4 screen output.

[rojones]

What is the most cost effective way to upgrade a PC to support 4 screen outputs.

A Quick Google suggests something like an AMD Eyefinity card then Display port out to 4 monitors via DVI as a possible suggestion.

Not sure if there are any better suggestions?

 

[Rilot]

If the card has 4 outputs then it will support 4 screens, however with AMD be careful, you can only use two of the DVI or HDMI ports at once. The rest have to go through DP.

I have 4 screens connected to my GTX670. 2 by DVI, 1 by HDMI and 1 by DP.

 

[ShivP]

Get a bargain basement 4 output nvidia card for simplicity, or an AMD card and then get a few adapters for about £5 each? if you prefer

 

[Admetos]

What will your 4 screens be used for?

If it's just 2D, such as business use or financial trading, then there are some cheap options such as the entry level Quadro cards.

 

[Surveyor]

We need to know the intended use of the 4 screens, which make and model they are (or will be) and the specification of your system.

For non-gaming use you may be able to run 4 screens already or for minimal outlay.

 

[Confused Stu]

If the card has 4 outputs then it will support 4 screens, however with AMD be careful, you can only use two of the DVI or HDMI ports at once. The rest have to go through DP.

I have 4 screens connected to my GTX670. 2 by DVI, 1 by HDMI and 1 by DP.

Certainly used to be the case with AMD that only 2 DVI/HDMI/VGA outputs could be used, but the 290/290X supports output on all it's connectors (I'm using DVI, DVI, HDMI and Active DP-DVI to run my screens). Not suggesting the OP buys a 290 as depending on usage the may well be a cheaper/better card.

 

[rojones]

Thanks for the replies.

Its a Dell Optiplex 7010 i believe. So will need to be a low profile card.

Monitors will be Dell with DVI not HDMI. And no not for gaming use at all.

Seems AMD with 4 display port outputs and then Display port to DVI cable is a simple cheap enough way to go about it.

 

[Admetos]

Will the 4 screens be working as one screen, eg single video spanned over all 4?

Or are the 4 screens totally separate for 2D / trading type displays.

Can you use 2 graphics cards (2 monitors from each) ?

 

[rojones]

Its going to be used to simply display 4 Seperate web based IE Window Applications one window on each screen from a single desktop i guess you would say.

ATI Firepro 2460 seems to fit the bill, As card needs to be low power and low profile.

 

[ShivP]

Cheap as well If it was me, I'd be getting a cheap nVidia card with 4 outputs and then not having to use converters, but I suppose you are limited if it has to be low power/profile

 

[Admetos]

Its going to be used to simply display 4 Seperate web based IE Window Applications one window on each screen from a single desktop i guess you would say.

ATI Firepro 2460 seems to fit the bill, As card needs to be low power and low profile.

I would recommend Nvidia Mosaic, I talk from experience as this is a very stable. Don't know anything about Firepro however.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/nvidia-mosaic-technology.html

For Nvidia Mosaic you can use 2 low profile graphics cards. Search a popular auction site for any of the following.

NVS 295 - bare min for 2D and AERO, 256MB per card
Quadro 600 - faster than above, 1GB per card
Quadro K600 - same as 600 above but double cores (don't think you need this fast)

All the above cards can be picked up cheap, there is also many clean pulls from new Dells. All cards / technology above is super stable and common options for financial trading or situations where screens are running 24/7