I wanna do this thing with my monitors...

Here's what I have, what I want to do, and why...

I have this:

Model Name: Power Mac G5
Model Identifier: PowerMac7,3
Processor Name: PowerPC G5 (2.2)
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of CPUs: 2
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 1.5 GB
Bus Speed: 1 GHz
Boot ROM Version: 5.1.8f7

Equipped with this:

Chipset Model: GeForce FX 5200
Type: Display
Bus: AGP
Slot: SLOT-1
VRAM (Total): 64 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0321
Revision ID: 0x00a2
ROM Revision: 2060

And these Displays:

M220Z1_L01:
Resolution: 1680 x 1050 @ 60 Hz
Depth: 32-Bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported

DELL 1704FPV:
Resolution: 1280 x 1024 @ 75 Hz
Depth: 32-Bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported

Princeton Digital VL1719
Resolution: 1280 x 1024 @ 75 Hz
Depth: 32-Bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported

What I want to do is have the first monitor, (M220Z1_L01), in landscape mode, as the primary monitor, and the other two in portrait mode, mirrored.

I am a voice over artist, and I want to have a monitor in my booth with the copy displayed on it, as well as on my desk, while the primary has my recording software. That way, I am running almost paperless, and my engineer can make copy changes on the fly, and the changes will of course, be visible on my booth monitor.

So, what's the best way to accomplish this? I'm not a gamer, I just need enough video power to be able to rotate two of my displays, and give me a sharp, crisp image.

If I understand what I've been reading, the best solution would be a second video card, with a touch more power. But, I need a card that allows portrait mode.

Your thoughts? Remember, I don't want a hi-def TV, just nice sharp word documents displayed.

Thanks in advance!

Cool, and thanks for the help. I'm going to try and get the cards mentioned, and I'll post how it works out.

Thanks again!

pubjoe said:

Or... I can't think why a single card with two outputs and a vga-splitter wouldn't work. That way, your graphics card would be displaying 2 screens: One landscape, which is displayed on your primary monitor, and one portrait, which is then split using cables to two mirrored portrait monitors.

Agp graphics cards may not be expensive, but not only would the above method be cheaper, but I imagine it'd be easier to set up too.

Click to expand...

Actually, this is what I'm doing now, but the current card doesn't offer portrait mode, and there seems to be some signal loss on the split channel, the monitors appear slightly fuzzy. Not unreadable, by any means, but after a few hours I'm pretty sure I'd have a headache.

Bought two of the cards recommended, one did not work in the unit, the other does not allow rotation. And I cannot mirror just two monitors. Any other ideas?

I have the 9800 and the 9200, (my bad, they both fit), the rotation works, (thanks a ton for the link!), and I found the solution to the mirroring issue. You go to System Preferences>Displays>Arrangement, and option+drag the monitors together that you want mirrored. This allows you to have some mirrored and some not.

666sheep said:

edit . . .
You'll be able to connect 4 displays and rotate at least 3 of them (I'm not sure if rotation works with VGA port).

Click to expand...

Rotation does work with the VGA port.

Thanks for the advice, everyone!