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GPU for three screens

That card won't work for running three screens, I'm afraid. The 5xxx and 6xxx series AMD cards only have two clock generators on them, and DVI/HDMI/VGA each need one - only Displayport doesn't. This means you're limited to 2 screens on DVI/VGA/HDMI and any more need to be on Displayport (Active Displayport adapters are fine). Unfortunately, most manufacturers chose not to put Displayport outputs on 5450's, so they are limited to 2 screens each.

The 7xxx series and HD 2xx cards can share a clock generator between two screens (provided they're identical) so can run more screens without needing the Displayport being used in some circumstances.

On Nvidia's side, most cards using Kepler or Maxwell can power three screens using DVI/VGA/HDMI, but if you're looking at a 6xx series card you just need to make sure it's not a rebranded Fermi card or you're limited to 2 screens.

You could go for two different GPUs in the one PC to run 3 screens (if you have PCI-E slots free), even an AMD and an Nvidia one provided you're running Vista or newer, or you could look into USB3 to VGA/DVI adapters to run the third screen from alongside a 5450 or other cheap GPU?
 
Thank you Confused Stu so in theory I can buy that gt720

and use the HDMI direct, VGA direct, then a DVI TO VGA adapter? :)
 
Snodge said:
Thank you Confused Stu so in theory I can buy that gt720

and use the HDMI direct, VGA direct, then a DVI TO VGA adapter? :)
Click to expand...

The DVI port is listed as "DVI-D", so it won't work with a DVI to VGA adapter. The port would need to be a DVI-I to support VGA output too. You can use it with a DVI to HDMI adapter or cable though.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-029-OK
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-018-OK
(or something similar)
 
Snodge said:
Are you 99 percent sure this will work? :)

Kind Regards Ben
Click to expand...

Yes, I am 99% sure. :D

I haven't got one of these cards, but my justification is that Nvidia list the 720 as having 3 screen support:
http://www.geforce.co.uk/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gt-720/specifications
and the description on OcUK says it has DVI-D, HDMI and VGA, so I'm 99% sure you'll be able to use each of the outputs at the same time. I know DVI-D can convert to HDMI using a simple adapter or cable, rather than an Active adapter, from experience, so I am confident that you'll be able to set it up:
DVI-D to HDMI
HDMI to HDMI
VGA to VGA

Snodge said:
Well is there a GPU that does 3 HDMI support that's relatively cheap
Click to expand...
Not that I've ever seen. Multiple DVI and DP are fairly common, but I've never seen a GPU with multiple HDMI before.
 
Confused Stu said:
Yes, I am 99% sure. :D

I haven't got one of these cards, but my justification is that Nvidia list the 720 as having 3 screen support:
http://www.geforce.co.uk/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gt-720/specifications
and the description on OcUK says it has DVI-D, HDMI and VGA, so I'm 99% sure you'll be able to use each of the outputs at the same time. I know DVI-D can convert to HDMI using a simple adapter or cable, rather than an Active adapter, from experience, so I am confident that you'll be able to set it up:
DVI-D to HDMI
HDMI to HDMI
VGA to VGA


Not that I've ever seen. Multiple DVI and DP are fairly common, but I've never seen a GPU with multiple HDMI before.
Click to expand...

I have often wondered this, I have 3 monitors and I can only use 2, if I bought a cable for an active DP>DVI would I be able to use the 3rd monitor?

I plan on upgrading to a 970 in a month but would like to use it in the meantime
 
mikelkite said:
I have often wondered this, I have 3 monitors and I can only use 2, if I bought a cable for an active DP>DVI would I be able to use the 3rd monitor?

I plan on upgrading to a 970 in a month but would like to use it in the meantime
Click to expand...

What GPU are you currently running, mate?

I've always been an AMD man on multi-monitor builds (just the way it's turned out, no particular anti-Nvidia feelings) so can't speak from experience on the Green side. The 970 is listed as supporting 4 monitors and, I think, should be able to use any combination of outputs available on the card to do this - can anyone with a 970 confirm?
 
Doh..... I thought I said in it!

Its a 5770 which I know has 2 clocks so you can use hdmi/dvi, dvi/dvi but not 3.

I have read you can use 3 if you use an active DP cable to go to DVI. So I looked on a famous auction site and saw one, it was about £5 for an active adapter, but it stated it will not work with AMD cards that use eyefinity.

I dont think I will game with 3 monitors in a 5770, it bearly does 1 now but would be nice to have all 3 running a dekstop.
 
