Secondary Display Detection

[SCCC]

We are having a few problems with secondary display detection on video cards
that are connected to projectors, displays with extension cables, or
splitter boxes.

It seems the ability of the different chipsets to handle detection issues
varies widely.

For example:

S3 integrated laptop: Always enables the secondary even if no device is
connected
GeForce MX400: Won't enable the secondary at all unless a display is
directly connected without an extension lead.
ATI Radeon 9600: Enables the secondary always; detaches it if no device is
detected.

The S3 is a dream. The Radeon is not so easy to use, but can be turned on
just by a couple of clicks in Display properties. The Geforce is a pain in
the ass. We have to take special steps just to ensure we even can attach the
display in Display Properties.

I'm looking at a PCI card that I need to put in a PC that has onboard
graphics and no AGP slot. Would a Radeon 9250 behave roughly the same as the
9600? Is there a better option?

I also need to find a card to replace that loathsome Nvidia

 

[Richard]

S3 integrated laptop: Always enables the secondary even if no device is
connected
GeForce MX400: Won't enable the secondary at all unless a display is
directly connected without an extension lead.
ATI Radeon 9600: Enables the secondary always; detaches it if no device is
detected.

The S3 is a dream. The Radeon is not so easy to use, but can be turned on
just by a couple of clicks in Display properties. The Geforce is a pain in
the ass. We have to take special steps just to ensure we even can attach the
display in Display Properties.

I'm looking at a PCI card that I need to put in a PC that has onboard
graphics and no AGP slot. Would a Radeon 9250 behave roughly the same as the
9600? Is there a better option?

I also need to find a card to replace that loathsome Nvidia

I have the same issue here, as both my monitors were connected thru VGA-BNC
cables, the nvidia did have an option in the driver to force a detection of a
secondary display in the driver, no luck on the ATI, I have to have my crappy
15" TFT as the secondary on that card and one of the CRTs as the primary of the
crap PCI card. Means that the 2 CRTs are on seperate cards rather then the same one.