[ginop1]

I have a Power Mac G4 500 (Sawtooth model). I am using an Apple Studio Display. My brother just gave me his Apple Studio Display. Therefore, I am looking for a card that will let me use both displays. Am I right that I should go with the ATI Radeon 9700 Pro? Or should I go for the 9800?

[a2daj]

Those ASDs are ADC displays, right? If so, then you'll probably want to get a hold of the 9700 Pro as it'll have ADC support and a DVI port. You'll still need an adapter. With the 9800 Pro, you only get a DVI and VGA to play with for monitor support (svideo won't play nicely with your displays) and I don't know of a VGA->ADC adapter.

However, considering your CPU, you might as well just hunt for a 9000. It'd be cheaper.

[Luca Rescigno]

You might run into problems if you have a Sawtooth model. The Gigabit Ethernet (400, 450x2, and 500x2 configs) was the first series of Macs to have the required connector to use ADC. How are you connecting your studio display right now - with a DVI-ADC adapter?

[ginop1]

If so, then you'll probably want to get a hold of the 9700 Pro as it'll have ADC support and a DVI port. You'll still need an adapter.

Adapter? Can you tell me what you mean? This is my first time in this situation so I am sort of clueless regarding dual displays and video cards.

[Dr Reducto]

Originally posted by a2daj:
Those ASDs are ADC displays, right? If so, then you'll probably want to get a hold of the 9700 Pro as it'll have ADC support and a DVI port. You'll still need an adapter. With the 9800 Pro, you only get a DVI and VGA to play with for monitor support (svideo won't play nicely with your displays) and I don't know of a VGA->ADC adapter.

However, considering your CPU, you might as well just hunt for a 9000. It'd be cheaper.

I have seen a VGA->ADC adapter, but it's $300. I would just go with a videocard that has ADC + DVI.

[ginop1]

Today I ordered an ATI Radeon 7000 from MacConnection. I want to use my two monitors as one virtual desktop. In other words, I do not want just a mirror image of my main monitor. Would you happen to know if that is possible using the video cards [my Power Mac G4 500's current ATI Rage (Pro?) And the ATI Radeon 7000)?

Also, if I wanted to connect both VGA displays to the Radeon 7000, how do I go about it?

[Cadaver]

ADC displays require a digital connection - ADC is essentially DVI plus USB and power.

The after-market cards like the Radeon 9800 has only one DVI port. The other port is a VGA (analog) and there's really no way to connect an ADC display to it.

The Apple/OEM cards typically (with a couple of exceptions) have one ADC connector and one DVI connector. You can add connect an ADC display to the second (DVI) port by using an Apple DVI to ADC adapter - a $90 box that provides the necessary power to run the display and a USB passthrough cable.

Apple doesn't put two ADC ports on their cards since there isn't a good way to send the necessary DC power to two displays (too much strain on the computer's power supply).

[spiky_dog]

i ran dual apple 17" lcds, both adc. i used/use (still use the card, sold one of the displays) a radeon 9000 with adc and dvi out, and a semi-generic dvi->adc converter box. note the distinction between dvi->adc boxes and the cheaper adc->dvi converters.