I just added a new Vista computer retiring the older under powered XP machine. I wanted to use my old video card an FX 5200 dual and save some bucks. I had been using integrated video and the FX 5200 for 3 monitors in XP. After trying to install the same configuration I had in XP Vista would not allow two different video drivers running on one computer. Therefor Intel integrated video and a PNY video card will not work. The drivers for multiple cards must be identical. The Fx 5200 card uses only Nvidia driver 96.85 for Vista the integrated Intel video used an Intel driver.
The support guys from PNY found three cards that would also run on driver 96.85 from Nvidia. Remember the new cards normal driver might be differennt and it takes the support people from PNY or any good card mfg., to identify which cards are compatible with the older cards driver. Only the correct driver should be downloaded to your computer and be installed. After an hour of adjustments we had three monitors working.
The next morning after boot up Vista asks to install a new driver for the new 7300 card. I said no and it turned off one of the new cards. I discovered that Windows update had downloaded a new driver, not compatible with the other card. This problem was caused by windows automatic updates -- turn off the exta hardware part of automatic updats or you will end up with a disabled video card - leave windows update on. I was able to go back to the old driver and got my screens back.
In an installation which has two identical cards installed with vista using the same driver you should have no problems installing video cards for 2 or 4 monitors. I used a PCI slot for the older card and a PCI Express 16 for the 7300 card. The key is IDENTICAL DRIVERS from the same mfg..
QT runs perfectly with this configuation. I am using a HP a6132n, cheap at $850. I was not happy with custom built units which were $650 to $1,000 more for the same components. Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHZ with 3 GB of memory. No cpu problem with this unit!! Watch your unit wattage limitations on store bought machines.
I also had other video problems, diaspearing screen images and other erradic behavior , Vista of course, which were solved by dn loading a hot fix from Microsoft which our good budy Mazel "QT" suggested.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932406/en-usMilty
