big monitor much better. You can still have multiple windows open, but also have the ability to see larger scale with more of the design on your screen at the same time.
Awesome! Thank you guys. This is the information I was looking for! I have never had to worry about this on my own, having always worked for someone else. All I had to do was let the IT guy's know what was going on. Now, don't get me wrong, I am cabable of doing things on my own, it is just nice to have some good insight before I tear into something.
The bigger the better! I hate zooming in and out all the time. It would be nice to have a huge screen, but two will do.
I don't do much 3D. Not a big requirement for my projects. Switching between drawings sucks. That and going between accounting programs, DFW, school, email, etc. is a pain.
Now off to make the bucks to improve my system....
Awesome! Thank you guys. This is the information I was looking for! I have never had to worry about this on my own, having always worked for someone else. All I had to do was let the IT guy's know what was going on. Now, don't get me wrong, I am cabable of doing things on my own, it is just nice to have some good insight before I tear into something.
The bigger the better! I hate zooming in and out all the time. It would be nice to have a huge screen, but two will do.
I don't do much 3D. Not a big requirement for my projects. Switching between drawings sucks. That and going between accounting programs, DFW, school, email, etc. is a pain.
Now off to make the bucks to improve my system....
Another thing I forgot to mention when tring to decide on monitors. You can buy 2 20" monitors for about the same price as 1 24", but you get a lot more space with the 2 20's.
I bet he does, but if she is using that type of program, then she is likely going to be doing rendering at some point. Besides, she asked a general question, not how to use Autocad. I couldn't begin to tell her how to do that.
I figured if you were drawing and creating 3D objects, you would need to render them at some point. Like I said, I don't use it. I've just seen what others do with it around here.
I have a sub-contractor that does the 3d stuff for me. It is just not something that I have gotten into.
Is it something that I should do ...yes. There are many of the stone fabrication companies that I do work for that use cnc machines. It would be easier on them if I did the drawings in 3d so that they can transfer the production tickets easily.
Right now though, it is not something that I am willing to do. I have been doing this since '94. I figure that if I have gotten along this long without it, then it will all come out in the wash.
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