I am building a new PC for MC V3.0 and was keen on getting a 3 monitor set up with full time full screen playback. I have read in a few threads that others are doing this, but was just wondering what video cards might be best for compatability? I have a Quadro FX3700, and wanted advice from anyone with a 3 monitor set up what might work with it? Obviously a second quadro would - but that might be a bit cost prohibitive. Has anyone had dual card success mixing the FX3700 with a cheaper Gforce card like the 9800 series?

I am using an Asus P5E3 motherboard that many here seem to have found successful, and a Q9550 processor. I will probably go with Windows XP SP3 as this seems to be the most stable and fastest system at present.

Any suggestions are much appreciated.

.-ANYTHING but a Quadro will make your MC crash.

Unless you do some GeForce driver tweaking ( I've done succesfully that tweaking with one card configs, not sure if it would work in the config you want, and, to be honest, I doubt it) 

Quadros and GeForces uses totally different drivers and that's a BIG problem.

Bottom line:

Use a quadro. If you wanna save, buy a cheaper quadro ( for example an FX570). 

or sell your quadro,  use two GeForces, take the risk and do the tweaking, 

When I was building my new system I experimented with a 3 monitor setup using a Quadro 1700 and a GeForce 8600 patched to look like a Quadro for the second, "non-video" card.  It worked, but it was just an experiment so I can't help you with information about long-term stability.

For what it's worth, I decided to wait until I could justify buying a second Quadro.

raspago:

.-ANYTHING but a Quadro will make your MC crash.

If that's a rule, than there are exceptions. I'm running MC3 on GF7900GTO without problems, and without any driver tweaking or other hacks. I know, there are a lot of tips out there how to "soft mod" a geforce card to mimic a quadro, but i've applied none of them. Actually i was quite surprised after i read all the tricks and tips, obviously i was rather lucky that my configuration worked out of the box.

I am running a 3 screen setup, but not with two graphic cards. My solution was to hook two 19" displays to Matrox' DualHead2Go Display splitter, which presents itself to the system (and the graphics card) as one extra large monitor (in my case 2560x1024). The Matrox Box is connected to one port of the Nvidia Card, the third monitor occupies the other port and is configured as FSP.

If that's a rule, than there are exceptions. I'm running MC3 on GF7900GTO without problems,

.- Have you read my specs? 

I don't have a quadro either. I'm using a 8800 and before that I had a 6800.

And the "tweaking" trick was simply turn off "threaded optimization" on the Nvidia control panel, that was it.

The last quadro I owned was a 980XGL, like 4 years ago, never have bought another.

I'm talking about series 8 and up.

Those series are the ones causing problems. Small problems though.

7900 is three generations old. And can be still converted to a Quadro.

Series 7 works, always have. So does the series 6.

but is old, slow in comparison and discontinued.

any G92 based is waaaay faster than any series 7 card, even the 7950GX2.

And a G92 is almost two generations old.

Anyway, I have to admit that, with my new card I see a big performance boost when I work with Combustion or After effects (specially with combustion), but little or no diference with Avid.

I won't argue that the 7xxx are old, and i know many (more recent) nvidia cards won't play along as easily. I just couldn't resist to contradict your statement, no pun intended. Maybe i've been told "you generally can't ..." once too often in the last couple of years since i'm running a schools media lab and had to deal with "real IT professionals" trying to steal as large a part as possible of my little budgets.

I'm sure you'll need state-of-the-art hardware if you're running on production deadlines or have to make a living from editing, but for my purposes (that's teaching media arts and cutting the occasional school-event-dvd) I can't see the 7900 limiting my workflow, even in HD projects. It's been a rock solid system that did not once crash on me. And it left me enough budget for a nice set of camera, light and sound, which - i'm sure - contribute more to our productions look than our nle workstation :-)

'm sure you'll need state-of-the-art hardware if you're running on production deadlines or have to make a living from editing,

.- Actually, I use GeForces in NLEs I use to make a living.

No issues at all at lower prices.

A Quadro FX3700 is $ 800.00.

A 8800GT, which uses the exact (literally) same chipset (G92) is $ 150.00 or less.

You can even buy a 8800GT with a full 1 GB and a much better Heatsink. for less than $ 200.00

I can't see any difference in Avid's performance.

An App like Avid doesn't need a Quadro, is not a 3D intensive app, like Maya or Rhinoceros.

GPU power? an ordinary 8800GT has more than enough power, much more than Avid actually needs.

And BTW, that's what Macs come with: a GeForce.