Video card selection for 2 monitors

I am building the following and need advice on a suitable video card to power 2 17" TFT monitors with one desktop for top end 2D and 3D graphics work.

CPU = 2.8ghz P4 HT
MB = Gigabyte GA-81k1100
Memory = 1GB 400mhz DDr ram
HD = Serial Ata 160gb

I have been advised by the supplier to use an ATI Radeon 9600 pro, however I have used matrox before and was considering a Parhelia 128mb. Which would be more suitable and are there better options available?

Thanks
Mike

If cost is not a problem, Radeon 9800 pro or GeForce FX 5900 ultra are the best there are. http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030714/index.html has a pretty comprehensive review of cards, check it out.

One of my clients just got in their brand new dual 2 Ghz G5 macs today. I went over to help them set up. The each have a 23" HD LCD display and 17" LCD display with the ATI Radeon 9800 pro. It took an adaptor to set up the 17" monitors, but they came with the adaptors, so it was all plug and play and their editors were ready and willing to get to work on their new toys. Meanwhile I got to drewl...

Granted they are a Video Production company and the choice was between $20k Macs or $250k Avid's, so cost wasn't the issue. But man, I wish I had one of those...actully the new Powerbooks ship with the 9600 pro now. Proably in 2 years, that will be my next computer....

I do like what they are doing with the Powerbooks... we got a new one at my work. Connected 21" screen to it and then discovered the feature that allows you to have both screens active and drag windows from one screen to the other. Very nice... would love that on a PC.

The powerbooks should be a lesson on how laptop should be built. As far as that goes, my iBook isn't too shabby, but I don't know if I can drag and drop like that...I need to read up and see if it can...

I've got an older Ti4200 right now and have two monitors and a TV hooked up to it. It'll only power two at a time, but nvidia's little sys utility lets me two-click change between any one as the sole primary display to clone, horizontal span, or verticle span with any one as primary and any one as secondary. I really like the way it works.

Like most other people, I've seen nvidia's DX9 benchmarks and am disappointed with it. If you intend to play future games and don't have a very high level of faith in nvidia, maybe ATI's the way to go. But from a dual display standpoint, I'm very happy with how nvidia's drivers handle it. Simple, configurable, and intuitive.