Connecting a Third Monitor


Recommended Posts

Also I would like to watch some vids on Youtube in 1080p.What's the requirement for 1080p anyways? My video card has 256MB, so if I get another one that's like 1GB wouldn't that help?

For Flash h.264 acceleration (Youtube HD), you will need to get a GeForce 8 series or ATI HD 4000 series or greater card.

You will want to look into an ATI Eyefinity card with three ports as that should let you use triple monitors with ease. I've heard Nvidia has triple monitor support planned for their Fermi cards as well, but I haven't looked at their new cards recently.

This was true for PCI video cards working with AGP video cards, this is not true for PCIe cards

Well apparently PCI-E/PCI combos do exist.

http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6282092&postcount=8

Wow a lot of different answers here. So I'm guessing I need an identical card in order to run 3 monitors?

Also Mr Candyman said I need 3 identical cards to run SLI, but homeboy rocketshoulders said I only need 2 to run SLI. So is it 2 or 3?

But anyways whats the big difference between running SLI and not running SLI?

Thanks

Running 2 in SLI will not allow you to run 3 monitors. it will only use the outputs from the primary card. Running 2 non-SLI will allow you to use the output (I'm not sure if it will alllow both on the second card or just one) from the second card. If you run 3 of the same card in SLI it will allow you to use the primary output from each of the cards.

See my previous post about what is probably a much better solution for you

Thanks.

The pic you showed me, that is ram slots... I am talking about the slots where your current video card is at. You can put another card and place it under your current video card.

Understand what I am saying?

How much ram you have? I am not talking out that comes from your video card. If you have 1 gb ram or less, then you might need to upgrade to about 4gb or higher ram so it might work that you can run 1080p movies smoothly... see if it helps.

You don't have to get the identical, you can get same brand or different brand... mine has different brands on it... no plm.

I have no idea how much you pay for... it's up to you to get a video card of your choice depends on how much you want to pay for and what you use it for... Like I said before, if you want to run 1080p movies, you will need to upgrade some parts or whole system.

Oh sorry, here's another picture: http://www.tbreak.com/reviews/fullimage.php?image=9245

I'm using the blue slot right now for my card. The black on the left is still free

I have 3GB of ram.

Ok so if I don't need identical, can you recommend one that will work smoothly with mine?

I don't do a lot of gaming on my pc. Just watch movies, audio/video editing and surf.

But exactly do I need to upgrade for 1080p? More RAM?

Thanks

I don't do a lot of gaming on my pc. Just watch movies, audio/video editing and surf.

But exactly do I need to upgrade for 1080p? More RAM?

Thanks

I already answered. Scroll up

https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/935644-connecting-a-third-monitor/page__st__15__p__593115092entry593115092

Yea I was still typing that reply when you posted it.

So are you suggesting that I replace my video card with GeForce 8 series, ATI HD 4000 series or ATI Eyefinity card, or are you telling me that these cards can work with my XFX 7800GT?

you guys are really confusing him.

imho OP, just get a single HD5000 series eye finity card, any necessary adapters and take out the old 7800.

can you tell me your other system specs and if you play games or not?

No, I don't really play games on my PC. Usually just watch movies, that's why I want to watch it in 1080p.

So this single ATI Eyefinity will allow me to connect 3 monitors and watch 1080p stuff?

Thanks

No, I don't really play games on my PC. Usually just watch movies, that's why I want to watch it in 1080p.

So this single ATI Eyefinity will allow me to connect 3 monitors and watch 1080p stuff?

Thanks

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102870&cm_re=eyefinity-_-14-102-870-_-Product

and see if any of your monitors will accept display port connectors.

if not(which is likely) you will need a display port to dvi adapter for 2 of your monitors.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812270280&cm_re=display_port_dvi-_-12-270-280-_-Product

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102870&cm_re=eyefinity-_-14-102-870-_-Product

and see if any of your monitors will accept display port connectors.

if not(which is likely) you will need a display port to dvi adapter for 2 of your monitors.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812270280&cm_re=display_port_dvi-_-12-270-280-_-Product

Ok wait, is PCI-E and PCI-E 2.0 the same thing? I think mine might just be the first version, not 2.0.

Also, I'm thinking about this one: http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5599121&CatId=3585

Because I kind of want the full 1GB memory. Do you think this card is good? Or is there another one with 1GB thats better/cheaper?

