Vista - Windows Vista "Aero" over 2 Graphics Cards

Hey,

Is it possible to use two graphics cards (eg Quad Monitors) with Windows
Vista Aero theme?

I currently have dual monitors all provided by a ATi Radeon x1950 and wish
to add a second display adaptor (most likely a cheaper x1300 or something
similar) but still wish to use the Aero theme with my Dreamscene backgrounds
on all monitors.

It currently works fine using the same adaptor (both outputs) but a
different card altogether is another question I guess.

Anyone done such a similar thing or know anything about it?

Many thanks in advance

"Andy Snook" <nimroddx_uk@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:CB92ED27-0BBD-4D12-9BDE-6409DB25E588@microsoft.com...
> Hey,
>
> Is it possible to use two graphics cards (eg Quad Monitors) with Windows
> Vista Aero theme?
>
> I currently have dual monitors all provided by a ATi Radeon x1950 and wish
> to add a second display adaptor (most likely a cheaper x1300 or something
> similar) but still wish to use the Aero theme with my Dreamscene
> backgrounds on all monitors.
>
> It currently works fine using the same adaptor (both outputs) but a
> different card altogether is another question I guess.
>
> Anyone done such a similar thing or know anything about it?
>
> Many thanks in advance


I haven't tried it but it looks like it will work as long as both cards use
the same wddm driver.

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device...imonVista.mspx

This means that you would need two cards from the same manufacturer so you
couldn't use one ATI cards and one NVidia card.

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca

So it would be fine to use a X1950 in one PCI Express Slot and a X1300 in
another PCI Express Slot (my motherboard has two), as there both from ATi
using ATi's driver package.?

Many Thanks


"Kerry Brown" <kerry@kdbNOSPAMsys-tems.c*a*m> wrote in message
news:%23GDF%23l4VHHA.3948@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> "Andy Snook" <nimroddx_uk@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:CB92ED27-0BBD-4D12-9BDE-6409DB25E588@microsoft.com...
>> Hey,
>>
>> Is it possible to use two graphics cards (eg Quad Monitors) with Windows
>> Vista Aero theme?
>>
>> I currently have dual monitors all provided by a ATi Radeon x1950 and
>> wish to add a second display adaptor (most likely a cheaper x1300 or
>> something similar) but still wish to use the Aero theme with my
>> Dreamscene backgrounds on all monitors.
>>
>> It currently works fine using the same adaptor (both outputs) but a
>> different card altogether is another question I guess.
>>
>> Anyone done such a similar thing or know anything about it?
>>
>> Many thanks in advance
>
>
> I haven't tried it but it looks like it will work as long as both cards
> use the same wddm driver.
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device...imonVista.mspx
>
> This means that you would need two cards from the same manufacturer so you
> couldn't use one ATI cards and one NVidia card.
>
> --
> Kerry Brown
> Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
> http://www.vistahelp.ca
>
>

I don't know. The article says it will work but I haven't personally tested
it.

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca


"Andy Snook" <Andy_Snook@Microsoft Communities> wrote in message
news:71A36DA8-EBC1-4252-B2DC-56D65C6B9EED@microsoft.com...
> So it would be fine to use a X1950 in one PCI Express Slot and a X1300 in
> another PCI Express Slot (my motherboard has two), as there both from ATi
> using ATi's driver package.?
>
> Many Thanks
>
>
> "Kerry Brown" <kerry@kdbNOSPAMsys-tems.c*a*m> wrote in message
> news:%23GDF%23l4VHHA.3948@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> "Andy Snook" <nimroddx_uk@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:CB92ED27-0BBD-4D12-9BDE-6409DB25E588@microsoft.com...
>>> Hey,
>>>
>>> Is it possible to use two graphics cards (eg Quad Monitors) with Windows
>>> Vista Aero theme?
>>>
>>> I currently have dual monitors all provided by a ATi Radeon x1950 and
>>> wish to add a second display adaptor (most likely a cheaper x1300 or
>>> something similar) but still wish to use the Aero theme with my
>>> Dreamscene backgrounds on all monitors.
>>>
>>> It currently works fine using the same adaptor (both outputs) but a
>>> different card altogether is another question I guess.
>>>
>>> Anyone done such a similar thing or know anything about it?
>>>
>>> Many thanks in advance
>>
>>
>> I haven't tried it but it looks like it will work as long as both cards
>> use the same wddm driver.
>>
>> http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device...imonVista.mspx
>>
>> This means that you would need two cards from the same manufacturer so
>> you couldn't use one ATI cards and one NVidia card.
>>
>> --
>> Kerry Brown
>> Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
>> http://www.vistahelp.ca
>>
>>
>