Connecting a Third Monitor

[MR_Candyman]

Since you don't want the external box, and your video card is a bit dated anyways, why not just go for one of these?

They're only about $330 anyways, cheaper if you shop around

[TokiToki]

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

[MR_Candyman]

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

[Kloud77]

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

[MR_Candyman]

Well apparently PCI-E/PCI combos do exist.

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

That's very interesting. I thought 7 was the same as Vista in the fact it was impossible to do, but apparently not.

[TokiToki]

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

[Kloud77]

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?

[TokiToki]

If you want to watch Youtube HD, then you must replace it as Flash acceleration does not work on the GeForce 7800.

[TAZMINATOR]

You can get GeForce or other card in the blue slot and put XFX card in your black slot..

See if it works well for your 1080p movies

3gb RAM is good enough..

[Kloud77]

You can get GeForce card in the blue slot and put XFX card in your black slot..

See if it works well for your 1080p movies

3gb RAM is good enough..

What do you mean? The XFX GeForce is one card.

[Xilo]

Get an ATI. Newer models can support like up to 3 monitors per card using DVI and DisplayPort.

[treemonster]

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?

[Kloud77]

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

[treemonster]

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

[Kloud77]

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?

[b10h4z4rd]

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.

[treemonster]

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]

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?

[+PeterUK MVC]

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?

[deactivated_]

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

[Kloud77]

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.

[deactivated_]

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.

[treemonster]

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.

[Kloud77]

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?

[+PeterUK MVC]

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.