Also, the one I linked has 4 outputs right? By the way, are these outputs going to be cloned? Or is all 4 going to be independent?

Kloud77, if you were wanting to do it on the cheap, seriously consider http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500164

Since you already have an Nvidia card and you do not game as you already have said and you just want to watch movies, that card would be perfect for you. I can say I am impressed with the Nvidia ION chipset that is in my testbed computer.

Ok wait, is PCI-E and PCI-E 2.0 the same thing? I think mine might just be the first version, not 2.0.

Also, I'm thinking about this one: http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5599121&CatId=3585

Because I kind of want the full 1GB memory. Do you think this card is good? Or is there another one with 1GB thats better/cheaper?

Also, the one I linked has 4 outputs right? By the way, are these outputs going to be cloned? Or is all 4 going to be independent?

pcie 2.0 is backward compatable, ie you can use a pcie 2.0 card ona pcie 1.1 or 1.0 slot. so no worries here.

well i picked the one i linked because you don'tplay games, but if you want teh specific connectors on this one(2 dvi and a hdmi) it might save you some cash on adapters. kinda. a little less fuss when hooking it up perhaps?

no the outputs will not be cloned, they will each have thier own desktop so to say in windows. you can watch a movie on one screen and browse on a second and msn on third if you want.

Kloud77, if you were wanting to do it on the cheap, seriously consider http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500164

Since you already have an Nvidia card and you do not game as you already have said and you just want to watch movies, that card would be perfect for you. I can say I am impressed with the Nvidia ION chipset that is in my testbed computer.

But TokiToki said that my video card can't watch 1080p. That's why I'm considering just replacing my current video card. So will adding this ZOTAC ION-GPU-A-E allow me to watch 1080p?

By the way, treemonster, the Sapphire card that you linked me, does that support 1080p? Or did you suggest that for the triple monitor support?

nope getting a non identical video card you will have to choose video output of one or the other.

believe me i have 2 non identical video cards in my system currently, and putting the video in the lower version one produces no video, though it detects the monitor.

ati cards are a little different though. but for nvidia they have to be the same model.

Maybe I miss understood you here...so IF I have two nvidia cards lets say a GTX 295 and a 8800GT and I have one monitor directly connected to the GTX 295 and another monitor directly connected to the 8800GT your saying this should not work?

Wow, this is crazy. I've been running 3 monitors for almost 8 years now. You can have two non-identical video cards. If they are two different connections, say, one PCI-E and one PCI, then a setting in the bios will allow choosing which is 'Primary'. However, if they are both in PCI-E slots (that's how I run them myself) then the primary will be the lowest numbered slot. Once booted into Windows you can choose which is your Primary monitor after that anyway.

I do actually have two identical cards in this build that are SLI'd together. But I ran non-identicals for several years as well. When I turn on SLI, it does disable my two side monitors, as all the brain power of that second video card is used to enhance the capabilities of the primary monitor. I used to do that for games, but turns out all the games I play run just fine without SLI in the first place... lol

Wow, this is crazy. I've been running 3 monitors for almost 8 years now. You can have two non-identical video cards. If they are two different connections, say, one PCI-E and one PCI, then a setting in the bios will allow choosing which is 'Primary'. However, if they are both in PCI-E slots (that's how I run them myself) then the primary will be the lowest numbered slot. Once booted into Windows you can choose which is your Primary monitor after that anyway.

I do actually have two identical cards in this build that are SLI'd together. But I ran non-identicals for several years as well. When I turn on SLI, it does disable my two side monitors, as all the brain power of that second video card is used to enhance the capabilities of the primary monitor. I used to do that for games, but turns out all the games I play run just fine without SLI in the first place... lol

Yea, I'm not even considering finding an identical or non-identical any more. Too many conflicting answers and too confusing for me. This method also doesn't allow me to watch 1080p.

Now I just want to replace my current video card, so that I can watch 1080p and support 3 monitors. I think that's my best option. Not the cheapest but since I want 1080p I think its my only option.

Well, you don't need more then one video card to run 1080p. Just obviously not a crappy old card.

But if you want three monitors, you will need two cards. Who said they have to be expensive? I run these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161314 Only takes one to do 1080p video playback.

