Graphics card to run 4 displays

easyrider · 21 Sep 2010 at 14:38

Currently running two ATI cards one 4350 connected to amp via HDMI and the 4870 connected to 3 monitors

Would be nice to have just one card to save power etc....

What are my options?

Ideally would like to bitstream HD Master Audio over HDMI

Cheers

cmndr_andi · 21 Sep 2010 at 14:43

I believe there is a Powercolour 5770 that can run 5 monitors. The graphics power should be very similar to your existing 4870.

Will you be doing anything intensive on the cards? If not, I would probably suggest a pair of 5450 or 5550/5570 cards. They will each have more graphics power than the 4350 and use much less power the current system.

easyrider · 21 Sep 2010 at 14:49

Ideally I would like to have the odd game on my 24" Dell...

Freddie1980 · 21 Sep 2010 at 15:25

easyrider said:
Ideally I would like to have the odd game on my 24" Dell...

The HD5770 is a solid gamers card not the quickest but the reviews do hold up its gaming performance credentials. If you want more power then you looking at an Eyefinity 6 edition HD5870 2Gb.

chrisxuk · 21 Sep 2010 at 15:53

ZOTAC announces the first Quadruple-display capable graphics card of the world

http://www.digilounge.co.uk/zotac-quadruple-gfx-card/

subbytna · 21 Sep 2010 at 16:05

1GIG zotec 460 won't be gaming in high detail if it's over 4 screens imo...not enough RAM

easyrider · 21 Sep 2010 at 17:34

chrisxuk said:
ZOTAC announces the first Quadruple-display capable graphics card of the world

http://www.digilounge.co.uk/zotac-quadruple-gfx-card/

Will that Bitstream HD master Audio?

easyrider · 21 Sep 2010 at 17:36

subbytna said:
1GIG zotec 460 won't be gaming in high detail if it's over 4 screens imo...not enough RAM

I just want to game casually on one 24" Dell

The other monitors are for studio stuff

The fourth output is for the Onkyo 876 amp this is linked to my projector in my cinema room

skotish| · 21 Sep 2010 at 17:54

Go for the 5770 its a good card ran fine on my 24" monitor

easyrider · 21 Sep 2010 at 17:57

skotish| said:
Go for the 5770 its a good card ran fine on my 24" monitor

But will that run 4 displays?

I have the option of running the 4870 1GB for games and getting a 5450 HDMI for output to my Amp and this will bitstream HD master Audio?

Am I ok to run a 4870 and 5450 side by side or will there be an issue with drivers?

cmndr_andi · 21 Sep 2010 at 18:02

This one will.

So long as you only set it up to play games on just one of the displays it should perform rather well.

easyrider · 21 Sep 2010 at 18:05

cmndr_andi said:
This one will.

So long as you only set it up to play games on just one of the displays it should perform rather well.

Forgive my noobishness

will that output HD master audio out of the display ports to my amp?

cmndr_andi · 21 Sep 2010 at 18:18

All 5770 card do bitstreaming audio AFAIK.

On the powercolor product page it even says -

Integrated HD audio controller
Output protected high bit rate 7.1 channel surround sound over HDMI with no additional cables required
Supports AC-3, AAC, Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio format

Since DP carries audio as well as video - one of the passive mini-DP to HDMI adapters should pass over the sound to your amp without issue.

easyrider · 21 Sep 2010 at 18:20

And HD master Audio?

What about a 1GB Sapphire HD 5770 FleX Graphics Card?

cmndr_andi · 21 Sep 2010 at 18:26

It says "DTS Master Audio" on the PowerColor product page - but I would take that to mean "DTS-HD Master Audio" - which is what you are after. AFAIK, there is no "DTS (non-HD) Master audio", but perhaps I am wrong?

Other 5770s clearly support DTS-HD Master audio bitstreaming, I don't believe this would be any different for the powercolor eyefinity 5 one.

easyrider · 21 Sep 2010 at 18:33

Thanks cmndr_andi

I guess the cheapest route would be to keep the 4870 1GB for games and get a 5450 for output to the amp?

Would the drivers allow his?

cmndr_andi · 21 Sep 2010 at 19:03

I imagine that would work fine. The audio chip on the 5770 is recognised as a separate audio device in windows ("hdmi playback device" I believe). If you switch over to that audio device when you want to run the amp then it should all work fine.

james.miller · 21 Sep 2010 at 19:09

not sure how that would affect bluray playback if your using a separate audio and video outputs (HDCP and all that lark). I wouldnt bet on it working without doing some research first.

cmndr_andi · 21 Sep 2010 at 19:17

If that card is connected primarily to the amp (providing audio and video to the home theatre) then I don't see the problem. It would just require switching the audio device over to the 5000 series card before playing the blu ray (or whatnot).

easyrider · 21 Sep 2010 at 19:34

Basically the exatcly what the 4350 does now. Outputs Video and audio to the amp

I was just wondering about running a 5xxx series card and a 4xxx series card togther