Graphics card for 2x 2560x1440 resolutions

Gullanian · 16 Feb 2015 at 16:53

Hi all,

Got 2 new monitors at work which are 2560x1440 recommended resolution. Plugged them into my PC, I get 1 at 2560x1440 and the other at 1920x1080 which looks bad.

Graphics card I have is Radeon HD 6800, looking at specs that is why I can't get 2k on the 2nd monitor!

What's a good upgrade? I have a Gigabyte Z77X-D3H motherboard, and this case:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-063-CS

Happy to buy new case if new card doesn't fit (case feels mid sized) but would rather not because it'd take a while to move it all over. IIRC psu is OCZ ZS Series 550W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply.

Computer is used mainly for work, do play the odd game but not really any more.

stulid · 16 Feb 2015 at 16:54

Run one from the GFX card and the other via the motherboard?

Gullanian · 16 Feb 2015 at 17:01

That'd be great. Plugged low res monitor into mobo HDMI but nothing shows, do I need to change any settings somewhere? Windows currently not identified it.

stulid · 16 Feb 2015 at 17:02

You will need to enable the integrated GFX in the BIOS.

P.S not all CPUs have a built-in GFX core for the motherboard to pass through.

Gullanian · 16 Feb 2015 at 17:05

I have an i7 2600k CPU, does that support it? Will have to keep digging round bios and fiddling to see if I can get it to work.

stulid · 16 Feb 2015 at 17:07

Yes that supports it.

This may help - http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=27460675&postcount=7

Gullanian · 16 Feb 2015 at 17:28

Thanks for all info, got the 2nd one running through mobo and latest intel drivers, but still no option over 1920x1080.

DoGSoldieR · 16 Feb 2015 at 17:32

it says there you've selected for display "Digital Television", maybe that's the issue? Do you have alternative displays to select?

stulid · 16 Feb 2015 at 17:33

Looking at the specs for the board it appears to be limited to 1920X1200 on both DVI or HDMI outputs.

Gullanian · 16 Feb 2015 at 17:34

No alternative, but did read this:
https://communities.intel.com/thread/30360?tstart=0

Intel graphics does not support dual-link, therefore 1920x1200 is the maximum for DVI and HDMI, 2560x1440 is only possible with a displayport port. This is stated in every specification sheet.

Mobo only has HDMI/DVI plugs, no display port plug. Guess this means I need new graphics card? Case can fit 450mm card, not sure what the mobo can fit.

stulid · 16 Feb 2015 at 17:45

How much do you want to spend?

Gullanian · 16 Feb 2015 at 17:47

Money doesn't matter too much, but no more than around £200 I guess, as long as:

- It's an upgrade over 6800
- No PSU upgrade (currently 550w) would be a bonus
- 3 monitor 2k capability would be a bonus if I want to add a 3rd monitor

Not using it for any hard gaming, for my current use the 6800 is running just fine.

stulid · 16 Feb 2015 at 17:50

What inputs do your current screens have?

Gullanian · 16 Feb 2015 at 17:51

A lot, got 2 of these now:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-206-SA&groupid=17&catid=1120

Dual Link DVI, DisplayPort, HDMI, USB Hub

stulid · 16 Feb 2015 at 17:54

Oh very nice.

Here are some options,

YOUR BASKET
1 x MSI Radeon R9 280X Gaming Edition OC 3072MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £175.99
1 x KFA2 GeForce GTX 960 EX OC "Black Edition" 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card - Retail (96NPH8DVD9XX) £169.99
1 x MSI AMD Radeon R9 285 Gaming Edition 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £149.99
Total : £505.57 (includes shipping : £8.00).

Gullanian · 16 Feb 2015 at 17:57

Awesome thanks so much for your help!

Liking the R9 280x:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-225-MS

Support for 4 displays, and looks like it will fit in the case fine. Just checking, this will def support 2x displays at 2k?

stulid · 16 Feb 2015 at 18:01

Yes it will,

2560x1600

Says on MSI website.

Gullanian · 16 Feb 2015 at 18:02

Awesome thank you so much for your help, you've helped me a ton and in the past as well, much appreciated!

stulid · 16 Feb 2015 at 18:03

Its odd as Im sure a 280X can support higher resolutions than even what MSI claims.

breadturbo · 16 Feb 2015 at 18:08

OFF the MSI site http://www.msi.com/product/vga/R9-280X-GAMING-3G.html#hero-specification

DL-DVI-I x1
Max Resolution:2560 x 1600 @60 Hz

HDMI
1 (version 1.4a)
Max Resolution: 3840x2160 @30 Hz
4096x2160 @24 Hz

MINI-DP
2 (version 1.2)
Max Resolution: 4096x2160 @ 50 Hz