Edit: Oops, not that exact one. I have the model with two DVIs, not a DVI and a D-SUB. But you get the idea.

But TokiToki said that my video card can't watch 1080p. That's why I'm considering just replacing my current video card. So will adding this ZOTAC ION-GPU-A-E allow me to watch 1080p?

By the way, treemonster, the Sapphire card that you linked me, does that support 1080p? Or did you suggest that for the triple monitor support?

it's best suited to video playback. yeah it should be able to play back blu rays at 1080p if you want them too. flash h264 or w/e else you want.

Maybe I miss understood you here...so IF I have two nvidia cards lets say a GTX 295 and a 8800GT and I have one monitor directly connected to the GTX 295 and another monitor directly connected to the 8800GT your saying this should not work?

well basically what i'm going on here is i have a 480 and a 8800 gts 512 in my rig, and i accidentally hooked up my monitor to my 8800 and then booted. there was no video, the first time around when i first installed the 480.

later when i bought a new monitor i accidentally hooked it up to the 8800 again trying to use plug an play while the pc was running, and heard the windows detecting new hardware sound, but no video. then again at this point i had reboot even with it connected to my 480.

i'm not an expert here, but this was my experience.

i've always been under the impression with nvidia you had to have identical cards for this kind of set up anyway, but hey maybe i'm wrong, and there's a way to do it with different pcie cards. as per the post above for example.

Well, you don't need more then one video card to run 1080p. Just obviously not a crappy old card.

But if you want three monitors, you will need two cards. Who said they have to be expensive? I run these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161314 Only takes one to do 1080p video playback.

Edit: Oops, not that exact one. I have the model with two DVIs, not a DVI and a D-SUB. But you get the idea.

the 5670(?) i linked him as well as the 5770 he linked, are all designed to out put to 3 monitors with a single card. that's what eyefinity does.

Well, you don't need more then one video card to run 1080p. Just obviously not a crappy old card.

But if you want three monitors, you will need two cards. Who said they have to be expensive? I run these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161314 Only takes one to do 1080p video playback.

Edit: Oops, not that exact one. I have the model with two DVIs, not a DVI and a D-SUB. But you get the idea.

So you're suggesting I get 2 of those? I think it'll be better if I just get 1 eyefinity card, right?

So I guess it's decided, I'll be picking up a single eyefinity card to replace my xfx geforce 7800.

I should also mention my CPU. It's the Athlon 64 3700+ 939. Will that affect the 1080p playback or am I good?

I think it'll be better if I just get 1 eyefinity card, right?

Yes as we don't know if you have another x16 PCI-e slot to have two cards.

So a card with two DVI ports with a DisplayPort like thats one:

http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?psn=000101&pid=289

with a DisplayPort to DVI Cable.

