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Cost effective solution?

AdamArkley

AdamArkley

AdamArkley

Associate
Joined
25 Jan 2012
Posts
12
Hi guys,

I recently bought myself a TV, and have it wall mounted above my desk. I'd like to be able to display to my two Samsung LCD's, as well as my TV, and preferably from one Graphics card (temperature is always an issue in this room!)

Unfortunately, the HD6850 is incapable of drawing to all three devices at the same time (although I've no idea why). I'm looking for a cost effective solution to ensure that I can display to all three, preferably using HDMI to connect the PC to the TV (in order to utilise HDMI audio).

Anyone got any decent ideas whilst the Sales are on?

Thanks,
Adam
 
Welcome to the forums :)

What make is the graphics card? I believe a 6850 *should* output to 3 monitors, but one will need to be display port(so you may need to buy an active adaptor).
 
Sorry man we can't even direct you towards auction sites and the like.

...Anyway. I thought you only needed an active adapter for eyefinity or resolutions above 19200x1200 or am i wrong with that? I say this as a passive adapter is much cheaper. I'm not 100% on this however.

Also note that you can't use DVI+DVI+HMDI at the same time, The HDMI is shared with one of the DVI outputs. (stupid I know). you will have to use DVI+HDMI+DisplayPort (or MiniDP) with a DVI/HDMI/VGA adapter.
 
TheMorningStar said:
Also note that you can't use DVI+DVI+HMDI at the same time, The HDMI is shared with one of the DVI outputs. (stupid I know). you will have to use DVI+HDMI+DisplayPort (or MiniDP) with a DVI/HDMI/VGA adapter.
Click to expand...

So if I connected my three monitors using HDMI + DVI + Display Port, then I don't need to purchase an adaptor (we think)?
 
Well you may need an adapter, it depends what options your monitors/TV have, what I am saying is you may not need an ACTIVE adapter which are quite expensive when compared to passive adapters. The difference is that active adapters seem to inject power, I THINK to support larger resolutions, I think above 1920x1200 and/or eyefinity setups. However you may need an active adapter if you are running more than 2 screens, perhaps of any type. From what I have read this is the case but I have seen some conflicting or unspecific reports which leave me unsure. I have looked at this myself you see as I have 2 monitors currently hooked up and I would like my TV connected too. Best to have it confirmed by someone else as I don't want to lead you astray :)

What you may also be able to do is if you have XP or Win7 (Vista is funny with video in some cases) and more than one PCI-E slot is just put in an old card if you have one around and use one of it's connectors for the screen which isn't used for gaming. I was thinking of doing this as a stopgap until I get a new card but haven't as yet tested if this works, but I can't think why it wouldn't.

What I am sure of is you don't need to buy a new card, at most an adapter.
 
TheMorningStar said:
What you may also be able to do is if you have XP or Win7 (Vista is funny with video in some cases) and more than one PCI-E slot is just put in an old card if you have one around and use one of it's connectors for the screen which isn't used for gaming. I was thinking of doing this as a stopgap until I get a new card but haven't as yet tested if this works, but I can't think why it wouldn't.

What I am sure of is you don't need to buy a new card, at most an adapter.
Click to expand...
It works in W7, used to use a 5870 with a monitor and TV along with a 9800GT for hybrid physX and for media viewing on the same TV.

As stated above, as long as the 2 cards used were not running in CrossFire/Sli, they will output to 4 screens or more.

It may also be a cheaper way to get the outputs required if you have to buy the more expensive adapter.
 
Chaps,

Are there restrictions on which cards can be combined in the same system?

I tried sticking another card in recently but it didn't work... The system refused to post, but I'm not sure why. Possibly not enough power in the CPU. To be honest, I don't think the card I used had an HDMI Port/Display Port on it, so I would've had to have taken one of my DVI monitors off, which I use for gaming!

I guess I'll have to try an active adaptor.

Edit: The port on my card is display port, and not mini. Consequently it doesn't look like any of the cables that OCUK sell will work :(

Thanks,
Adam
 
Last edited:
What card did you add?

If it's one that requires a 6pin power from the PSU then you need to have one plugged in. If you're not aware of what a 6pin power socket on the graphics card looks like then look at this for an example...

pciepowerconnector1.jpg


It won't necessarily be in the same position but that's where it would be most of the time.
 
timko,

I don't remember which card, but I suspected it was faulty anyway. I've specced up another 6850 HD and an 850W PSU from OCUK... Now I have to decide whether or not I want to spend nearly £200...
 
What's the spec of the rest of your system. It's unlikely you'll need 850w and so you could save a bit of money going for a 600w to 650w instead as that's more than enough for crossfire 6850.

However, this is still overkill just to get a 3rd display out.
 
TheMorningStar said:
Hi Mate, adapters can be found just google. I did actually give you a big hint in my first post :)
Click to expand...

Riddle me this then:

I bought what I thought was an active display port cable, and tried using DVI + DVI + DP, You mentioned earlier in the thread that the HDMI output was paired with the DVI outputs; is the same true of the DP? If so, I see no combination of connections which will seem to work...

What does an active adaptor do that a passive doesn't?
 
All current graphics cards have two clock generators inside. An HDMI, DVI or VGA output requires a clock signal along with the pixel details - hence cards can only run 2 of these displays. Displayport does not require a clock signal, so the graphics card can output any number of Displayport signals in addition to the 2 HDMI/DVI/VGA signals. The problem is when your monitor doesn't accept Displayport (and sadly only expensive ones do!), the monitor needs to receive a clock signal along with the DVI/HDMI/VGA signal.

Active adapters take in the Displayport signal from the graphics cards, convert the signal to DVI/HDMI/VGA, then add a clock signal and send that out to the monitor. Passive adapters simply convert the pins so it has (say) Displayport on one end and DVI/VGA on the other - but they still rely on the graphics card to produce the clock signal.

A passive adapter will be fine to run screens one or two from a graphics card, but to run a third screen you will need to use the Displayport out on an AMD card - either to a Displayport capable monitor, or to an active adapter.

If you're running a third screen on DVI up to 1920x1200, then a single link active adapter will do fine. I used a Sapphire one for a year and it worked flawlessly, only sold it a couple of days ago. The model number was 44000-02-40R which should help you find it. :)

P.S. Should add, I am only talking about AMD cards, nVidia cards cannot do more than 2 outputs per card period.
 
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