dual display - dual (different gpus)

virdee2

virdee2

virdee2

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hi all, not sure what section this goes in but is it possible to have a 9800 gtx + running one monitor and a 6850 running another?

i have the 6850 on preorder and i intend to get a second hd monitor soon after if this is viable.
 
Hi there,

I don't think you can run a Nvidia card and AMD card at the same time - at least not using the proper drivers for both.

However, if you are want to run two HD monitors then a HD 6850 will happily do that on it's own (in fact it can run three).
 
Surveyor said:
Cough, DisplayPort...
Click to expand...

Aye, it needs to be via a displayport, but it will still run a total of three. Just so long as one of the monitors has a displayport input or you use an active displayport to DVI/HDMI/VGA adapter.

But the point is, if you have a HD 6850 and two monitors you don't need a second card to run the second monitor.


virdee2 said:
display port? whats this then? :)
Click to expand...

It is a type of digital connection that is becoming standard on graphics cards and monitors. Your HD 6850 graphics card will have one of these displayport connections. Some more info on it here.
 
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virdee2 said:
Brillaint! thanks guys... cant wait to run Skyrim on two montors now he he :D
Click to expand...

You should be able to set a 2x1 monitor eyefinity group with your HD 6850 - so gaming accross two monitors (eg skyrim) is possible.

The only problem is that the middle of the virtual screen will be where the two bezels are - so it wouldn't look very good.
 
Running windows 7 will allow you to use multiple graphic card vendors so Nvidia and ATI will play fine together should you want a gpu per screen for what ever reason.
 
Surveyor said:
How well would a 1GB HD 6850 perform at 5760x1080 resolution with Skyrim?
Click to expand...

As you may have guessed, I wasn't being serious recommending a third screen (at least not without a graphics card upgrade).

But to answer the question, with low/medium settings skyrim should be very playable at that resolution on a HD 6850, though its obviously not an ideal setup since such a large resolution really demands a faster GPU and more Video memory to run well and make everything look nice.
 
cmndr_andi said:
As you may have guessed, I wasn't being serious recommending a third screen (at least not without a graphics card upgrade).
Click to expand...

I didn't think you were being serious but you never know what the OP might go and do.

I thought it best to ask so that if they do decide to go for 3 monitors they can consider their graphics card choice.
 
virdee2 said:
so realistically i'd be looking at a £300+ graphics card and two monitors probably adding £300 again? :/
Click to expand...

It depends on the route you want to go down.

2 monitors for gaming is pretty crap as has been discussed.

Stick with the 1 monitor you have and get the HD 6850 or buy 2 more monitors and get a graphics card solution that will work for the games you play.

Edit

FYI Eyefinity doesn't seem to suit everyone:

1x3 Eyefinity - side screens seem slanted?
 
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im just trying to work out the ideal end result and cost atm... i would love to play games like skyrim or guild wars on three monitors but realistically i would have to save for a few months to raise the money needed to play these games at decent levels.

thanks for all your tips though guys :)
 
Instead of eyefinity, I would suggest sticking with the HD 6850 and two monitors for the time being. However, I wouldn't game across both the monitors - instead configure them so they are independent screens and run the games on the primary monitor. This allows you still have access to the second screen when playing a game - so you can run a video, display a webpage, show a VOIP/IM client etc. on the other. Personally, I have my system setup this way and wouldn't want to go back to a single screen.
 
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