Easiest way to run triple monitors?

toasteh

toasteh

toasteh

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currently I'm using a 32" TV and an old 22" monitor with my PC, but I'd like to replace the monitor as it's getting unreliable now anyway and free up the TV just for consoles etc. What's the easiest way to connect three monitors to my PC? I currently just have the inbuilt graphics and use an HDMI cable for the TV and a VGA cable for the monitor... looking at 2 or 3 24" monitors probably. Any help?
 
You'd need a discreet GPU to run 3 monitors. I run 3 24" on a single 7850. Frame rates aren't that bad.

I did need to buy 2 active mini display-port > DVI adapters though. My monitors only take DVI (one takes HDMI, but found that the driver often failed)
 
This is where the other problem comes in... :P my Pc is a dell 560S so there's next to no room (or power) for a gfx card, unless it's a slimline, low profile and low power job. Will that still enable me to run an extra monitor?
 
Assuming that fits then, is it a case of finding a monitor with all three inputs so i can use one of each or would I use the same input on each monitor with adapters to the different outputs from the gpu?
 
Pretty much yeah, just be warned that some screens don't function the same across all their inputs, so you may find the picture quality from a particular source isn't as good as it is from the others.

Seems it's VGA+DVI+HDMI on all low profile cards, just an FYI..
ATI/AMD
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/search_results.php?keywords=low+profile+graphics&cat=56
NVidia
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/search_results.php?keywords=low+profile+graphics&cat=1914

Would changing the case the system is in be a consideration for you? Getting a GPU that isn't low profile would open your options a bit...
 
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I've looked into changing the case before but I think the way dell put it together in the first place means that getting it out of the current case and into a new one isn't worth the effort. Tbh this is mostly just a stop-gap until I can afford a new PC next year, so I'm happy just to get a cheapo card to run the monitors until then.
 
What size are you after, what will their primary role be(now and in the future on your new system) and how much do you wish to spend on them, either in total or individually(say if you were purchasing them one at a time).
 
either 23" or 24" i think, primarily for general web use/some photoshopping, very little gaming. thinking arounf the £150 mark, i'll be getting them individually i think, one now and then another once I get my new desk setup sorted.
 
You won't be able to use the HD5450 to run 3 monitors.
The only AMD 5 series cards that can run 3 screen without an active DP to HDMI adapter are the "Sapphire Flex" series.

The 5450 will only allow the use of 2 of its outputs.
 
Unfortunately not, the switch between descreet and iGPUs won't allow that.

you can buy a low profile HD7750 that will allow 3 monitors (with an active DP to HDMI adapter) They're around £75.

Just a heads up though you won't be able to run games on 3x24" eyefinity. (presuming you are looking at 5760x1080)
But also if your Dell 560S is the one I used to have it only has a 250W PSU, in which case I wouldn't recommend putting that card in the system as it can daw around 250W itself.

Might be worth saving for an upgrade and the new Haswell chipset can power 3 monitors from the iGPU alone.
 
OK, so it looks like triple monitors on my current setup are out of the question - unless somehow I managed to fit two of those low profile hd5450s in my pc? I'll probably just settle for two monitors for now then, until I can upgrade the pc itself.
 
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