[mythtv-users] Looking for Dual-Monitor Setup Suggestions

[John Welch]

I'm in the process of putting together a shopping list for a new
multi-purpose PC.  One of the primary functions of this PC will be a MythTV
frontend, including HD content playback.  In addition to the MythTV usage,
the system will be used for general word processing, spreadsheets, plus
typical multimedia tasks like ripping CD's and DVD's, uploading digital
pictures, etc.; it will not be used for any high end PC gaming.  The big "X"
factor, at least as far as I'm concerned, in the setup is that when I'm
doing the PC functions I'd like to use the system with my nice 20" Samsung
LCD monitor, but when I'm playing back MythTV content most of the time I'm
going to want to watch it on an HDTV (haven't picked the TV out yet; it will
probably be some lower end 26" or 27" model).

I guess my first question is how hard is this type of thing to setup on a
Mythfrontend box?  I've played around a little in the past with TV-out, but
I'm thinking this type of setup to an HDTV would be a little more
complicated.  Or maybe not?  Beyond just the setup itself, anyone have any
suggestions for what type of card to use?  I'm pretty sure I want to stick
with Nvidia graphics, unless someone can convince me otherwise.  I'd also
really like to continue to use a DVI connection to my Samsung monitor.   So,
would I be best to go with a dual-DVI card, and then use a DVI-to-HDMI cable
to connect to the TV?  Or would connecting the TV up via a VGA connection be
sufficient, and therefore  a card with one DVI port and one VGA port be
sufficient?  How about some of these motherboards that have onboard video.
One in particular that I have been looking at is the Gigabyte GA-73PVM-S2H (
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16813128072), which has
a VGA port, a DVI port, and an HDMI port.  Would something like this work?

One last factor is that pretty much all of the motherboards that I have been
looking at don't have an AGP slot, so unless I choose one with on-board
video the card will have to be PCI-X (or unless I find a mobo with AGP, that
meets my needs).

Any thoughts, tips, tricks, hints, etc. on this setup, including specific
video cards and/or mobos with on-board video suggestions would be greatly
appreciated.

TIA,
John
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