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3 screens...straight forward?

Gregster

Gregster

Gregster

Caporegime
Joined
24 Sep 2008
Posts
38,284
Location
Essex innit!
Hi guys, I am thinking of going 3 screens (will all be the same) on a gfx card (prolly 7970).
Will the set-up be simple?
will I need to buy anything else?
Can it be switched on and off (on for Dirt 3 off for BF3)?
If anybody has/had this set-up any info on this will be much appreciated please.
greg.
 
3 screens depends on the monitors.

If you got a monitor with displayport and 2x DVI nothing else to buy

If you got 3 monitors with DVI you will need to get an Active Displayport adater and yes you can turn off the 3rd monitor in the command centre.
 
if you have screens with display port inputs, then it will be easy. Just make sure at least one of them is connected via DP.

If your monitors don't have a DP input, you will need to get an "Active Mini DisplayPort to Single-Link DVI Adapter" so you can conect one of the mini-DP ports on your graphic card to the DVI socket of one of your monitors.

After that it should be plain sailing.

Yes, you can switch between eyefinity (all 3 screens treated as one monitor) and extended mode (each monitor treated as separate, so games will appear only on the one you set as primary) easily. You just need to set up a profile for each, and a hotkey, and can switch between them.
 
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sorry my bad...I just meant surround (nvidia version of eyefinity) I am not worried about 3D just a tri monitor set-up.
My card has 2 DVI connectors and a hdmi connector. My Monitor (same as linked above has DVI and HDMI connectors.
I assume on this I can use the 2 DVI for 2 monitors and the HDMI for the other?
 
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Unfortunately your current setup isn't capable of running 3 monitors/Nvidia Surround.

You can only run 2 monitors from a single Nvidia GPU.

With Nvidia you need SLI'd GPU's to run 3 monitors.
 
Ok cheers Surveyor.

Another 1024 Gigabyte 560TI card and 2 monitors will work out the same as a 7970 so I am now thinking to go this way as the 2 cards in sli should be as if not more powerfull as 1 7970. My only concern is vram issue (which I will not get in the argument of).
Later on when prices drop or Nvidia do come up with keplar (maybe they will be tri screen compatible) I can then go back to a 1 card soloution.

Thanks again for the info guys :)
 
Surveyor said:
Unfortunately your current setup isn't capable of running 3 monitors/Nvidia Surround.

You can only run 2 monitors from a single Nvidia GPU.

With Nvidia you need SLI'd GPU's to run 3 monitors.
Click to expand...

I thought he said he'd be getting another one?

OP, the 7970 is more powerful than 560Ti SLI and VRAM is important for tree screens.
 
As you have the Asrock Extreme4 Gen3 you've no problem if you want to run 2 cards in SLI (both the P67 and Z68 versions are SLI compatible).

If you do go SLI this is how you have to connect 3 monitors:

 
Great info thanks Surveyor and I did say I would get another 560 Clee but my concern being vram. As you say 1 7970 will be more powerfull than 2 560ti's then this would make more sense.
Biggest problem I have is getting the wife to allow me to spend near £800 on a comp I have recently spent £500+ on :(
 
gregster said:
Great info thanks Surveyor and I did say I would get another 560 Clee but my concern being vram. As you say 1 7970 will be more powerfull than 2 560ti's then this would make more sense.
it'll be slightly more powerful, pretty similar, but VRAM will be a huge bonus. Also, you don't have the extra heat from 2 cards etc. Why not wait to see what kepler brings to the table? Your current card is still capable :)
Biggest problem I have is getting the wife to allow me to spend near £800 on a comp I have recently spent £500+ on :(
buy her a handbag, she'll let you get away with anything :D
Click to expand...
 
Cleeecooo said:
Will also run hot as hell with three screens!
Click to expand...

60C at idle (memory doesn't downclock with 3 screens at idle) and up to 80C in game? Personally found the 7970 runs pretty cool and quiet considering I've overclocked as far as CCC will let me. I am on stock volts though. Have you got personal experience of the cards running too hot?

OP - haven't used nvidia since my 6600GT so can't give a balanced assessment. All I know is the 7970 is amazingly good at running games well on 3 screens and I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with one.
 
I wanted to wait for keplar (not a fanboy) just to hopefully see a price war but the problem I am having is patience. The more I read rumors about nvidia coming February then march then Q2 then Q3 it just doesn't help my lack of patience.
Maybe I would be better waiting but sadly I can't.
 
Its easy to setup the only real problem is the game support. The majority of games work but some dont. Like i completed F.E.A.R at 5760x1080 last night which is an old game but had no problems at this res. But then i go onto RE5 a much more newer game. But its unplayable because the menu is so stretched out you can't click on anything. I think there is a HUD fix anyway for that.

But yeah Eyefinity/Surround you will be more worried about the game working from the get go.
 
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