290 and Eyefinity - which connectors?

[kration]

I've bought a 290 (a B Grade one off here) to upgrade from my 7870.

I run an Eyefinity set-up on my 7870 consisting of 2 old Acer X223W monitors on either side of a Benq GL2460.

The Acers only have a VGA input. The Benq has VGA and DVI.

The current connections from my 7870 are:

Left - mini-displayport to vga (via an active adapter) to an Acer X223W
Main -hdmi to dvi cable to the Benq GL2460
Right -dvi to vga (via an old adapter) to a Acer X223W

The 290 I'm hopefully getting has:
Display Outputs: 2x Dual Link DVI, 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort

I've been down this path before with the 7870 and had a frustrating time setting it up (e.g. getting a 'active' adapter for the minidisplayport etc). But at least it now works. However I've managed to confuse myself again re. the 290...

So what cables/adapters do I need to connect the 290 to my three monitors for an Eyefinity setup?

 

[Confused Stu]

Hate to say it, but don't think this will be possible without an expensive bit that may be costlier than buying a new monitor.

You can use a DVI-DVI for the BenQ (or HDMI to DVI, if that takes your fancy). One of your Acer's can be run from your Displayport output via an Active DP-VGA adapter. If you can find a miniDP to DP adapter, you could use your existing Active adapter.

The problem is the second Acer. AMD dropped VGA support from their DVI sockets with the 290, so a DVI-VGA adapter won't work. You're looking at either an MST hub (such as Startech's MSTDP123DP - about £85) to run two Active DP-VGA adapters to power both Acer monitors. Should be about £125 for both Hub and DP-VGA adapters. Do-able, but also possibly enough money to sell an Acer (or both to maintain matching pair) and buy a new screen with DVI/HDMI inputs, then you could hook up all 3 screens direct without needing adapters.

Alternatively, if you can find a 290 with 2xDP outputs (not sure if there is one), you could save yourself having to buy the Hub and just get two Active DP-VGA adapters.

 

[adolf hamster]

edit, nvm, didnt read the above on no vga connection, seems weird to drop that though

 

[kration]

You're looking at either an MST hub (such as Startech's MSTDP123DP - about £85) to run two Active DP-VGA adapters to power both Acer monitors. Should be about £125 for both Hub and DP-VGA adapters.

Would I need to get a hub to run the two active adapters?

I could get 2 x Startech DVI-D to VGA active adapters for £45 - would they be sufficient for the two Acers? i.e. run them from the two DVI-D prts on the card.

I could then run the Benq from hdmi to dvi?

 

[Confused Stu]

Would I need to get a hub to run the two active adapters?

I could get 2 x Startech DVI-D to VGA active adapters for £45 - would they be sufficient for the two Acers? i.e. run them from the two DVI-D prts on the card.

I could then run the Benq from hdmi to dvi?

I'll be honest, I didn't know DVI-D to VGA adapters actually existed (I've seen them listed before on some sites, but they always turned out to be simple DVI-I to VGA instead). Just looked up those adapters on the Startech website, and looks like they'd be perfect for what you're after - Acers on the DVI ports via these, and the BenQ on the HDMI output. Haven't tried this kind of setup myself, but I can't see any reason it wouldn't work.

This is why I love these forums, I learn something new every day.

 

[kration]

lol - glad to have taught you something

And thanks for the advice.

 

[Confused Stu]

Would you mind posting up your findings if/when you do order connectors for your setup? Always useful to know what works, and what doesn't, as it's often difficult to get current multi-monitor options from manufacturers & review websites.

Good luck.

 

[old gamer]

ive got about half a dozen dvi to vga adapters gathering dust in my draw if you need any

 

[kration]

Would you mind posting up your findings if/when you do order connectors for your setup? Always useful to know what works, and what doesn't, as it's often difficult to get current multi-monitor options from manufacturers & review websites.

I got the GPU and converters today, and I'm happy to say that they are working perfectly after some minimal tinkering.

My monitor set-up now is:
Left - Acer X223W via a StarTech DVI-D to VGA converter
Main - Benq GL2460 via a hdmi to dvi cable
Right - Acer X223W via a StarTech DVI-D to VGA converter

I initially tried the converters without a power source and although the system booted up OK and one of the VGA monitors displayed the log-on screen all 3 monitors seemed to lose connection and there was no display (though they kept trying to reconnect).

I then tried the converters powered, which consisted of using the USB cables they were bundled with (fortunately I had a couple of free USB sockets near the GPU outputs) and everything booted up perfectly.

So I've now got a couple of old VGA-only monitors that work fine with a 290.

I'm really impressed with the StarTech connectors/adapters. I had a similar issue with my old 7870 and the mini-displayport, and cheaper converters didn't work whilst the StarTech did. With my new 290 the StarTech ones work flawlessly.

If anyone is in a similar position, then search for 'Startech DVI-D to VGA Adapter Converter' (part no. DVI2VGAE)

 

[Confused Stu]

Excellent, really glad it worked out and you've got your screens set up as you want. Nice one finding those DVI-D to VGA adapters.

Thanks for posting a conclusion to the question - pet hate of mine is Googling a question/issue and finding unresolved threads about it, or even worse a post saying "never mind, fixed it" with no explanation!!

 

[meldarthx]

Kration very nice post - and awesome find; allows us to get a little more use out those old monitors yet lol....