On Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 1:24 PM, Grant <emailgr...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> >> I'd like to have multiple users working from separate monitors,
>>> >> keyboards, and mice, but all connected to a single Gentoo computer.
>>> >> The main purpose is to minimize sys admin duties but hardware and
>>> >> power requirements would also be minimized.
>>
>> ATI make quad head video cards. If you do not need fancy graphics,
>> the cost is very reasonable. the easiest thing is to get a multi
>> head card, with keyboard and mouse ports for each monitor port,
>> if they are still manufactured. If not, get dual head cards complete
>> with mouse and keyboard ports.
>
> Quad-headed video cards would be pretty amazing. 24 workstations
> running from a single host.... As a note, from what I've read I would
> need to patch the kernel if using a multi-headed video card with only
> one PCI address.
Used to be, multi-head cards would list each head as a separate
sub-device. I was surprised to find my GeForce 210 (which can support
up to three outputs. One DVI, one {VGA|DisplayPort} (don't remember)
and one HDMI) only shows one device. I know I saw it on some old AGP
and PCI cards which had S-Video out.
Strange.
Anyway...if looking to drive more than one head off the same video
card, keep in mind that DVI and HDMI are only an adapter apart. I've
got a bunch of DVI<->HDMI adapters, and some are attached to the DVI
port on a monitor (allowing me to use a computer's HDMI output with
that monitor), and some are attached to the DVI port on a computer
(allowing me to use an HDMI-only monitor with the DVI port on a
computer).
It's really not hard to find triple-head cards with DVI, HDMI and one
of VGA or DisplayPort. Pretty sure I've simultaneously used all three
outputs on a DVI+HDMI+VGA card, but I don't remember which card. Some
only support driving two of those outputs at a time.
/me pines for his 5-display HTPC+desktop setup.
--
:wq
