2nd graphics card for MacBook Pro?

[johannes_]

Hi there! I have a 2nd gen. MacBook Pro (late 2006, 2.33 GHz). I have it hooked up to a 30" Cinema Display. Now I want it to drive my 23" monitor as well alas this is beyond the capabilities of the integrated graphics chip (Radeon X1600, 256 MB).

How can I add a second graphics card? Are there solutions for the PC-Card slot? Firewire? What can I do?

BTW I want a real graphics chip (or card) since I do video editing and 3D animation for a living. And yes, I have a full blown Mac Pro with several cards right here but still... Any ideas that would work with the MacBook Pro?

Thanks in advance!!

[trevor]

DualHead2Go. This brings a second display into the capabilities of your existing Radeon X1600 video chipset.

(I would not use the word "integrated" when describing a Radeon X1600, this is usually reserved for the video chipsets integrated into the motherboards by the motherboard designer. For example, the Intel integrated video that uses main memory for video memory that you get with an Intel Mac Mini or MacBook.)

OR, VillageTronic has some ExpressCard/34 video cards that are supposed to work with the MacBook Pros.

Trevor

[johannes_]

Wow, thanks a lot! How "future proof" are these? Any chance they will still work once I buy a new MacBook Pro? (maybe in a year or so)

[johannes_]

DualHead2Go: Bummer, it supports two 1920x1200 displays (the 23" Cinema Display) but not my 30".

VillageTronic: ViDock Gfx looks very nice! And the Mac edition supports two 30" display if I read correctly. Any comments on this one? (other than it is not available yet)

[trevor]

Sorry, I've had no personal experience with the VillageTronic stuff. Perhaps someone else can comment.

Trevor

[agentx]

me thinks you may be dreaming.......ie you want to run 2 super hi resolution displays from one mobile computer graphics card !

you have a graphics card that supports a 30 inch (using the DVI-D dual link ability) display not one that supports two super hi res displays.....So in short either get rid of your 30 inch display(bad idea) and use two displays with a digital dualhead2go or triplehead2go.

I am yet to see any of teh Villagetronic stuff in stock or in action in UK......of course the concept sounds great on paper but the lack of any concise reviews from pro users always makes me nervous. It is great that the express slot add the speed required to support graphics....lets wait and see what happens.

[johannes_]

Quote: you want to run 2 super hi resolution displays from one mobile computer graphics card

Yes. I know this is probably just a dream but I thought I'd ask anyways.

From what I understand the ViDock Gfx should be able to do this. It is a real independent graphics card, separate from the internal one, right?

[trevor]

Yes, it's a real independent graphics card, plugged into your ExpressCard/34 slot.

Trevor

[johannes_]

Quote: lets wait and see what happens

Since it's not on the market I'm cautious as well. Does it sound too good to be true?

[trevor]

Quote: Originally Posted by johannes_ Since it's not on the market I'm cautious as well. Does it sound too good to be true?

As mentioned above, I have no personal experience with the ExpressCard/34 VillageTronic cards. But VillageTronic has been around a long time, and make good, innovative products. I would expect, based on the company's reputation, that their ExpressCard/34 video card products are probably quite good.

Trevor

[johannes_]

I've never heard of them but they seem like a very credible company. If the finished product is even slightly like the one advertised on their site I'll buy it!

[agentx]

Indeed it looks great.....it looks like the holy grail....(taking pre orders i believe).i would certainly not just buy one without trying it out....Had issues with Matrox(dual2gos) in the early days...the classic marketing hook in......it does this this and this....with lots of small print after its release saying it does not do that that and that....

looks like a great product would love to use this for VJ work if it is truly an accelerated graphics environment.