Display port and legacy monitors

Procrastastudy

I've been looking around for info on this but it's slightly confusing to say the least.

I have 3 LCDs on DVI and a 42" Plasma on HDMI. All works okay on my 2 4870s but how does one connect this lot on a newer card?

I've heard D.port passive adapters will handle 2 monitors. Does this mean it will handle 2 on an adapter and then on natively on DVI? If not where can I get active adapters from? Can I have the HDMI hooked up and switch to it?

Any help much appreciated.

Monotype

I think what they mean is that you can use a passive adapter if you're only going to use two monitors.

If you want 3 monitors in eyefinity, one of them has to be on the displayport connection using an active adapter.
You could use DisplayPort -> DVI + DVI + HDMI for your three screens.

Here's an example of an active adapter.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-44000-02-40R-Active-Display-Cable/dp/B00433C5Y4/

Edit: If you're not using all three at the same time, assuming your new card has enough connections, you could just use the 2xDVI and 1xHDMI. I'm not sure how switching between them would work out, but you don't need adapters for just two screens (depending on what card you're looking at).

Tea_Bag

I don't know what your rig is, but what I do with my second monitor because I don't have a DP to VGA adapter (my 6990 only has 1 DVI which is already used), I just run it off my onboard video on my Z77 (previously Z68) outputs.

Unless your an AV fanatic you'd never notice the 24fps bug in onboard graphics during films.

Procrastastudy

Hi folks its 4 screens total:

3x 20" DVI LCDs which I'd like to eyefinityerise &
1x 42" Full HD Plasma on the end of a 10m HDMI cable I use for films and big screen gaming. I dont use the all at the same time.

Looking at something like:
http://www.komplett.ie/Komplett/product/ati__amd/20080832/sapphire_radeon_hd_6870_1gb_pci_e/details.aspx

Am I right to assume I can put one on an active adaptor, plug the other two on the DVIs and run the cable though the HDMI?

Thanks for your help guys!

Monotype

In that case, yes you'll need an adapter.

A 6870 will actually be weaker than two 4870s, I'd say. You'd save a bit in electricity though.

Eyefinity means a lot of pixels to be powered by the one card so I wouldn't expect too much in terms of performance in more recent games.

AFAIK, if you were to use more than the three screens at the same time, you'd need one of the cards with extra displayport connections.

srsly78

Note that if you run the 2 cards in xfire (AMD) you can only use the output sockets on one of them. With 2 nvidia cards all outputs will work whether in SLI or not.

You can get single amd cards with 6xDP outputs btw. Not much help for the hdmi tv ofc.

Procrastastudy

Eyefinity lets you 'trick' a game into running across the three screens though doesn't it rather than having you use windowed mode and stretch it across?

Do Nvidia cards let you do that?

To confirm you can run 2 screens on DVI and 1 on a Display port adaptor?

I'm pretty sure only three screens can run off 1 display port but that should be okay as I only use either the three or the 1.

As for performance - thats for the tip - its not great on three monitors with my 4870s in xfire tbh - looks like I'll have to wait until I can xfire some 7870s

srsly78

A single 6970 can run games like Skyrim on 3 monitors. Too slow for demanding stuff like BF3 tho - need xfire for that.

glynf

GCDLawstudent wrote: »

Hi folks its 4 screens total:

Am I right to assume I can put one on an active adaptor, plug the other two on the DVIs and run the cable though the HDMI?

Thanks for your help guys!

GCDLawstudent,


The standard 6870 will not support more than three outputs simultaneously. You might want to confirm re. the 6870, but I had a 6970 a while back, and know for a fact that if I used the HDMI it disabled one of the DVI ports-could only do 3 screens at a time max. If you want to stay with the 6870, look at the eyefinity 6 models. This would run all four screens at once, using adapters of course (three active mini displayport to DVI active, and mini displayport to HDMI).


The other option is to stick in a second GPU and don't crossfire it, so the ports remain active and use it just for your TV.

Monotype

Congratulations on 1K posts GCDLawstudent!

The new 600 nVidias will support game on 3 screens with a separate 4th screen at the same time. As far as I know, you still need to use displayport with the third screen, the same as AMD. There's not really anything in the price region of the 6870 yet though.

Yes, you need a displayport adapter for a third screen. Two screens will run fine on regular DVI. Three, you need either a DP monitor, DP adapter or a special card (such as Sapphire flex edition). Then connect the other two to DVI as usually. I think you may not be able to use the 4th screen at the same time, as you said.

Procrastastudy

Jesus this thing is confusing! Toy use eyefinity the monitors have to be on display ports? I thought you could use one on DP and 2 on DVI no?

Isnt there a hib you have to use with the DP to hook up 6 monitors. 3 on each hub into one display port?

I'm 99% sure AMD reckon the 6800 series runs 4 monitors out of the box

srsly78

6800 is just the core... manufacturers then add the outputs. Most 68xx won't have enough outputs for you, but some specialist ones do.

And yes, for 3 monitors at least one will have to be DP coz of technical timing stuff.

One final caveat, if you are trying to connect multiple hires monitors (1440p or 1600p) there is extra stuff to worry about - this doesn't seem to affect you tho.