http://www.byteccusa.com/product/adapter/AP-DPDVI-005/AP-DPDVI-005.htm

To give you three DVI monitors.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Waymo recalls self-driving software after cars enter closed freeway work zones by Paul Hill Waymo, the self-driving car maker owned by Alphabet – the parent company of Google –, has recalled some of its fifth-generation Automated Driving Systems (ADS). It did so after some of its cars drove through closed construction zones. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the affected vehicles were capable of driving through a closed freeway construction zone and continuing to drive at speed. The listing on the NHTSA website says that Waymo is currently developing a solution to fix this issue, but in the meantime, freeway driving is being restricted. Waymo will update its ADS software so that vehicles can detect when they can avoid entering construction zones. According to the Safety Recall Report, on April 20, 2026, Waymo’s Field Safety Committee began meetings reviewing an event from April 11, 2026, and five events from April 19, 2026, where Waymo’s autonomous vehicles didn’t recognize and drove past ramp closure signs into the pre-planned freeway construction zones. This took place in Phoenix, Arizona. Separately, on May 18, 2026, seven Waymo vehicles entered freeway lanes with active construction in the San Francisco Bay Area by driving between cones that were placed to show the lane was closed. On the back of both of these events, Waymo restricted freeway driving until it could address the issue. In June, Waymo’s Safety Board reviewed the issue and additional information related to ADS performances around construction zones; then, as a result, it decided to conduct a recall. This development is not good for Waymo as it adds to a growing list of technical hiccups its cars have experienced. Ultimately, it will lead to more scrutiny from lawmakers around the world who will be more cautious about letting autonomous vehicles on their roads without tighter regulation. For readers in areas where Waymo operates, does this news make you more wary about stepping into one of these vehicles?
    • I'm still on Windows 10 22H2 because I didn't want to deal with all the issues in Windows 11, so I waited almost a week before installing the latest Patch Tuesday update (KB5094127), I went ahead and did it, and it was a huge mistake—ever since then, my File Explorer has seen a performance drop of about 30% when transferring large files... Once again, Microsoft has outdone itself! This update cannot be uninstalled, either through the Control Panel (via Settings) or by accessing Advanced Startup Options. The only possible alternative would be to use system restore points, but I’d have to reinstall all app and driver updates (and there’s no guarantee it would work). Or there’s the “nuclear option” of a in-place repair without losing files or apps, but even then, all my customizations would be lost! Microsoft just can’t help but mess everything up! Way to go, Microsoft! But I still don’t want your c****y Windows 11!
    • Microsoft: Windows 11 could finally solve a major issue across AMD, Nvidia, and Intel GPUs by Sayan Sen While Microsoft has been trying to improve it, Windows 11 is definitely not flawless, as even today some issues are taking a year to publicly acknowledge. However, one area of trouble that may finally see much better results soon is graphics driver crashes. Work on graphics driver timeouts, also called Timeout and Detection Recovery (TDR), is not new as the latest WDDM 3.2 also has specific improvements regarding it. Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) version 3.2 is supported on Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. However, with the upcoming version 26H2, TDR crash diagnosis could go to the next level as Microsoft is introducing a new DirectX 12 API feature called "DirectX Dump Files". Similar to how system memory dump files work when a system crashes or freezes or encounters any such major issue, DirectX Dump Files (DDF) will essentially record a snapshot of the GPU execution right at the moment a graphics-related crash or hang or freeze occurs, so that developers can better understand and diagnoze these TDR and timeout detection errors. The dump will be available as a .dxdmp file for analysis and it will be a comprehensive dump file generated with detailed insights about the hardware, drivers, Windows, as well as the affected application. This should be another welcome change in this department. Earlier at GDC 2026, when the technology was first debuted, Microsoft had shared more details regarding it. The company had explained how DDF is designed to gather data from every layer of the graphics stack into a single file, eliminating the need for developers to manually correlate logs from multiple tools. As mentioned above, the dump can contain a lot of useful details like GPU hardware state information such as register values, shader program counters, page fault virtual addresses, shader memory data, and command buffers. Alongside that, it also captures DirectX runtime and kernel information, including D3D objects, pipeline state objects, device error data, adapter details, and CPU call stacks. Microsoft says the feature has been built around two primary use cases: retail device removals and local device removals. The former allows developers to collect crash information from end users' systems in the field, while the latter helps QA teams and developers investigate issues on test machines. Developers will also be able to include up to 2 MB of custom application data through new D3D12 APIs, providing additional context for troubleshooting. In addition, Microsoft is introducing three dump collection modes ranging from zero-overhead capture, which has no runtime performance impact on supported hardware, to higher-detail modes that collect more vendor-specific debugging data. On compatible Tier 2 hardware, zero-overhead dumps will be enabled by default, meaning developers may begin receiving useful crash diagnostics without making any code changes. The table below explains the three tiers: Tier Description NO_OVERHEAD Enables crash capture with no runtime cost and is suitable for broad deployment MEDIUM_OVERHEAD Provides a balance, capturing additional diagnostic data with moderate impact HIGH_OVERHEAD Collects the most detailed GPU and driver state available, enabling deeper investigation at the cost of higher runtime overhead In terms of availability, the company expects broader release to be around the fall of 2026, which should be right around the time when Windows 11 version 26H2 lands. Right now, DirectX Dump Files are available as a preview and currently, only AMD has the compatible AgilitySDK Developer Preview driver version 26.10.07.02. You can find the official announcement post here on Microsoft's website.
    • And with SO much better perf than the laggy mess that is Files.
  • Recent Achievements

    • One Month Later
      Sharbel earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • First Post
      BizSAR earned a badge
      First Post
    • Week One Done
      Jordan Smith earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Reacting Well
      BizSAR earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • First Post
      AndreaB earned a badge
      First Post
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      598
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      190
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      79
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      76
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      70
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!