USB VGA adapters ... anybody have one? I need to compare...

epp_b · May 29th, 2008, 01:39 AM

I recently bought some knock-off/no-name USB VGA adapter ("GXT Digital Pro" ... nothing I've ever heard of before) from Future Shop (only because I had a gift card) to put a third monitor to use. That was only a couple of weeks ago, I've decided to return it already because it's just crap. It crashes all the time even causing the entire OS to crash, it's performance is dismal (and I had low expectations to begin with) and it's just generally more trouble than it's worth.

Does anyone have the same thing? What are your experiences? Also, does anyone have one of these? Are you experiences with it better than what I'm describing?

SirSmash · May 29th, 2008, 05:45 AM

I had some cheap no-name one a while back, it never crashed the entire OS, but it was pretty much junk. It did a max resolution of 1024x768 and had (i think) 8mb of memory. So while it worked, the only thing I did with it was display IRC.

I would assume that newer ones would be better. More memory and USB 2 support would have solved my problems, as it wouldn't have been all jittery if you tried to watch a video or while scrolling websites. The link you gave supports USB 2 and a much higher resolution; I think I would try it... just buy it from somewhere that accepts returns if it doesn't work out.

Viper007Bond · May 29th, 2008, 06:01 AM

Why not just buy a really cheap video card of the same brand as your current video card?

epp_b · May 29th, 2008, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Why not just buy a really cheap video card of the same brand as your current video card?

And how do you suggest I install it in my laptop? images/smilies/tongue.gif

Clegg · May 29th, 2008, 07:09 AM

^ Very carefully?

Hell, the one you linked looks OK for simple things...

Viper007Bond · May 29th, 2008, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epp_b

And how do you suggest I install it in my laptop? images/smilies/tongue.gif

Oh.

Adunaphel · May 29th, 2008, 02:06 PM

This might be your answer

epp_b · May 30th, 2008, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Hell, the one you linked looks OK for simple things...

The one that I have does work well for simple things (actually, it even plays 25fps video smoothly). Problem is, it randomly crashes, often taking the system down with it, it messes up desktop icons on boot-up, etc.

I just want to hear about experiences with the specific model I linked to. Perhaps the driver isn't crap, for example.

Labcoatguy · May 30th, 2008, 05:00 AM

There's always this:
http://www.villagetronic.com/vtbook/index.html
Basically it's a PCI video card for your laptop, pricier but more of a "real" video card.

epp_b · May 30th, 2008, 02:16 PM

^ Yes, since it would actually run at bus speed, that would probably work much better. The MSRP is $250! Ouch!

SirSmash · May 30th, 2008, 11:36 PM

For $250 you might just buy/build a cheap computer and use http://www.maxivista.com/ - That will let you use another computer and it's video cards to extend your laptop. I used it a while back and it works fairly well, they have a demo version you can download.

Quiky · May 31st, 2008, 12:54 AM

What about the Nvidia one that worked over the ExpressCard bus?

May 29th, 2008, 01:39 AM	#1
epp_b n00b of the year Joined: Jun 23rd, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Canadaland :) Posts: 4,450 Car: 1995 Nissan 240SX Rep Power: 36	USB VGA adapters ... anybody have one? I need to compare... I recently bought some knock-off/no-name USB VGA adapter ("GXT Digital Pro" ... nothing I've ever heard of before) from Future Shop (only because I had a gift card) to put a third monitor to use. That was only a couple of weeks ago, I've decided to return it already because it's just crap. It crashes all the time even causing the entire OS to crash, it's performance is dismal (and I had low expectations to begin with) and it's just generally more trouble than it's worth. Does anyone have the same thing? What are your experiences? Also, does anyone have one of these? Are you experiences with it better than what I'm describing?

May 29th, 2008, 06:01 AM	#3
Viper007Bond Lazy Head Dude Joined: Sep 21st, 2003 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Portland, Oregon Age: 24 Posts: 20,732 Car: Dodge Viper (I wish!) Rep Power: 230	Why not just buy a really cheap video card of the same brand as your current video card? __________________ Fight back against the evil Quiky by +1'ing this post! There is no replacement for displacement. - Wolfgang Bernhard, Chief Operating Officer, Chrysler Group talking about the Dodge Viper SRT-10 ... I ask Herb Helbig, vehicle synthesis manager for SRT and a member of the original Team Viper development group since day one, if they'd ever thought of adding traction control. "It comes with two," he says, pointing at my feet. "Learn to use them." Got it. - Motor Trend on the 2006 Dodge Viper Coupe, November 2005

May 29th, 2008, 07:09 AM	#5
Clegg Joined: Oct 8th, 2007 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Moore, Oklahoma Age: 20 Posts: 156 Car: '92 Chevy Truck / '94 Honda Accord Rep Power: 12	^ Very carefully? Hell, the one you linked looks OK for simple things... __________________ My Little Place on the Internet You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice. If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice. You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill; I will choose a path that's clear- I will choose Free Will.

May 29th, 2008, 02:06 PM	#7
Adunaphel Global Moderator Joined: Jan 18th, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Eindhoven, Dutchikistan Age: 28 Posts: 3,351 Car: 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E (W201) Rep Power: 60	This might be your answer __________________ 01001001 00100000 01000001 01001101 00100000 01010100 01001000 01000101 00100000 01010011 01010100 01001001 01000111

May 31st, 2008, 12:54 AM	#12
Quiky 100% Awesome + 100% Evil = Admin. Joined: Aug 21st, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Posts: 2,194 LFS Status: Rep Power: 156	What about the Nvidia one that worked over the ExpressCard bus? __________________ + Rep me, and fight the lazy Viper007Bond!

May 29th, 2008, 05:45 AM	#2
SirSmash Joined: May 20th, 2008 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Los Angeles, CA Age: 22 Posts: 65 Car: Porsche 944 Turbo Rep Power: 3	I had some cheap no-name one a while back, it never crashed the entire OS, but it was pretty much junk. It did a max resolution of 1024x768 and had (i think) 8mb of memory. So while it worked, the only thing I did with it was display IRC. I would assume that newer ones would be better. More memory and USB 2 support would have solved my problems, as it wouldn't have been all jittery if you tried to watch a video or while scrolling websites. The link you gave supports USB 2 and a much higher resolution; I think I would try it... just buy it from somewhere that accepts returns if it doesn't work out.

May 30th, 2008, 05:00 AM	#9
Labcoatguy Joined: Mar 27th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Boston, MA Posts: 2,187 Car: None, but soon enough Rep Power: 61	There's always this: http://www.villagetronic.com/vtbook/index.html Basically it's a PCI video card for your laptop, pricier but more of a "real" video card.

May 30th, 2008, 02:16 PM	#10
epp_b n00b of the year Joined: Jun 23rd, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Canadaland :) Posts: 4,450 Car: 1995 Nissan 240SX Rep Power: 36	^ Yes, since it would actually run at bus speed, that would probably work much better. The MSRP is $250! Ouch!

May 30th, 2008, 11:36 PM	#11
SirSmash Joined: May 20th, 2008 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Los Angeles, CA Age: 22 Posts: 65 Car: Porsche 944 Turbo Rep Power: 3	For $250 you might just buy/build a cheap computer and use http://www.maxivista.com/ - That will let you use another computer and it's video cards to extend your laptop. I used it a while back and it works fairly well, they have a demo version you can download.

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