You can definitely run 3 screens from a 5770 - my Uncle did it for 6 months before getting a 7970 off me. :)

Provided your 5770 has a Displayport output, or a mini-Displayport any Active adapter will work. If an adapter says it cannot be used for Eyefinity, it's a Passive one, definitely not Active (I hate descriptions that mislead in adverts!)

If your card has a full size DP output, look for something like StarTech's "DP2DVIS":
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-047-SR
or if you're rocking a mini-DP output, look for something like StarTech's "MDP2DVIS"

To be fair, any Active DP/mDP to DVI/VGA/HDMI should work, but I tend to stick with StarTech as they're easy to find, inexpensive and I've found they always work. Plus, StarTech's website is very good at showing which are Active and which are Passive adapters (other manufacturers tend not to mention or even can be downright wrong in my experience).

EDIT - this is all assuming the single screen you're running from the DP output is no larger than 1920x1200@60Hz. If it is bigger, you'll need an Active mDP/DP to Dual Link DVI adapter, which are much more expensive and often need separate power - usually USB.
 
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That confirms what I thought from reading into this.

I have a full fat dp port, 2 x dvi and 1xhdmi.

It looks like a passive adapter on there and I concur startech are awesome for thins like this we use them for work (it consultant in mayfair) we tend to use 4 x mini dp cards like a nvs 510 or 450 so we don't get this issue come up often.

The monitor is a 1980x1200 screen I would run, it is annoying it's not a full on 1080p but I can live with that until I get the 970 then I will need to get a 1080p and I'll be able to use all the outputs as it supports 4 displays.

The problem I'm having atm is the Samsung is a 120hz but doesn't run at that. Over dvi it runs 120hz but it's blurry as hell. Tbh I did it while really tired so I didn't check the res out after I set it, it could have down scaled it.
 
1920x1200 - just in the range of single-link DVI, hence the cheaper Active adapters.

When you ran your monitor at 120Hz, were you using a dual-link DVI cable and output? Cables are easy enough to tell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface#/media/File:DVI_Connector_Types.svg) but with GPU output you often have to check the manufacturers website to see if an output if dual link or single link. There are even a few GPUs with outputs that are dual link but become single if a particular one of the other ouputs is used! I haven't got any monitors higher than 60Hz myself, but I presume trying to run a 120Hz monitor over a single link DVI would produce a fuzzy image as it can't transmit enough data for the correct resolution at that rate. I may well be wrong on this bit though! :)
 
I bought a dual link dvi cable and pinched one from work. Dvi with the full set of pins and the single - pin. I get 120hz but it's just blurry as hell.

If it became single it wouldn't have given me the option of 120hz I used a single link to test with.

I'll do some testing when I get off train. Bloody London commute lol
 
Small update - the 120hz issue was a strange one, it appears to have gone now.

Will look into an active adapter to test

Sorry to highjack a thread!


Would I not be able to use the Display port natively along with 2x DVI cables?
 
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So I'm purchasing a MSI GT 720 1GB DDR3 VGA DVI HDMI PCI-3 Graphics Card

And a Belkin Dvi-d/HDMI adapter in black

So HDMI AND VGA Will be direct.

Then the adapter plugs into the monitor via HDMI but has DVI-D to go from the adapter to the card? :)
 
mikelkite said:
Small update - the 120hz issue was a strange one, it appears to have gone now.

Will look into an active adapter to test

Sorry to highjack a thread!


Would I not be able to use the Display port natively along with 2x DVI cables?
Click to expand...

If your monitor has a Displayport input, then you don't need to worry about adapters at all and can simply cable it straight up, so your 2xDVI+1xDP will work fine. Sorry, should've asked but assumed your monitors didn't come with DP input as you were asking about adapters - oops! :(

Snodge said:
So I'm purchasing a MSI GT 720 1GB DDR3 VGA DVI HDMI PCI-3 Graphics Card

And a Belkin Dvi-d/HDMI adapter in black

So HDMI AND VGA Will be direct.

Then the adapter plugs into the monitor via HDMI but has DVI-D to go from the adapter to the card? :)
Click to expand...

So long as your DVI-D/HDMI adapter and cable match up to produce the ends your GPU & monitor need, that will work fine. If the adapter has male connectors on both ends, you will need either a DVI or HDMI extension lead (depending on whether you put the adapter in the monitor or the GPU). If either the HDMI or DVI part of the adapter is female, you'll need a normal HDMI or DVI cable to connect it all up.

I think I'm making it sound more complex than it is - provided your cables, GPU, monitor and adapter will physically plug into each other, you'll be golden.
 
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