Here at GeekTech Central I get lots of interesting e-mail. Most of it is from folks like me who enjoy writing and talking about PCs almost as much as they like cracking open the case. From building, to upgrading, to occasionally destroying a computer--I love to hear these stories, so thanks for sharing.

I also get quite a few messages asking for specific buying advice ("Should I buy Dell model XYJ or the HP model TXK?"). Fact is, unless I've actually tested the products in question, I can't really offer that kind of advice. I can, however, point you to PC World's dynamite Reviews & Rankings section, where you'll find the best, most thoroughly tested product reviews on the planet.

Finally, I often open the old digital mailbag and find a message from a savvy reader with a tech-related question that I'm pretty sure is on many other minds. This week I'll take a crack at answering some of the best questions. (Note: I've shortened some of the messages in the interest of space.)

Keep those e-mail messages coming.

Dual-Monitor Goodies

I received a flood of e-mail after I wrote about the joys of dual monitorship. In addition to messages from the many readers who asked simply, "What took you so long?" I also received quite a few from folks who wanted more info about how it all works.

"How does your computer differentiate between the two monitors when you're entering commands from a single keyboard? Who gets the strokes?"
--Terry Robertson, Charlotte, North Carolina

That's the beauty of using Microsoft Windows and a dual-output graphics card: That setup does all the work for you. After you install your second monitor, right-click on your desktop to open Windows XP's Display dialog box and click on the Settings tab. You should see both your new monitors listed (numbers one and two). From here you decide which one will be your primary display. My left monitor sits directly in front of me, with the right just off to the side a bit, so I make the left one my primary.

For the number-two monitor I do not check the box next to "Use this device as the primary monitor," but I do check "Extend my windows desktop onto this monitor." Then I match up the screen resolution and color quality (1280 by 1024 and Highest, or 32-bit, color) on my Dells--and that's it. Piece of cake.

If you have an older graphics card that lacks dual outputs you may still be able to enjoy a dual-monitor setup. Check out Steve Bass's June "Hassle-Free PC," in which he discusses Tritton's $80 See2 USB 2.0 SVGA Adapter.

Dual Monitors, Times Two

For some folks, two monitors is simply not enough.

"I am looking at the Asus A8N-SLI motherboard for the use of the two PCI Express graphics slots. I want to run two cards and four monitors and I don't know if this is actually possible."
--Rodney Huff, Owensboro, Kentucky

Rodney, your question set NVidia's director of technical marketing, Nick Stam, on a quest to determine just how easy or hard it would be to run four monitors off of an SLI-enabled rig. Turns out, it's not very difficult at all. Nick ran his own test with three NEC 19-inch flat panels and one ViewSonic CRT (with a DVI-VGA dongle) attached to two Geforce 7800 GTX graphics cards installed on an Asus A8N-SLI motherboard.

The trick is that you set up the system the same way you would a standard SLI rig, but you don't enable the Multi-GPU mode in the main NVidia control panel.

Once your rig is up and running, you'll have several options, Stam says: "For example, the user might select 'dualview' to get two separately managed screens per graphics board, and thus four separate screens across the two graphics boards. Or the user can experiment with various spanning modes."

Thanks for the great answer, Nick!

Advanced Micro Devices and Next-Generation Memory

Adding a second monitor to your desktop is easy as pie, but if you have your heart set on building an Athlon 64-based PC using DDR2 memory, you could run into a bit of an issue, notes one astute reader.

Why hasn't AMD supported DDR2 yet?
--Sudhir Milabatula, Toronto

After Intel launched chip sets last year with support for DDR2, the evolutionary update to today's double data rate memory, many expected AMD to follow suit. However, AMD spokesperson Damon Muzny says the company hasn't moved to DDR2 yet because its processors don't need the faster-running memory to remain competitive with Intel. PC World's recent tests of systems running the companies' latest high-end chips seem to bear that out.

One of the many differences between AMD's and Intel's processors is that while Intel's chips utilize memory controllers that reside in the chip set, AMD processors have memory controllers integrated right into the processor. Muzny says this helps cut down on latency issues, offering faster performance despite DDR's slightly slower memory speeds.

However, it also means that when AMD does opt to move to DDR2 the company will have to make changes to the CPU itself--not just to the supporting chip set. With DDR2 speeds, pricing, and availability improving, that time should arrive in the not-to-distant future, Muzny says, although he won't be more specific.

The 64-Bit Antivirus Answer

When I wrote about my first experience with Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, I lamented the lack of an antivirus app for home users from mainstream vendors such as McAfee, Symantec, and Trend Micro. I recently touched base with all three vendors and confirmed that none yet offer a 64-bit version of their top-shelf antivirus products.

However, as many astute GeekTech readers were quick to point out, that doesn't mean early adopters need to compute without protection. It turns out the Czech company Alwil Software offers a 64-bit version of its Avast 4 antivirus software. Even better: It's a free download for home users. I haven't tried it yet, but the readers who suggested it to me seem to like it.

I asked Alwil Program Manager Ondrej Vlcek to elaborate on his company's free product, and the fact that Avast has gone to 64-bit before anybody else. He explains: "Porting a system tool to Windows x64 mainly means porting its kernel-mode components (i.e. device drivers). This is because legacy 32-bit device drivers don't run on this new platform. The engine itself can be 32-bit, and actually is better to be 32-bit as 99.9 percent of today's malware is still 32-bit (i.e. not 64-bit) and that's what we're trying to cover. That doesn't mean we don't detect 64-bit malware, though. It's just that there's no point of creating a plain 64-bit AV solution (with no 32-bit parts) yet."

Whither 64-Bit Disc Image Apps?

Okay, fearless readers: You showed me the way on 64-bit antivirus apps. But how about 64-bit disc imaging?

"I've been doing imaging with Drive Image and Ghost for years. Do you happen to know who will be first with 64 bit?"
--Tom Thomas, Wilmington, North Carolina

Like the antivirus folks, the major disc-imaging vendors seem to be taking a wait-and-see approach to 64-bit support. I contacted reps for Symantec's Norton Ghost and Acronis's True Image to find out the scoop on 64 bits.

It doesn't appear that Symantec will offer any sort of interim patch for its current Ghost 9, and the company is staying mum about any plans to support 64 bits in a future version of the app. Here's what the company's rep had to say: "Since Norton Ghost 10 has not yet been announced, I cannot provide details on whether or not it will be compatible with Windows x64. Symantec is monitoring the adoption of Windows x64 very closely and will ensure they deliver the right solutions at the right time to meet customers' needs."

Over at Acronis, Marketing Director Stephen Lawton is a tad bit more forthcoming, but not much. "We are doing some development work on 64-bit versions of Windows (server and desktop), but at this point I can't give you a specific date when it will be available," he says.

Lawton goes on to say that he hopes to have a 64-bit product by year's end, but that he can't promise it will happen.

However, a resourceful Thomas isn't waiting for Symantec or Acronis to catch up. He's subsequently devised his own solution. "I have been using PQDI 2002 [PowerQuest Drive Image--now owned by Symantec] under a DOS boot and successfully imaging my 64-bit machines," he writes.

That's the way to take the disc-image bull by the horns.

Have a tech question that GeekTech might be able to answer for you? Drop Tom a line.