Help with Eyefinity connections please!

[casual123]

Hey guys, ive just ordered one of the r9 280x's on sale to crossfire with my 7950 ( yes im aware it will be slowed to to same speed ) and im planning to go eyefinity.

I currently have two Dvi's/1 hdmi/1displayport on my 7950
The r9 280x comes with 1 dvi/1hdmi/2minidisplayports

Ive read that you need to run all 3 monitors from the top card ( im not sure which card to have on top out of the two? maybe the 7950 as it has more connections)

Am i going to need to buy an active displayport adapter? All 3 of my monitors have DVI/VGA.

Thanks in advance to anyone that can help an eyefinity noob

 

[old gamer]

I had eyefinity for a while and used dvi/hdmi and mini dp to dvi active adaptor and worked without problems, i read once that when using mixed xfire then have the faster card in the second pci slot as this helped with micro stutter but i could not say if this has any truth to it or not but wouldnt hurt to test with the cards in different slots i guess

 

[Confused Stu]

Old Gamer's right, you will need an Active adapter. You can run 2 screens from the DVI/HDMI ports on either of your cards, but the third screen must be on the Display port output (or mini Displayport) of the same card. As your screens don't have a Displayport input, you'll need an Active Displayport to DVI adapter, or Active mDP to DVI adapter, depending on which card you run as the primary one. If your screens are 1920x1200 or under, a single link adapter is fine, for higher resolutions a pricier dual link adapter is needed.

You could also use an Active DP/mDP to VGA adapter, but as your screens have DVI I'd recommend using that.

 

[Drangueos]

Hey guys, ive just ordered one of the r9 280x's on sale to crossfire with my 7950 ( yes im aware it will be slowed to to same speed ) and im planning to go eyefinity.

it won't be slowed.

Another option is sell your 7950 and get 2 R9 280X

 

[casual123]

it won't be slowed.

Another option is sell your 7950 and get 2 R9 280X

why wont it be slowed? i thought the r9 280x was basically a 7970?

 

[casual123]

Old Gamer's right, you will need an Active adapter. You can run 2 screens from the DVI/HDMI ports on either of your cards, but the third screen must be on the Display port output (or mini Displayport) of the same card. As your screens don't have a Displayport input, you'll need an Active Displayport to DVI adapter, or Active mDP to DVI adapter, depending on which card you run as the primary one. If your screens are 1920x1200 or under, a single link adapter is fine, for higher resolutions a pricier dual link adapter is needed.

You could also use an Active DP/mDP to VGA adapter, but as your screens have DVI I'd recommend using that.

my screens are all 1080p will this do the job? Startech DisplayPort to DVI Active Adapter

 

[Drangueos]

why wont it be slowed? i thought the r9 280x was basically a 7970?

yes the r9 280x is basically a 7970Ghz edition.. if you crossfire a 7950 with a 7970 they will run on their own speeds without clocking down.

7950 Xfire < 7950+7970 < 7970 Xfire (R9 280)

Also yes you can use that adapter, but you don't really need that expensive one.
That one is dual link, you need a single link that will cost less than half that.

 

[Confused Stu]

my screens are all 1080p will this do the job? Startech DisplayPort to DVI Active Adapter

If you mean Startech Product ID "DP2DVIS", that will work perfectly (and might actually be what I'm currently using, not sure!). It'll either work in your 7950 straight off, or in the 280X with the use of a miniDP to DP adapter - you might get one with the card.

If you wanted to use the 280X as your main card, then I'd look to get the "MDP2DVIS" as that'll work without any mDP to DP adapter (I'm always wary of linking adapters together, always strikes me as another step to cause issues).

If you mean "DP2DVID" or "DP2DVID2", then Drangueos is right, they're dual link adapters and more expensive than you need for 1920x1080.

 

[casual123]

yes the r9 280x is basically a 7970Ghz edition.. if you crossfire a 7950 with a 7970 they will run on their own speeds without clocking down.

7950 Xfire < 7950+7970 < 7970 Xfire (R9 280)

Also yes you can use that adapter, but you don't really need that expensive one.
That one is dual link, you need a single link that will cost less than half that.

the one im looking at is £21.91 and is the cheapest one i can find?

model number B004SUO1GM

EDIT: its the one that confused stu mentioned which is model number DP2DVIS startech, looks like ill go for that one