Sorry for being so scattered at the moment. Just running out the door.

That looks like an independent card. I am amazed as it is so small.

Anyway I notice that Vista is NOT supported.

Windows 2000 or Windows XP only. NOT Vista (Vista does not support PCI video cards) If you have Windows Vista on your computer choose the PCI Express version of this card.

Based on what the above said concerning mixing types, I don't think I would even attempt to mix ATI and NVIDIA using Vista.

Unfortunately, I seem to be having a hard time finding a single PCI card with two outputs.

BTW - what type of signal do you need? Do all your monitors support DVI?

I found this quad card: Matrox QID

The XFX PVT64KUAFG Geforce FX5200 256MB DDR PCI supports one analog and one digital. Maybe you can get two!

What about the ATI statement that Vista does not support PCI video cards?

http://www.naplestech.com/shopcart/f..._100505130.asp

What about the ATI statement that Vista does not support PCI video cards?

I don't know. But Microsoft clearly shows 2 multimonitor scenarios using PCI cards in that Horses's Mouth link I provided above. And the XFX PCI card above ONLY lists Vista.

I wonder if just using splitters on you existing card would work.

Such as:

http://www.naplestech.com/shopcart/p...e_ends640b.jpg

I'd contact naplestech and ask questions. They appear to be specialists in this market.

http://www.naplestech.com/shopcart/contact_general.htm

On further review these splitters only appear to work with their cards:

http://www.naplestech.com/shopcart/video_picgallery.asp

Could I just do this,
leave the pci express 16 slot with the geforce 8600GT card in it running 2 of the monitors (as it is right now)

and then just get a standard pci dual output card and stick it into one of my non express standard pci slots
and have that run 2 more monitors, so I would have support for 3 to 4 monitors?

Btw all of these monitors have dvi and vga input.

I did write to hp tech support asking their opinion on what I want to do and what the motherboard could handle or support etc, but no reply yet.

On that quad ati card I am confused a bit, i dont have a pci express 1 slot so i would have to use he pci version, but it does say that vista doesn't support pci cards, so maybe that blows my idea of just trying a cheap pci card in there (along with my current pci express16 card).

That matrox looks cool but its agp i dont even have agp on this motherboard, maybe its time to build a new rig - wonder if my wife will go for that reasoning

leave the pci express 16 slot with the geforce 8600GT card in it running 2 of the monitors (as it is right now)

and then just get a standard pci dual output card and stick it into one of my non express standard pci slots
and have that run 2 more monitors, so I would have support for 3 to 4 monitors?

Yes, you could do this and get a display (in theory - ). BUT, you may not be able to run Vista's fancy Aero desktop - instead, you would see something close to your XP desktop spread across 3 (or 4) monitors.

What about something like this, pull the pci express 16 card in there now and put this in its place?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...IN#detailspecs

That's a lot more expensive - especially since the 8600 will be put on the shelf, but it looks like it will do the trick. Do note a 600W or greater power supply is recommended.