Procrastastudy

Hmm can anyone confirm this? Seems exactly what I want!

http://www.wsgf.org/forum/14047/6870-series-support-4-screens

Procrastastudy

I dont mean to sound rude as I'm very grateful for the info but have a look at the card I linked... I think that night work?

srsly78

Very misleading information on that link. There are lots of different graphics cards built on the 6870 chipset, each may offer different output options.

The most common output setup on AMD cards seems to be: 1xDVI-D, 1xDVI, 2xmini-DP, 1xHDMI (note this does not mean you can connect 5 screens however). Read the spec of whatever card you choose!

As mentioned above several times, you can get cards with 6xminiDP outputs. This seems to be what you want, but will necessitate use of annoying adapters.

Procrastastudy

Thanks all thats great I think I have my set up now! I think I'll have to keep an eye out for a card with a good enough chipset and enough ports!

Does anyone know if the GTX600 in SLI will allow all ports to be used?

srsly78

Yes, nvidia in sli lets you use outputs on both cards.

Procrastastudy

srsly78 wrote: »

Very misleading information on that link. There are lots of different graphics cards built on the 6870 chipset, each may offer different output options.

The most common output setup on AMD cards seems to be: 1xDVI-D, 1xDVI, 2xmini-DP, 1xHDMI (note this does not mean you can connect 5 screens however). Read the spec of whatever card you choose!

As mentioned above several times, you can get cards with 6xminiDP outputs. This seems to be what you want, but will necessitate use of annoying adapters.

Hoping for 2 DVI 1 DP and 1 HDMI like the Saphire 6870 - hoping that might work

srsly78

Not so simple, because the hdmi is shared with the others I think. So can run 3 screens but not 4 (I THINK).

Procrastastudy

srsly78 wrote: »

Not so simple, because the hdmi is shared with the others I think. So can run 3 screens but not 4 (I THINK).

Thats actually okay as I use 3 on my desk and then a the 4th seperately. does anyone know if you can tell the driver which to disable?

glynf

GCDLawstudent wrote: »

Jesus this thing is confusing! Toy use eyefinity the monitors have to be on display ports? I thought you could use one on DP and 2 on DVI no?

Isnt there a hib you have to use with the DP to hook up 6 monitors. 3 on each hub into one display port?

I'm 99% sure AMD reckon the 6800 series runs 4 monitors out of the box

Welcome to the wonderful world of eyefinity

You can go 2 x dvi and 1 x displayport for eyefinity I'm fairly sure that hdmi and the bottom dvi ports on most models are shared ie. both dvi's and no hdmi or one dvi and hdmi.

The displayport hubs are still unreleased 2-3 years on.

Not sure, try the eyefinity/amd forums here:

http://www.wsgf.org/

Bound to get someone with a similar setup.

If you want eyefinity for desktop space/ms office etc., the 6870 is loads.

Ifyou are gaming @ 5040 x 1050 and want mid to high settings on recent games,, make sure you go with at least 2gb VRAM and a beefier card-5970 at least.

Procrastastudy

Have to admit the Nvidia 600 cards look like a better setup for me - 2 DVI ports which save on adaptors.

Just hoping there as good as tricking the machine into seeint it as 1 big monitor. My 4870s I have to use windowed mode.

glynf

What is your budget?

Procrastastudy

I'm more at the figuring out stage at the moment. Wife goes bananas at the same degree if I spend €150 or €400 tbh so...

Hopefully I might get some life out of my 2 x 4870s but as per my other thread I don;t exactly know what I've blowup in my PC yet so I may be forced into buying something sooner. I can probably push it to a 6970 using the justification they come with 2x DVI 1x HDMI and 1X DP which will save me money on adaptors.

Procrastastudy

Hmm what do people reckon about a 6950 - good enough for three monitors?

srsly78

Yes for desktop, no for games (in eyefinity).

6970 - good for less demanding games in eyefinity.

6970x2 or better - can run demanding games in eyefinity.

glynf

GCDLawstudent wrote: »

I'm more at the figuring out stage at the moment. Wife goes bananas at the same degree if I spend €150 or €400 tbh so...

Hopefully I might get some life out of my 2 x 4870s but as per my other thread I don;t exactly know what I've blowup in my PC yet so I may be forced into buying something sooner. I can probably push it to a 6970 using the justification they come with 2x DVI 1x HDMI and 1X DP which will save me money on adaptors.

Lol, I have a girlfriend that reacts similarly-I tell her I get most of my gear on ebay:D Don't let the adapters put you out, These or similar will do fine, and they can be got for 20 euro's easy elsewhere. The really expensive adapters are the dual link (DVI-D) ones, you won't require them for monitors @ 1920 x 1080 or under. From reading about, re. using the HDMI & the lower DVI, give a look here:

Quite sure now all reference 6870 series except the eyefinity/flex models cant' do two DVI & HDMI simultaneously.


Might be an idea go for a a Direct CU or similar non reference card that will give you up to 6 screens, or go with a GTX 670 which gives you three surround and a 'accessory' monitor, probably cost less as well.

You can add a second GPU in xfire/SLI as required, just make sure your mobo can do same.

Give a look here, this is for the 680's connections-would imagine the 670's would be similar.